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Hi, I purchased my Crossfire Roadster in 2007 and joined this forum, but have only ever lurked. :-) I now have an issue that I'm hoping someone on this forum has experienced. I'm going to give alot of detail because I don't know if anything I'm experiencing is related or not. My car has 12,400 miles on it. I recently (within the last 200 miles) got an oil change and new battery. Miles later, I brought my car in for inspection (NY State). The car failed, of course, because of emissions, which has happened before when my battery was disconnected. Per my mechanic, I just need to drive the car for a while and it will pass (or at least it has in the past). I then filled up with gas. After driving it for a short time, the gas light started to blink. I stopped the car and opened and reclosed the gas lid. The blinking gas light stopped. I drove a short time more and now the check engine light went on. I have opened and closed the gas lid several times now and the check engine light will not go out. Is it time to see a mechanic? Thanks in advance for any advice.
Trial and error is the hard way to solve this. As I also have two Crossfires with very low mileage I have to watch out for bad gas clogging things up and causing misfires or worse. What needs to be done is to use a good scanner that not only reads error codes causing check engine light to go on, but include OBDII readiness monitors (smog check). I suspect there was a repeated failure related to the drive cycle tests. Buy yourself a decent scanner. I've lost count on how manner scanners I've aquired over the years for different reasons, and at different price levels. I've seen many other posts with forum members recommending their scanner of choice.
A quality low cost and easy to use scanner that provides a lot of good information is the BlueDriver available on Amazon. It's very conventient and easy to use through your smart phone.
The person at Autozone said the code was P0455, evaporation emission system leak. The manager then came over and asked if I had opened and closed the gas cap and if the blue plastic around the gas cap was at all damaged. I went out and opened and closed it again, and no, the blue plastic was in perfect condition. I still had the check engine light on, so the manager told me I should purchase a new gas cap, Duralast Fuel Cap item 6842. Should I do that?
A quality low cost and easy to use scanner that provides a lot of good information is the BlueDriver available on Amazon. It's very conventient and easy to use through your smart phone.
I looked at that brand but since mine is a 2004 XF that scans as a 2003 SLK 320 I figured it wouldn't work based on what the website said....
I've used the BlueDriver on both my 2006 and 2007 Crossfires and it works fine without any special configuration. Last year I replaced both car batteries with AGM batteries. I did not bother to provide alternate power to the car computer to save the OBDII readiness status. That will never happen again. I had to drive both cars through the mercedes drive cycle procedures to get the OBDII readiness for the annual state emissions inspecition that is done with the safety inspection. As is expected, sometimes that takes multiple tries to get a specific monitor to successfully complete. The BlueDriver was just quick and easy to use for that purpose.
Sometime over the next week I will test it on the 2004 Crossfire to confirm it works on it as well.
I've used the BlueDriver on both my 2006 and 2007 Crossfires and it works fine without any special configuration. Last year I replaced both car batteries with AGM batteries. I did not bother to provide alternate power to the car computer to save the OBDII readiness status. That will never happen again. I had to drive both cars through the mercedes drive cycle procedures to get the OBDII readiness for the annual state emissions inspecition that is done with the safety inspection. As is expected, sometimes that takes multiple tries to get a specific monitor to successfully complete. The BlueDriver was just quick and easy to use for that purpose.
Sometime over the next week, I will test it on the 2004 Crossfire to confirm it works on it as well.
I have a BlueDriver and it is the best reader I have for finding the status of the emissions readings. We do not have yearly emissions testing anymore though, they are required only when it comes to selling the car along with the safety test.
The person at Autozone said the code was P0455, evaporation emission system leak. The manager then came over and asked if I had opened and closed the gas cap and if the blue plastic around the gas cap was at all damaged. I went out and opened and closed it again, and no, the blue plastic was in perfect condition. I still had the check engine light on, so the manager told me I should purchase a new gas cap, Duralast Fuel Cap item 6842. Should I do that?
I really appreciate the assistance here. I can change a tire and my windshield wipers, but my mechanical skills aren't much beyond that!
The most common reason for an evap leak error code is a loose gas cap, however, besides a leaking gas cap there are other components that can cause that error. The cap could be bad but I suspect not. A gas cap is not a high priced item. If you are in a hurry to resolve the problem you can buy it and have it as a spare if it does not solve the evap leak test.
Here is part of the Mercedes drive cycle procedures pertaining to the Evap readiness test.
The Amazon link is to the BlueDrive I'm talking about. I see today 8/14 there is a $20 off coupon. I have not done a comprehensive comparison of all it's functions, capability, or limitations. It is quick and easy to use and does have some very nice features.
@ Toolman, I just wanted to circle back and say thanks so much for the step by step instructions. IT WORKED. And I returned the cap to AutoZone. Thanks again for your assistance and guidance.
New member question and hello
