My 2004 Hinda Civic has only 300 miles on it. I bought gas 5 days ago and made sure I tightened the gas cap and heard the cap click at least three times as the manual instructed. I still have at least a half of a tank of gas in the car and probably have only driven 100 miles since I filled the tank at the beginning of the week.


Tonight, I parked the car to go grocery shopping. When I started the car to come home (only 15 minutes later), the engine maintenance light came on. I did not notice anything wrong with the car in the less than 10 minute drive home, nor did I notice any problems in the errands I ran prior to the light going on.

Since it is Sunday, I can't take the car into the dealer to be checked.

My brother said I didn't tighten the gas cap, but I can't understand why it would take 5 days for it to trigger the light.

Does anyone have any suggestions or other things I might be able to check? I am a single parent and desperately need a car that works Sunday. I checked the manual, but it just says take the car to the dealer.

Thank you.

 

is it the MAINT REQD light or the Check engine light?

 

The light is the Malfunction indicator lamp (the Check engine light). The light stayed on continually once it went on tonight. In the manual it does say it would be the light to go on if the gas cap is loose. I just don't understand why the gas cap would become loose 5 days AFTER I filled the tank.

Thanks for asking for clarification. I tried to reply to your question directly, but was unable to.

lzw