Help! Service Engine light on at 1300 miles?!

[ErikM]

I've got 1300 miles on my Versa. I drive 60 miles each way to and from work.

Today I got home, pulled in the garage, and the Service Engine Soon light came on!

So I'm freaking out a little...I've only had this car 2 weeks and have not had a single problem. Nothing has happened that seemed wrong.

I went back later and started it up again to see if it was a fluke, and it came on as soon as I started it up.

Obviously I will be taking it in tomorrow, but I'm concerned. What on earth could the problem be?

[cnsmike]

If you left the gas cap loose or it is not sealed, that will cause the light. Take it to the dealer, have them look at it.

I took my to AutoZone and read the code and reset it.

[Martin Roy]

After 1300 miles, it's hard to guess what the problem is. To avoid that, I bought a OSB reader. But as you said, it's always safer to take it to the dealership.

[KimberKenobi]

It supposedly does that if you take the tank lower than 3 gallons of gas... are you running low?

just a thought. Don't freak too badly, baby's still under warranty! You're okay. (unlike those of us who are modding our cars... ;oD)

[ErikM]

It supposedly does that if you take the tank lower than 3 gallons of gas... are you running low?

just a thought. Don't freak too badly, baby's still under warranty! You're okay. (unlike those of us who are modding our cars... ;oD)

I'm OK on gas - I just filled up yesterday and still have over 3/4 tank. I'll check the gas cap but I think it's OK since the light didn't come on before I got home today and I haven't touched it since last night.

I'm in kind of a crappy situation because the Nissan dealer is near work, which is 60 miles from home, and I'm often the only one in the office for most of the day. Hopefully they can give me a loner so I can get back to work after I take it in; otherwise I can't do anything about it.

[ErikM]

Took it in this morning - here's what they said (for anyone who has this same problem).

Seems like it is indeed the gas cap. The service guy said they went to a new quarter turn design and I'm not the only person who has had trouble with it. The previous design needed to be turned 2-3 times and worked fine; he wasn't a fan of the new design.

He also told me that it can take up to 4 days for the car to self-diagnose and reset any engine check warnings.

He showed me how to make sure the arrows on the cap line up with the slots on the tank screw when putting the cap back on. When I checked last night the cap was indeed loose and I tightened it, but I wasn't aware that it can take several days for the car to turn off the engine notification itself.

So...lesson learned.

[DrivingHabit]

Same thing happened here too at about 3,700 miles. Currently living in Oregon and so sometimes the guy/gal at the gas station who pumps the gas which is a state law that they do pump the gas, they don't close tighten the cap very good at times.

[Slither]

This happened to me once back in the winter. I didn't bother with dealer. After about 6 days the light went out by itself. I seem to remember I overspilled when filling up. Hasn't occurred again.

Why do people mod the V? I'd flip the loot into a better car...

[Ever Victorious]

Why do people mod the V? I'd flip the loot into a better car...

Wow. That was random and off topic.

And also has been answered in several other threads.

[br4dysays]

my light just came on, around 2200 miles, im gonna tighten up the cap and wait it out a few days.

then ill bring her in, warranty work either way, so i cant' lose!

[ErikM]

I seem to remember I overspilled when filling up.

That was another thing they guy said can cause the light to come on - overfilling the tank.

[bikeman]

Why do people mod the V? I'd flip the loot into a better car...

And then the "better car" still looks like everyone else's so if you want to express your own style and preferences, ya gotta mod the "better car." For me, it makes sense to start with a vehicle that saves some money up front and still allows for individuality. Red on blue does rock!

David

[proxim2020]

Right around the same amount of mileage I had the check engine light also, but disappeared after a few seconds. The same thing happened twice. I'm at 16k now and I haven't seen the light come on once since then. Maybe it' some type of rite of passage or something.

Seriously, what's the big deal about Paris being in jail? (a more random and off topic statement )

[XterraVersa]

Same thing happened here too at about 3,700 miles. Currently living in Oregon and so sometimes the guy/gal at the gas station who pumps the gas which is a state law that they do pump the gas, they don't close tighten the cap very good at times.

Are Orgonians so stupid they need "trained" technicians to put fuel in the car? You guys should try to fix the law so you can get cheaper gas. That has got to add 20-30 cents per gallon.

[Ever Victorious]

Sadly their full-service gas is still cheaper than our self-serve...

[KimberKenobi]

Sadly their full-service gas is still cheaper than our self-serve...

(I'm not big on the smiles... but)