[spridget]

Everytime i let some one else drive my car, something strange happens. My car doesn't like it when other people drive her. She's just being moody. Last time my sister was in my Contour, a check engine light came on..... These people are cursed or something. They have bad "car-ma"

This time the CEL came on in the Taurus. I had the code read at AutoZone.

P0442: Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected (Small Leak)

What does that mean? Leaking gas cap maybe?

 

[sundarpn]

isnt there something called am verporative canister.. some where in the fuel system...

 

[JCC]

Could be a leaky gas cap or loose line or bad control valve or bad evaporative canister. I do believe when the fuel cap is taken off after runing for awhile a vacum relief sound should occur. Have you tried cleaning the cap and checked all the hoses you can find. There should be a diagram under the hood for the hoses of the emmision control system.

 

[spridget]

 

[timmytaurus]

Where is the sensor located that trips the code? Is it up by the engine? Any chart to show where it is?

 

[chartmaker]

Vapor Leak

Everytime i let some one else drive my car, something strange happens. My car doesn't like it when other people drive her. She's just being moody. Last time my sister was in my Contour, a check engine light came on..... These people are cursed or something. They have bad "car-ma"

This time the CEL came on in the Taurus. I had the code read at AutoZone.

P0442: Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected (Small Leak)

What does that mean? Leaking gas cap maybe?

Easy to check, mine was the gas filler pipe, rusty, not leaking gas, just vapor. I would check the surface of the pipe where the cap fits for damage, and as others mentioned, the gas cap.

If you are not in the rust belt, unlikely rusted pipe.

-chart-

 

[Jeff K]

Where is the sensor located that trips the code? Is it up by the engine? Any chart to show where it is?

There is no one "sensor" that sets this code. This code sets when the PCM runs the EVAP test. EVAP test uses engine vac to put a vacuum in the fuel tank and measures the rate of pressure rise in the tank. If the pressure goes up too fast, there is a leak to atmosphere in the sealed fuel system, and the PCM sets a code. The rate of pressure rise determines what code is set (small leak, large leak, gross leak).

 

[SoNic67]

She put gas in and didn't tighten the gas cap...