brand new car -- service engine soon light

[robtrink]

hey guys hows it goin,

I just got my new car and have driven it for about two weeks now. I have a total of 915 miles on it. My car sat for about 4 days after I jsut filled up my gas tank. For some reason, today the service engine soon light came on.

When I checked the manual, it says emissions may be wrong or the gas cap/ low fuel could be the problem. The light is definately just staying on, its not blinking and it goes away after the car stops.

I tried tightening my gas cap, I even followed the manual and took my car on a couple drives.

Is this normal? I am wondering if I should take it in tomorrow, or If I should wait it out and give it a couple days.

Rob

[FuszNissan]

Evap leak

[robtrink]

Right -- I am assuming the gas cap.

tightened the gas cap. Is the light gonna go off or do I need to get it reset at a dealer.

[davidyan]

Try resetting it by disconnecting the battery for about a minute. If it comes back on, you might have another prob.

[robtrink]

got it, thanks for the help!

I wish the gas caps were not so touchy...

[LattimerII]

Did this work for you? Got the service engine soon light today myself. Just tightened cap and about to drive around.

Edited to add: Well, apparently it was just a loose gas cap. Light is now off.

This car is going to kill me. I try and keep the interior and exterior looking perfect. Religiously checking fluid levels, etc.

Maybe I should have kept my Pathfinder! That sucker was a tank. NO maintenance at all except regular oil changes (at Wal-Mart, Quick Lube, wherever) and a new set of tires. Not a single problem since it was built late 2000. As for keeping it clean and perfect, I bought used (from a friend which is how I know the vehicle's history), and it already had a number of paint chips and parking lot door dings. It was very low maintenace.
















J/K, while the above is true about my Pathy, I wouldn't trade back for the Z. I love my 370, and that's part of the reason I'm spending so much time doting over it.

[spearfish25]

How long do you have to have the gas cap off to set off the service light? I refill all the time with the engine running and no CEL yet...

[Phimosis]

Originally Posted by robtrink

hey guys hows it goin,

I just got my new car and have driven it for about two weeks now. I have a total of 915 miles on it. My car sat for about 4 days after I jsut filled up my gas tank. For some reason, today the service engine soon light came on.

<snip>

Is this normal?
Rob

Unfortunatley, yes, it is normal on the 2009. Hopefully they'll fix it next year and give us 2009 owners a fix as well. It's happened to me twice.... but the sencond time I drove with the CEL on for 1,000 or so miles, so maybe it would ahve happened even more had I got it fixed right away.

[andz33]

Is the ecu reset procedures the same as it is on my 350z I got a light on my 370z as well assuming it's from the gas cap but just wanted to see if it's the same crazy procedure

[Romanowski]

I read somewhere that the ECU reset procedure is:

ECU Resetting Procedures

Timing is extremely critical. If it is NOT DONE within the specify time, the ECU will not reset and the Check Engine Light (CEL) will continue to remain ON.
A stop watch or an analog clock with a second’s needle will be useful.

Operations Procedures

1. Confirm that accelerator pedal is fully released, turn ignition switch “ON” and wait 3 seconds.
2. Repeat the following steps (2a and 2b) procedures quickly five times within 5 seconds.
2a. Fully depress the accelerator pedal (HARD).
2b. Fully release the accelerator pedal.
3. Wait 7 seconds, fully depress the accelerator pedal and keep it for approx. 10 seconds until the CEL starts blinking.
4. Fully release the accelerator pedal (while the CEL is still blinking)
5. Wait about 10 second.
6. Fully depress the accelerator pedal and keep it for more than 10 seconds.
7. Fully release the accelerator pedal (The CEL light will continue to blink).
8. Turn ignition switch to “OFF” position and now you can start the car. The CEL light should be gone.

If the CEL light continues to remain ON, repeat the above steps. Timing is EXTREMELY critical to resetting the ECU.


Accelerator Pedal Release Position Learning

Operation Procedure
1. Make sure that the accelerator pedal is fully released.
2. Turn ignition switch “ON” and wait at least 2 seconds.
3. Turn ignition switch “OFF” wait at least 10 seconds.
4. Turn ignition switch “ON” and wait at least 2 seconds.
5. Turn ignition switch “OFF” wait at least 10 seconds.

Throttle Valve Closed Position Learning

Operation Procedures
1. Make sure that accelerator pedal is fully released.
2. Turn ignition switch is “ON”.
3. Turn ignition switch is “OFF” wait at least 10 seconds.
Make sure that the throttle valve moves during above 10 seconds by confirming the operating sound.


Idle Air Volume Learning (Throttle Position Learning)
It is better to count the time accurately with a clock.

Operation Procedures
1. Perform “Accelerator Pedal Released Position Learning”.
2. Perform “Throttle Valve Closed Position Learning”.
3. Start engine and warm it up to normal operating temperature.
4. Turn ignition switch “OFF” and wait at least 10 seconds.
5. Conform that accelerator pedal is fully released, turn ignition switch “ON” and wait 3 seconds.
6. Repeat the following (steps 7a, 7b) procedures quickly five times within 5 seconds.
7a. Fully depress the accelerator pedal (HARD)
7b. Fully release the accelerator pedal.
8. Wait 7 seconds, fully depress the accelerator pedal and keep it for approx. 20 seconds until the Check Engine Light (CEL) stops blinking and turned ON.
9. Fully release the accelerator pedal within 3 seconds after the CEL is ON.
10. Start engine and let it idle.
11. Wait 20 seconds.
12. Rev up the engine two or three times and make sure the idle speed and ignition timing are within the specifications.

[davidyan]

Originally Posted by Phimosis

Unfortunatley, yes, it is normal on the 2009. Hopefully they'll fix it next year and give us 2009 owners a fix as well. It's happened to me twice.... but the sencond time I drove with the CEL on for 1,000 or so miles, so maybe it would ahve happened even more had I got it fixed right away.

A loose gas cap on any newer car will set off the CEL. I dont think there will be a fix in 2010.

[tcarretti]

I took my car in for this exact problem and they cleared the code and told me that they were ordering me a new gas cap. That was two weeks ago and I have not heard back from them and the CEL has not reappeared yet even though I've filled up twice since then.

I think I'm going to go with the STANT filler cap that has shown it's face in the forums lately though. Seems like it would fix the problem AND make filling up easier.

[Lone Wolf 75]

The Service Engine Soon Light illuminated on my 370Z on Thursday, at around 1700 miles. I figured it was a loose gas cap. I did go and check, but it seemed that the cap did turn a little before it clicked.

I called the dealer on Friday morning, they were rather non-chalant about the whole thing, and said to drive the car over the weekend and if the light doesn't go out by Monday, to schedule a service. They say the sensor is stubborn and takes a few cycles (car cools down and is heated up) to reset itself if it is a loose gas cap. I have to fill up tomorrow morning, and I am going to call the dealer if it doesn't go out by my arrival at work tomorrow morning.

I'm a little concerned that this would happen to a brand new car, but not overly concerned because the car does not drive any different than normal and the dealer did not suggest that I need to bring the car in right away.

I'll report back.

[bradz]

The solution for this is not to push (hard) the gas cap while turning it clockwise. When you guys have your tank filled up, just tighten the gas cap by not pushing it hard while turning. Trust me guys this is the simple solution for this. I had my Altima 2 years ago and it keeps throwing SES light after filled up and when I did the above procedure it didn't throw any SES light since now I got my Z.

[Lone Wolf 75]

So my SES light was from the loose gas cap code. The dealer cleared the code and all is now well.