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Well, the diagnostic codes have all referenced a "vapor loss" of some kind, which everyone who has looked at it has taken to mean the gas cap, rather than a serious transmission issue. The transmission went out on the car last summer, but thankfully my mother had the foresight to make me get the extended warranty, so I got a new transmission and radiator for about $500, which was a lot better than the $2300 I was originally told.
I don't know that I am using any more gas than I was prior to all of this happening (my gas mileage hasn't really changed at all).
Thanks for your help and advice everyone! Hope you all have a great weekend!!!!
Try to remember to tighten the gas cap till it "clicks" (ratcheting torque limiting mechanism).
You might try a new OEM gas cap if it's one that isn't attached to the car somehow. I have never owned a Neon so don't know if the gas cap just comes off in your hand or is attached to the car by a linkage or lanyard.
If it's attached there may be an O-ring you can replace.
It would be good to fix the problem so your CEL is available to "rat out" more serious problems.
Thank you M3 Mitch for all of your advice! I have been tighteneing the cap until it clicks (but it does still seem loose when I open it again later to refuel), so we will see if that helps some. I just bought a regular new gas cap (sorry to sound dumb, but I have no idea what OEM is or if I got an OEM one or not). The gas cap that was previously on the car was attached to the car, but I cut the cord on it when I got the new one (hopefully not a huge mistake lol). I will take it back to a diagnostic place and see if they can run it again, and if it's the same code, I will see if they can just manually reset the CEL and hopefully it won't come back! Thanks again!!!!
I am taking my Neon to my mechanic in alittle while to see if the same code comes up as back in May which was PO442. He's not going to charge me another diagnostic fee so that's good. Will keep you posted.
No one has mentioned the cost of resetting the Check Engine light. It used to be $150, I don't know what it is now. Something can set it off like a bit of dirt in an injector but it can clear up but the light stays on. Sounds like a gimmick to get people into their dealer's and spend some money.
Same code reading came up so I replaced the gas cap and my mechanic reset the light. I know it won't pass inspection but that's a year off, so with alittle bit of luck nothing else will go wrong and I can get another year out of Nellie.
It never cost me anything to reset the check engine light. AutoZone and some others will check it and reset the light for free (or they did for me on several occasions). I think I am just going to take it back to AutoZone again and have them reset the light and see what happens. I already got the new gas cap, and the guy told me it would reset itself (but the other guys just did it themselves, so I think that I am going to go that route). I am fortunate enough to live in a county that does not require inspections, so at least I know I'm covered on that route lol!
No inspections..............I'm moving to your state........ha!
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Will keep you posted.
