Loose gas cap costs me $130

Wow! Did not know that, thanks for the info. Never been to NJ, myself.

 

I must have been a crap tech then, up until 10 years ago I was a motor mechanic and I never checked for a loose petrol cap.

 

I bought my Prius in Mankato during C4C madness, so I'm looking for a dealer for service in the Twin Cities as well. Others here and elsewhere have recommended the Rudy Luther dealership in Golden Valley. I haven't had the need to use a dealer for service yet, but their sales people treated me well when I was looking for a car -- they just didn't have one to sell me at the time.

 

I'd complain to Toyota. You got ripped off. They probably knew exactly what it was but figured they'd try to milk you for $130. Buy an inexpensive OBDII reader and keep it in the glove box. Next time you can clear the code yourself. Just make sure that the code that is thrown is the loose gas cap. I did that just recently for a friend with a 2002 Mercedes. The dealer wanted $400 to fix it. Most dealers are stealers.

 

It happened on my sons Rav4. We went to the dealer and he said since the car has 300 miles on it, it's probably a loose gas cap. He said to tighten it and if the light doesn't go off after some driving bring it back or he will do a diag and it will cost $89 if nothing is found wrong. We tightened the cap past 3 clicks and after awhile the light went off. Since then, my son and I always tighten the cap ourselves whenever we get gas.

 

checking gas cap for a check engine light was something my salesman pointed out when I picked up the car. Checking the dash dimmer switch was the other most common issue new owners called about.

 

This is good information to know. I will check the gas cap, if I ever have the need to take it off again - I am still driving on the gas from the dealer

 

I honestly think that the click is not that obvious, at least not compared to my '93 Toyota pickup. I found myself turning it about 6-7 times to be sure it had clicked at all.

 

If you never had a loose cap throw a code, how would you know it is a simple fix? I would never have known it if my local Independent mechanic had not pointed it out to me. They see this stuff all the time since a lot of the local use car dealers use his shop to diagnose check engine lights.

 

Ditto for Oregon. Self-service gas is apparently illegal there.

 

10 years ago, working in an independent mechanical workshop it was never an issue. I'm guessing things have changed, or maybe our emission standards here don't require a sealed petrol tank anyway.

 

On the way home from work today the CEL came on. Great, with the holiday weekend coming up. When I got home, I took out my trusty AutoXray and hooked it up. I got a code P1423 code, EVAP leak. Last night I got ther car filled up, no CEL, on the way to work, no CEL. The only thing I could figure was that the jockey screwed the cap on, but stopped before the click and that the cap vibrated loose. I redid the cap and cleared the code. That scanner still comes in handy after all these years.

 

That's funny ! , a Joysee or Oregonian disgruntled gas jockey can be "spreading the wealth" by not tightening ANY gas caps until his girlfriend 'smiles' at him again!!!

I saw a front line service writer immediately walk over to a car with a CEL and find the gas cap loose. No charge.

Also Guys, don't most auto parts stores read codes or rent you a reader for free these days?

Me? I won't be using my gas cap much. I just brought home my new VOLT. A ~$7000 upgrade from my '10 Prius.
Such a "Leap in Technology" , as Lutz wanted!!!

Sayonara Suckers !!!

Who needs a '10 Prius IV Solarsunroof/Nav/JBL/ Heated Leather/17" Wheels/Swaybar/ etc.... ???? Second most expensive Prius. In the 'Sale Section'.

 

So much for retirement in Oregon!

 

I'd think that would be a reason to retire there - no worries about having to get out of the car in nasty weather to fill up

 

Looks like you'll still have to get out to check the cap or wipe off the gas the attendant spilled over the side of the car.

 

If it was the dealer you bought it from I would write a letter to owner. They should be nice and not charge you the first time but I can see the second time.

 

You aren't missing anything.

Correct. I believe this has been the case since OBD2 was made mandatory. I know when I bought my 2001 Hyundai Accent they told me about this and then again when I bought my 2002 Hyundai Elantra. The Toyota dealer I bought both our Prii from however did not mention it either time. Maybe Toyota dealers are happy to run this scam on people? Hard to believe that's the case though as I'm sure they'd rather have happy customers who want to come back rather than go somewhere else after they feel robbed.

Certainly. Go to the top.

 

When my son got his Rav 4, the light came on after getting gas. We went to the dealer and they said it would be $100 if it was something not under warrantee. The service manager said check the gas cap because he would bet that's the problem. He was right. The car had only 300 miles on it and his hunch saved me $100.