Coal in your Odyssey this Christmass?

[Vincent]

2006 Honda Odyssey
CHECK FUEL CAP came on a couple days ago and stays on.
I obviously checked the fuel cap witch was just fine. The car is run low on fuel, to where the orange dot comes on pretty often. It never ran out of fuel totally though. I know that running a car with low fuel isn’t very good, but ignore what it directly affects. Would that cause this message to come on?
My searches lead me to think that the charcoal cannister might have to be replaced, although I thought it was something that never needs replacement. Other poeple were talking about a certain solenoid going bad in the fuel system that would cause that message to show on the dashboard.
There is no performance or drivability issues since the message came on.

What would be good things to check?
Is there any recall on that (since it seems to be a recurring problem on Odyssey vans)?

Topic

[outdoorsman310]

well im not sure about the odessy but on an impala that came in the other day there was one that would vent to the charcoal and one that vented to the air. i would get it scanned. the scanner on the impala said vacuum too high but the car was off so it was really the fuel tan pressure sensor maybe try to see if the vents are clogged

[Vincent]

Thanx for that quick answer!
Where is the vents you are talking about usually located?
Does any of you Honda techs know where they are on odyssey vans?

[college man]

is the check engine light on? if so post the code.

[outdoorsman310]

i’m not sure about that vehicle. look around the tank. you have to be able to get under the vehicle. a flashlight helps!!

[Vincent]

No engine light on. There is a little orange wrench that is on though, but I this it is on because it is time to service the transmission. Will look arround the tank. Living on gravel, the vents might very well get plugged easily. Is there a filter on these vents?

[sws21079]

Hello,

I know you said that you checked the gas cap, but how did you check the cap, did you just try to tighten it or did you check to see if the seal was bad?

also i would scan for engine codes or trans codes! I own a odyssey 2003 and to my knowledge on a ford anyway a wrench light is another version of a check engine light but for the drive train but could be pertaining to your problem.

[Paul]

This may not be how Honda works.

Last year, I hurt my wrist. I did not turn the gas cap on my 07 Nissan Versa with a few clicks. My Versa put up a warning light even after I turned the gas cap for a few clicks. But it goes away after couple of days.

[Vincent]

Well, I think I found the vents. By the rear left well. The is a cover to take off that hides a “box” with lines coming from the gas tank and going to what looks like the charcoal cannister. That’s the good news.
The bad news is that I really don’t think you can open that box witch I believe encloses the vents. I don’t understand how to check the vents. Any suggestion from anyone?

[Wayne]

If there’s no actual permanent DTC, and it’s just the pending gas cap one, I don’t know that I’d even worry about it unless you’re driving this car 40+ mi a day and it doesn’t go away after a week.

I think an EVAP test is often a 5min easy thing at a local dealer, assuming you have one locally that wants your business enough to not wish to charge you for this..

You can also yank the battery power for 10-15mins to get it to do it’s evap testing cycle a bit faster(just make sure you have your codes should you have OEM nav/stereo).

http://www.justanswer.com/honda/2hyqj-check-gas-cap-light-flashing-odometer-bar-checked-cap.html

[Vincent]

Thanx for that response (great link). it has been about a week now but I will keep waiting. It might reset itself and disapear.
That for the help again everybody

[Vincent]

Well, the message is gone. I guess it decided to reset itself after a while.
Thanks for everybody’s input!

[Wayne]

Sweet. Good to hear(well, see, in this case).

[EricTheCarGuy]

OK lets back the truck up here. You don’t have a code for the EVAP system so lets leave that system alone. Don’t go on assumptions, go on facts. Honda changed their strategy in 2006 to incorporate a fuel cap light to come on before the computer will set a P1456 which means you have a loose gas cap OR a leak on the tank side of the system. The way the system is designed you need to execute a specific drive cycle after you tighten your gas cap for the light to go off. I suspect that this is all you need to do. If the light stays on for too long it will set the CEL. If you don’t have a CEL just tighten the gas cap (make sure it’s an OE Honda cap) and drive it for a week or so. If it doesn’t go off then there may be a problem somewhere. Till then stay away from the EVAP system as you’re likely to do more harm than good.

[Author]

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