Check Engine light after gas

[KD00LS]

I just got gas in my car about an hour ago and my CEL came on. The light wasn't blinking but the car was bucking pretty bad and it happened like 2-3 miles down the road after I filled up. I left my information at the gas station where I filled up and the kid remembered me filling up there so it's definitely credible as far as me being there. Is there any way they can test the gas? The kid said he definitely put in 92 octane.

 

[NYC LS8]

Is the gas cap on right? It'll trigger a CEL if it's off or loose.

 

[ecarlcl]

Would a loose gas cap make the car "buck"?

Sounds like its just crappy gas or maybe some water in it.

 

[KD00LS]

Is the gas cap on right? It'll trigger a CEL if it's off or loose.

I didn't check that, but would it make the car buck like that?

 

[rickztahone]

just fill up in another gas station and see if the same things happens

 

[pagluy]

Once in my old '85 Towncar I filled up at Marathon and as soon as I left I was sitting at a light and it started to buck and shudder. It did that the whole tank of gas till I got something else. I never used Marathon again

 

[JWerner2]

I was told once before, I think when I had my coil issue that the car would buck if the cap was not on right or had a crack .

 

[daves2000ls]

Happened to me twice, two stations just a block or so apart, on two different occasions. Both times I just had to deal with it til it got to about 1/4 tank, then I put in a bottle of octane booster and filled it up the rest of the way; that took care of it both times. I assumed it was water in the gas, and have not gone back to either of those stations since.

 

[KD00LS]

Update: I got the code pulled and the mechanic said that it was a misfire on coil #2. Doesn't the CEL flash when there is a misfire? Maybe he was just bull:q:q:q:qting or something.

 

[joegr]

The light will flash if the mis-fire is bad enough for long enough. The fact that it didn't flash does not mean it isn't a bad coil. It is best to use a Ford specific scan tool to read the actual misfire counts on each cylinder. The generic code may be wrong about which one it is or, it may be more than one. (And, no a loose gas cap won't cause any engine problems, it just turns the light on.)

 

[KD00LS]

I hope it's not a coil again, I've had them replaced twice already.

 

[JWerner2]

Plenty of members agree that the light does not always flash. Mine did not and I had a very bad case.

 

[KD00LS]

Could bad gas or water in the gas have caused it?

 

[NYC LS8]

The two coils that have gone while I've owned the car just illuminated the check engine light, it never flashed just stayed lit.

 

[KD00LS]

The two coils that have gone while I've owned the car just illuminated the check engine light, it never flashed just stayed lit.

Probably the last thing I need to hear. Damnit, I guess it's replacement time.

 

[TwansLS]

yo was ur car on when u filled up??

 

[KD00LS]

yo was ur car on when u filled up??

Nope.