Will Check Engine Light Go Off After Tightening Gas Cap? Check Engine Light Solutions

A loose or missing gas cap is a common cause for a check engine light to come on. Thankfully, this problem is something you shouldn't have to worry too much about.

A check engine light caused by a loose or missing gas cap will typically go off soon after tightening or replacing the gas cap. It may take a few drive cycles for the light to reset, but it should turn off by itself.

A check engine light can be a stressful thing to deal with, but this one is usually straightforward to solve.

Why Is My Check Engine Light Still On After Replacing The Gas Cap?

You may notice that your check engine light doesn't immediately turn off after replacing or tightening the gas cap. This is entirely normal.

The engine computer needs to read its sensors to ensure that the condition that caused the check engine light to come on is fixed before turning it off.

This can take a few trips in your car before the computer gets a correct reading, so be patient and don't worry about it.

Will Check Engine Light Reset Itself?

If your engine computer senses that tightening your gas cap fixed the problem that caused the check engine light after the drive cycle, it will shut the check engine light off.

If your check engine light stays on after tightening your gas cap, you may have a bad gas cap that needs to be replaced.

This could also indicate that you have another problem besides the gas cap.

How Long Does It Take For Check Engine Light To Reset?

This can typically take an entire drive cycle to complete. The conditions for a computer to register a drive cycle depend on your specific vehicle, but most are similar.

A drive cycle usually consists of a cold start after the vehicle has been sitting for a few hours, at least one short period of city driving, and one short period of highway driving.

How Many Miles Should I Drive To Reset Check Engine Light?

As long the check engine light isn't blinking, you needn't worry about driving to reset your check engine light driving. However, if your check engine is blinking, it points to a more severe problem than a faulty gas cap.

Usually, a short drive is all that's required for your engine computer to reset the check engine light.

Most computers rely more on your speed during a drive cycle rather than the number of miles you drive.

Your computer will register a city road test once you reach a speed of around 25 miles per hour and then back to a complete stop a few times.

The highway road test will register once you reach a speed that is usually around 55 miles per hour and then hold that speed for a few miles before slowing back down to city speed again.

How Long Does It Take For Check Fuel Cap To Reset?

The check engine light that comes on if your gas cap is loose or missing will usually reset itself shortly after you fix the cap.

If your check engine light stays on after driving your car for a day or two since fixing your gas cap, you may have a gas cap that has gone bad and needs to be replaced.

A check engine light that stays on at this point could mean that you have another problem with your vehicle besides the gas cap.

How Do I Know If My Gas Cap Is Bad?

Things like a foul gas smell in the vehicle's cabin, a rough engine idle, or a check engine can indicate a loose gas cap.

The easiest way to figure out if your gas cap has gone bad is to test it by trying to tighten it.

Most modern gas caps are designed to click once they have been tightened to the correct position. So if your gas cap stops clicking, it's a sign that it needs to be replaced.

A bad gas cap may also feel loose, even after tightening it to its proper setting. If your cap still moves or feels like it isn't tight, even after clicking in place, it has gone bad.

A check engine light or a gas smell in your car could also indicate a bad gas cap.

Thankfully, replacing a new gas cap is not very expensive. However, ensure you buy the correct matching gas cap for your vehicle.

A generic aftermarket gas cap may not seal properly on your car, so it's worth spending the extra money to ensure you get the right one.

Why Is My Engine Light On But Nothing Seems Wrong?

Sometimes you may have a check engine light that comes on even though everything is working fine with your car.

A lot of the time, this problem may be caused by a sensor that has stopped working and may not be caused by an actual problem with anything on your car.

Modern cars have many sensors monitored by the engine computer, and all it takes is one sensor going bad to cause a check engine light.

Thankfully, you can easily find out what is causing the problem by having your engine trouble codes read with a code reader.

Most auto parts stores will read your engine codes for free and can help you pinpoint what is causing the check engine light.

A mechanic can also read the codes for you and recommend what type of repair needs to be done if a part or sensor has gone bad.

Conclusion

There's no need to worry if you have a check engine light caused by a loose gas cap.

All it takes is tightening the cap and driving your car for a few short trips to fix the problem and turn the light off.

With patience, your dashboard will be clear again in no time!