My Type R is the first car I have owned that makes that scary sucking sound (the vaccum) when you take the gas cap off. I know that some verions of OBD 1 will turn the check engine light on if the gas cap is not on or the vapor recovery system stops working for another reason.

Tonight I was in a hurry when I stopped to get gas and just whipped the gas cap off not slowly at all. It made the sucking sound for a while (a few seconds), but I ran the tank down pretty low (put in 12 gallons, but that was really topped off. The needle went past the F).

I filled up, put the gas cap back on and hopped in the car. When I started it I noticed the check engine was blinking. It went out shortly, but it was the last idoit light on the dash to go out by a couple of seconds.

I shut the car off when I got where I was going, it sat for about 20 minutes I got back in and the check engine light did the same blinking thing.

I haven't been driving my R never long and ( I am kind of embarassed to say) I don't really know what the check engine light does norally when I turn the car on. I would think it would come on and the just go out, no blinking and quickly.

The car drives fine and still pulls like a donkey on crack when the v-tec hits.

I might be overly worried, but I wanted to make sure nothing was wrong. If you can share your ideas and experiances with this problem that would be great.

Thanks a lot

Matt

 

dont worry about the gas thing making that vacuum sound. As for the CEL, did u figure out what it says?

 

I've got an idea, but not 100% sure. Could it be that the gas cap didn't get reinstalled back on tight enough? I remember reading in my Civic Si manual that if the gas cap is loose, the check engine light will come on letting you know. Also, you're right, when starting the engine, the light should come on solid, then go out. This is just the first thing to come to mind... Hope this is all it is.

 

umm i think thats the maintenance required light.

 

Is your check engine light flashing or your Maintenece required light flashing? Huge difference. Check engine light flash = Misfire that can cause Catalyst damage. Maint.Reqd. light flashing = your mileage indicates you need an oilchange and a tire rotation. Gas cap suckie noise, vapor recovery sytem fully operational.

 

that flashing light is the "mantainence required" light.. not the CEL... its nothing to worry about... as for #071... i think that u either didnt close the cap tight enough, or u may have used the wrong octane fuel...

 

Thanks for your replies.

I will look into that hidden button on the dash to turn it off.

I did get right out and check the gas cap before I left the gas station, so I don't think that caused it. The car did just turn 6000 miles so I am thinking its time to change the oil and find that hidden button under the dash.

Thanks again.

Matt

 

Sorry, it is the "Maintenance required" light.

Time for an oil change and rotate the tires.

Will the Maintenance Required light flash at every 6000 mile interval?

Thanks again.

 

-Courtesy of Yoshi234

 

that picture is great

 

OH yeah, gotta change the oil every 3000 miles without fail.

Freash oil is even more important with a motor with piston speeds this high.

Thanks for the sweet diagram, that will make finding that button much easier.