This is not the time! UPDATE

[4fordisney]

My husband was running last minute errands before we leave for our trip tomorrow morning. The "service engine soon" light lit up on our minivan. We just had the oil changed and a general check up on Wednesday. He took the van to the dealership and they are running diagnostics on it. They found a loose gas cap right away. They said they get that a lot and it could be the reason for the light to come on. It has something to do with a vacuum and fumes....I understood, but can't seem to repeat what my husband told me...sorry. Anyway, it's been hours now and we are sitting on pins and needles waiting to hear what is wrong.

If it turns out to be serious we might have to rent a minivan. Are there any good deals to be had? So far in my internet searching I have only come up with about $1000 for 2 weeks....we'll need it for at least 13 days. That certainly isn't in our budget, but at this point we have so much sunk into this trip we might have to use a credit card for a rental...which we certainly do NOT want to do.

 

[ErinC]

So Sorry that this is happened. Hopefully it is nothing. Not sure about rental van prices and renting. Hopefully if that happens, you can find some codes. Check out mousesavers rental car section to see if there are some codes that can be used in your area. I know that it is last minute, but you could try a priceline bid for airfare and then just rent a car at MCO. Check airfare out of your area and just see, you never know. Do you have any warranty on your car? Sometimes extended warranties will cover rental cars while your car is being fixed. With the cost of gas it just might turn out cheaper to fly. If you decide to do a bid with priceline check out www.biddingfortravel.com and see what others have gotten for airfare from your area. Hopefully it will turn out to be nothing. Best of luck!

 

[CarolA]

Yes, a loose gas cap can cause this light to come on! I have several friends who that has happened to.

Wonder why it is taking so long (I hate car dealers! LOL!)

 

[4fordisney]

I've thought about flying, but my sister, whom is going with us, is terrified to fly. Also we are renting a house in Kissimmee and already have everything packed for it...everything is read to go into the van. Still no word, and my husband has a sick look on his face.

 

[jenr812]

No advice but wanted to offer a {{{hug}}} and some support!

 

[Traveliz]

Hey - here is my experience - I have a full size van - a year ago last summer I was taking my niece nephew and daughter to FL alone and we had a bit of work done on the van prior to leaving. Got it back and about a day later the service engine light came on...went to the dealership they had all ready done all the diagostics on my car but check it out and they say its probaly the loose gas cap thing, anyway light came back on a day or so later after I got gas and its been on ever since and btw I have driven to Florida from Illinois twice in that van and been ok.

So I am thinking its a combo of the age of the van and the cap thing and the light is just my constant companion.

I have had work done on the van since then too but nothing that has ever made the light go off.

Liz

 

[KaitlinsMom]

happened here - Loose gas cap was the problem - Could also be a loose oil cap - Hope that is all it is -

karen

 

[4fordisney]

Good news! It was the loose gas cap. The mechanic ran it through diagnostics 10 times and drove it 3 times. He put 30 miles on it just driving around testing it. The light is now off. They put a warning sticker next to our gas cap about always making sure it clicks. While it was there my husband had them look at one of the headlights that flickered the other day. They ended up replacing it and our warranty didn't cover it, but all in all it was only $120 out of pocket. And the peace of mind we have now is worth so much more than that!

Oh, and thanks for the hugs....I really needed it!

 

[twinscandc]

Sorry - double post!!

 

[twinscandc]

Yeah!! I'm sure you are very relieved!! I know how worrisome that can be!! It would be such a nightmare to be stuck along side the road!!

Have a great time on your vacation and drive safely!!

 

[Donna]

We have had "service engine soon" lights come on in every van we have owned. One dealer "friend" told me that they are "set" to come on around 35-45,000 miles so that you will take it in for checking, thus, they get money out of a service call. The van we have now, a 2002 chrysler town and country, the light came on, stayed on. took into dealer, they said it could be a number of things. they SAID it was an oxygen sensor. ok, $220 later, light is off UNTIL we drive it home, light comes on AGAIN and has been on ever since. They said that it could be any number of things, but I cannot afford to play guessing games with them at $200+ a pop. They reset the light so it goes off, just putting the gas cap on tight does not automatically make it turn off. Just don't be too surprised if you see it pop on again. But i'd say, even if it does, it's really nothing to worry about. Even the dealer said, unless it BLINKS, you are safe to drive. We've been looking at a Saturn Relay, that will be our next mini van, no more plymouth OR chrysler for us!

 

[lbgraves]

LOL! As soon as I saw the engine light I thought...GAS CAP! That has happened to us twice now. CRAZY!!! Glad that it was something simple like that. Have a great trip!

 

[deba]

Hooray for you! Have a great time and relax!

 

[kejoda]

WE had our engine light come on just before Christmas. The mechanic also mentioned that you need to make sure the gas cap is tight. It can cause problems if its not turned tightly.

Of course ours wasn't that simple. Our O2 sensor went out. It cost about 500 to 600.

 

[VintageKnight]

engine lights on, 70,000 miles later its still there, suprised it hasnt burnt out yet, but my 1999 taurus duratec with 139,000 still runs strong...and gets better gas milage now than when i bought it.


DVK

 

[jenr812]

So glad all is well! Enjoy your trip

 

[HM]

Good news! It was the loose gas cap. The mechanic ran it through diagnostics 10 times and drove it 3 times. He put 30 miles on it just driving around testing it. The light is now off. They put a warning sticker next to our gas cap about always making sure it clicks. While it was there my husband had them look at one of the headlights that flickered the other day. They ended up replacing it and our warranty didn't cover it, but all in all it was only $120 out of pocket. And the peace of mind we have now is worth so much more than that!

Oh, and thanks for the hugs....I really needed it!

I was going to suggest checking your gas cap. I've had this happen to me twice.....and luckily I have OnStar, so they could tell me that was probably the problem each time the Check Engine Light came on. It usually took 2 days for the light to go off after I reclosed the cap.

Glad you had the same experience. Sorry you had to pay someone to tell you what it was though. I wish I'd seen this earlier.

-H>M

 

[L107ANGEL]

My service engine light has been on since one week after buying it! Many diagnostics and nothing came up wrong. Just enjoy your trip!!