Strange and Odd Check Engine Light

[SS MAYFLOAT]

My wifes 2000 Explorer does something strange. With the check engine light out, she can drive around town, on the expressway, and just about anywhere. However there is this one curve on the way home from the lake, the friggen light will come on. Going to the lake, it doesn't come on. Just about everytime she goes home and goes around this one particular curve, it will come on. No other place that she drives will it come on.

I'll unhook the battery and it will clear the code. She only gets to go to the lake about once a month, but when she does and comes home, the light will pop on at that curve. It is the code for the gas cap. Full tank empty tank it doesn't matter. If she goes another route (which is longer) it won't come on.

Any ideas? BTW a new gas cap from Ford did not fix the problem.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Strange and Odd Check Engine Light

Sounds like you have a short in the system, that this specific curve puts the sensor in the correct position to trigger the code, do you have a code reader, they will save the codes as well as warn about pending codes..

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Strange and Odd Check Engine Light

Any ideas?

Don't go home that way...

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Strange and Odd Check Engine Light

Don't clear the code. Get a scanner and figure out which circuit is going bad.

 

[rbh]

Re: Strange and Odd Check Engine Light

I am thinking the only thing thats really going to move when you go flying around a corner (pulling 6 G's )
is the float in the tank from the fuel sender??????

(and fuel for that matter)


Bet this ones going to prove to be a "B" to find.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Strange and Odd Check Engine Light

Try a different fuel cap.

 

[snake77]

Re: Strange and Odd Check Engine Light

whats the actual dtc code that keeps coming up. There isn't a code for gas cap just evap codes.

 

[woodsyfeller]

Re: Strange and Odd Check Engine Light

Make it happen on purpose then drive directly to an auto parts store. Lots of the stores will hook up a diagnostic scanner for free and tell you the error code.The parts stores know most people dont want to buy a scanner but offer a free check in hopes they will be able to sell you the part to fix it.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Strange and Odd Check Engine Light

The "loose cap" code you are talking about comes when the pressure in the tank cant be kept. If you are loosing pressure in your tank it can be in various location. The gas cap is the most common, then it could be the hose between the gas tank and the gas filler port, the gaskets around your tank fuel pump (if you have one), the return hose coming from the fuel pressure regulator and such. I will say since it is a curve maybe, just maybe, the tank is moving and letting the gasses escape? I would make sure all those are tight/sealed and also using an aftermarket fuel cap just to try. A faulty sensor could also be the cause but I have no idea how hard it might be to replace it or how costly the sensor is. Electronics cannot be returned in most cases.....