Hi folks,

Just started receiving this message 2 days ago. Will have my 2005 at the dealer for the power steering recall.

Anybody had any experience with this particular message and how it was remedied?

I am also going to have a few other things done (brake fluid change, test door handles, check brakes for intermittent albeit rare squeal).

My GPS database seems out of date, any things I should request from an electronics/nav perspective?

Car is running great BTW.

Thanks in advance for the input!

Dave

 

The Check Fuel Cap message is simply that. Likely the fuel cap was not seated correctly or closed completely. Remove the cap and screw it back on until it makes a few clicks. The message should reset itself after a restarting / running the car a few times. A sensor to check for fuel vapor triggers this and a loose or incorrectly seated fuel cap causes this.

If it does not reset itself, the dealer will reset it for you.

What version of the NAVI DVD came with your car? There is a new one releasing in February timeframe. They sell for about $185 retail and perhaps you can snatch one on ebay cheaper. Acura Owner Link also has lin to order the NAVI DVD.

There is also a TSB on the brake squeal for the 05RLs. Search the forum and get the details. It may not have been applied to your RL yet and a good opportunity to get it done while he dealer is doin your full service check up & maintenance.

 

There is a section in your Owners Manual on the fuel cap message. Check it out. You can also search this forum where it has been discussed before with verbatim directions on how to remedy the message. Although possible, it is highly unlikely there is an issue with the evaporative emissions system, which might also trigger this message.

 

Fuel cap is tightened to 1 click. Even topped off the tank to see if this would clear it-no effect.

There is no fuel odor and the 0-ring which provides the seal looks fine.

Guess I will just have to let the dealer handle as I cannot find the prior discussions on this issue here using the search feature.

Dave

 

When I got the 'Check Fuel Cap' message, it was because I had not tightened the cap properly.

It did not reset itself until I had driven the car a bit and if I remember correctly, I had restarted the car a few times (a few drives).

If it does not reset, then by all means, have the dealer diagnose.

 

Did you give it the time specified in the OM to take care of itself? From Pp. 298-99 of the 06 manual:

The CHECK FUEL CAP message,
displayed after you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position or
start the engine, should go off after
tightening the fuel cap, turning the
ignition switch off and on, then
driving over 12 mph (US) or 20
km/h (Canada) for at least 10
minutes. Due to different driving
conditions, itmay take a few drive
trips to make the message go off.

The CHECK FUEL CAP message
displayed while driving should go off
after tightening the fuel cap, turning
the ignition switch off and on, then
driving over 30 mph (US) or 48
km/h (Canada) for at least 45
seconds. Due to different driving
conditions, itmay take a few drive
trips to make the message go off.

If the system still detects a loose or
missing fuel cap, the malfunction
indicator lamp (MIL) comes on. If a
loose or missing fuel cap was not the
cause of the CHECK FUEL CAP
message coming on, the MIL will
also come on. When the MIL comes
on, the message goes off.

Turn the engine off, and check or
retighten the fuel cap until it clicks at
least once. The MIL goes out after
several days of normal driving once
the cap is tightened or replaced. If it
does not go out, have your dealer
inspect the vehicle. For more
information, see page 410.

 

LOL. Chas, we are advising in stereo!

Great minds think alike (and apparently simultaneously!).

 

Turn the engine off, and check or
retighten the fuel cap until it clicks at
least once. The MIL goes out after
several days of normal driving once
the cap is tightened or replaced. If it
does not go out, have your dealer
inspect the vehicle. For more
information, see page 410.

This happened to me once when the gas station attendent- no self serve in New Jersey- didn't tighten the fuel cap properly. I tightened it, but had to wait several days of turning the car off and on before the error message dissappeared.

I have to say that I had a flash back of a Volvo S-80 I used to own. The warning light would come on regularly even when the cap was tightened. I had to have the fuel sensor replaced 4 times in the short 3 years i owned the car!

 

It resolved itself today with a little cruise down the Sawgrass Expressway.

Thanks for the info concerning the OM, I did not receive one when I bought the car from Carmax and have procrastinated about ordering one (My bad).

Dave

 

I just had a new fuel cap put on my '04 MDX. Even though it would "click," the engine warning light would come on. After the first time, I figured it couldn't be the cap as I was very careful to make sure it was tight but the light came on and the codes indicated the fuel cap (the old one was pretty hard to turn). When they took the old one off, I took a look and saw one of the plastic "tabs" that go around the inside was bent flat. Probably the cause and probably something I could have fixed by just bending it back out but since the new cap was provided at no charge, I'm O.K. with it.

Moral of the story? Just becasue the cap "clicks," doesn't mean it's sealing. If the message doesn't go away, it could be a bad cap.

LL