swerver

Okay,

My 2006 '8 has 2400 miles on it. Plenty of gas, oil topped off, everything in perfect working order. Today's temperature around 82 degrees.

So today I notice the check engine light is on (not flashing just on continuously). No apparent reason why this should be happening; car is running great. I checked the usual suspects but everything is as it should be.

Called the dealer. They said it could be a 1000 different things; impossible to diagnose. I was already scheduled to come in for my first maintainence check in a week, so they said just drive it anyway I want to unless the light is flashing and they'll figure it out in a week.

First Question:
Should I drive it hard with the check engine light on for the week till I get it into the shop? Any harm here?

Second question:
Any possible idead what might be causing this in a brand new car? ....all conjectures welcome.......

Many thanx

mysql101

I would guess that it's the fuel light cap not on tight enough.

Go out, take it off, then put it on nice and tight and see if that helps.

But as your dealer said, could be many possible reasons, impossible to tell without reading the stored code.

captain mercury

yea i made the mistake of not tightening my gas cap all the way...and got a CEL. sounds about right, especially if you say your tank is full.

invasion08

iTrader: (7)

yeah check the gas cap and if that was it in a day or 2 it will turn off

swerver

gas cap checked; first thing I tried. Light came on this morning with about a quarter tank. Checked the gas cap after it happened; same thing. Filled up the tank on the way home (didn't overfill); same thing...........................

?????????????????

guy321

after you tighten the gas cap it could take 40+ miles of driving before it goes out.. it could also be your gas cap leaking.. the dealer will give you a new one if that is the case under warranty.

NoTears316

I believe it has to do with the amount of starts you have after you tighten the cap. This happened to me once, it took about 3 days, around 20 or so starts.

swerver

Okay, everyone seems to believe its the gas cap; thats cool.......

but how is it, I drove 3 quarters of a tank off before the light came on ?? (granted, that ain't very far)

But I'll heed your advice and check the gas cap again and wait and see if the light goes off in a few days............

but the question is, is there anything to be worried about before I can get it to the dealer in a week???

NoTears316

You can always take it into the dealership... go figure. All they have to do is hook into the computer and read the code to tell you whats wrong. Or you could take the advice of all of us who are guessing because we aren't the ones actually operating your car.

guy321

99% of the time it's evap leak (gas cap) or random misfire.

swerver

sounds like good advice from all of you..........many thanx.......

I'll keep an eye on what you've all offered...............many thanx again.............

Bart!

I wouldn't worry too much, go to any auto store and have them run a OBD II scanner - it's free. Based upon what you told us, I can almost guarantee that it will dissapear in a couple of days.. depending on how often you drive.

Duke15

Mine came on the same way yours did - at 788 miles. They said I didn't have the latest flash, so they flashed my computer and off I went. Today it came on with 1572 - 784 miles later. Now I have to get it back in again, and I'll ask for the voluntary recal tests to be performed. Since my car was delivered in the AM, and I had it by 5:00, I wonder if they did any of the TSBs, spark plugs, etc.

swerver

As far as my original post, everybody's advice was exactly right. I freaked cause it was a brand new car.

But just like everyone said, the CEL went out again before I could even get it to the shop. They did the evap test and checked things but all was fine. I now make it a real point to check and make sure the cap is securely tightened..........no further problems.............(for me that is)