Operator Error
We have a car, and I mean A car. One. It’s a 2002 Volvo station wagon that is beginning to show its age. The leather upholstery has been completely kid-ified, the central console is broken (by a kid standing on it), and I don’t even want to know what’s under the backseat. But it’s paid for.
Anyway, last Friday the yellow “check engine” light came on while we were running errands. Just knowing it was something terrible, I called the dealership to have them look at it. In the meantime we went through the owner’s manual and checked everything we could check. One of the things mentioned that can cause that light to come on is a loose fuel filter cap.
OMG, what is that?! It sounds serious! Nope, they mean the gas cap. I was the last person to gas up the car so I went out and check it. I couldn’t remember if I had tightened it down at the gas station but I did so when I checked it. The “check engine” light still mocked me from the dashboard. Stupid light.
After driving rather gingerly, waiting for the engine to grind to a halt, I took in today. The guy at the dealership asked if it was shifting fine, I said it was, then he asked me about the gas cap. I told him that couldn’t be it because the light didn’t go off after I tightened the gas cap. He told me that the light actually has to be reset. I told him that I would be embarrassed, but delighted, if it was just the gas cap.
I called Mr. Prairie and told what the guy said, and HE said, “So there’s a chance you broke our car?” I tried to protest that I didn’t like to tighten the cap until it clicked because I was afraid I would break it. Mr. Prairie informed me that was stupid, because the clicking tells you it’s closed.
The dealership guy just called me, I owe them $98 for the diagnostic and $54 for a new gas cap. The rubber seal was worn out, you know, because it got all dried out. Because I didn’t tighten it down.
Stupid gas cap.
November 4th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
but you have learned a valuable lesson about gas caps!
(and the rubber seals of course )