Engine Light!!!

[Anonymous User]

Heres the story...

I was driving my van around from picking up some parts. I stopped somewhere & came back in about 10min. I started the car & drove off, but the van would shift hard, like it would jolt. So since I cant do anything & its raining I continued to drive home. I get about a block away from my house & bam the engine like stutters? or jolts & the check engine light comes on. So I coast it my house & park it.

It has engine & transmission fluid. My van has about ~70k miles. Its a 2000.

I was wondering what could be the problem? Should I try unhooking the battery to see if it goes away?

Thanks
George

[16th hippy]

do not unhook battery. you need to have it scanned to find out the codes. either limp it to autozone(get the codes, don't let them sell you a bunch of crap saying this is what you need, get the codes), or get it to a shop. unhooking the battery can clear these codes and make the diagnostic fee go higher to duplicate issue. get codes and post them here, or take to shop if you have a good one in mind.

[Anonymous User]

Well I checked over everything.....& it looks like my gas cap wasnt on tight. Because that morning I filled it up. So could have the gas cap being not on tight cause the engine light to come on?

Now when I tighten the gas cap the van drives normal, but still has the light on.

[Headnsouth]

The CEL should go out after a while if it doesn't see the fault (loose gas cap) any longer.

['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by Anonymous User

Well I checked over everything.....& it looks like my gas cap wasnt on tight. Because that morning I filled it up. So could have the gas cap being not on tight cause the engine light to come on?

Yes, it will set a code PO440, and like the previous poster said will eventually go out once it has been re-tightened and driven for awhile.

[Anonymous User]

Well the engine light, has went away....so its been fixed now.

[rockwood84]

never heard of loose gas cap causing the van to stutter and jerk but on these i guess anything is possible

[16th hippy]

Originally Posted by rockwood84

never heard of loose gas cap causing the van to stutter and jerk but on these i guess anything is possible

seen ford exploders do that. used to do state inspections and when taking gas cap off with vehicle running would make it stumble for about 10-20 seconds.

[rockwood84]

knew it would make the ses light come on .but i guess it does somthing to the fuel pressure with the cap loose or off.

[16th hippy]

Originally Posted by rockwood84

knew it would make the ses light come on .but i guess it does somthing to the fuel pressure with the cap loose or off.

that and the EVAP system in general operates "through" the gas tank.