Truck Maintenance

[QuarterMillionMan]

I appreciate the suggestions but in the past I've tried changing the gas cap 5x's but it never worked for me. Maybe this might be the 1x that it does work but I decided to explore and came across two 10 mm bolts that were all the way loose and about to fall out so I tightened them. BTW, that's the new O2 sensors. But now 3 new codes came up, P1128, PO132, PO138. The first two have to do with "closed loop fuel not achieved," and the last deals with oxygen sensor high voltage. I cleared the codes to see if they'll come back. If it does return, I might put back the old sensors. I wish it was an easy gas cap fix.

[crazyliblady]

It always annoys me that such a simple thing causes so many problems.

My gas cap only clicks once, though. That's it. That's fully tightened. It doesn't keep turning or clicking so one click is all you get.

I didn't know that yours only clicks once. I guess that's a new thing. I had this exact problem in about 2003. I had lost my gas cap at a gas station and was going to replace it, but before I could do that, my engine light came on. I took my car to the dealership, because I thought the car had a mechanical problem. So, $118 later, I found out that it was because of the missing gas cap. My boss had the same problem while on a business trip. When I asked her about it, she thought it sounded weird and even called her dealership, and that phone call her saved her some money. Yes, it is annoying, but after my experience, I resolved to not second guess myself and always investigate the simple possibilities before paying hundreds to a mechanic.

[disneysteve]

Did you tighten the gas cap at least 3 clicks since you last gassed up? Having a loose gas cap will cause the engine light to come on.

It always annoys me that such a simple thing causes so many problems.

My gas cap only clicks once, though. That's it. That's fully tightened. It doesn't keep turning or clicking so one click is all you get.

[crazyliblady]

Did you tighten the gas cap at least 3 clicks since you last gassed up? Having a loose gas cap will cause the engine light to come on.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Bummer the engine light came back on after only 5 minutes of driving to fill up gas at my neighborhood gas station. If the catalytic converter needs replacing it will be a $2000 repair which sucks. I will have to take it to Pepboys to diagnose.

[crazyliblady]

that's too much for a truck worth less than that. Couldn't you get a pickup for $4500 or am i so way off base? I mean a newer truck with less miles but still old. I would not sink money into a truck like that. Then again I didn't sink that much in cash into a car that was 11 years old and 100k miles and worth $2500 is what we sold it for.

The least expensive truck I have seen advertised was $9,500 and it had nearly 200K miles. As for the car you had and sold, you should know that trucks generally sell for much more, even old ones.

[QuarterMillionMan]

On a side note ua_guy now I see why it needed anti-seize compound, it gets mighty hot and the extreme heat would make it impossible to remove if needed. Good call.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Complete, erased the code, now I wait and hope the engine light stays off but knowing my luck it will return. All this done while working from home, love it.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Oh I better get some then.

[ua_guy]

Good points ua_guy, I have Loctite for the threads, and I ordered an 02 socket w/the opening for the wires, it uses a 3/8" drive rachet for $7 on eBay. Yes 4 cylinder. The O2 sensors looks easy to access with lots of space to work with.
7/8-Inch 22mm Offset Oxygen O2 Sensor Socket Wrench Removal Tool Drive 3/8" | eBay

No Loctite, please. lol. NOT the same as anti-seize....quite the opposite, actually!

[QuarterMillionMan]

Good points ua_guy, I have Loctite for the threads, and I ordered an 02 socket w/the opening for the wires, it uses a 3/8" drive rachet for $7 on eBay. Yes 4 cylinder. The O2 sensors looks easy to access with lots of space to work with.
7/8-Inch 22mm Offset Oxygen O2 Sensor Socket Wrench Removal Tool Drive 3/8" | eBay

[ua_guy]

This is the closest matching thread I could find. BTW, I hope someone doesn't have a hissy fit for me resurrecting an old thread, lol. But my dreaded engine light came on so I used my diagnostic tester and it gave me a code PO420, which has something to do with the catalytic converter and/or O2 sensors. I cleared the code hoping it was a mistake code last week but this week it came back on. I just ordered two O2 sensors for the upstream and downstream w/each sensor costing $25 each so $50 total would be a cheap and easy DIY fix. But these check engine light deals can be complicated and if needed I would take it to the dealer or Pepboys but they often will find something else that they want to service so I'll try and fix it myself first if I can.

Don’t forget the anti-seize for the threads on the new sensors. And an O2-sensor socket, unless you think you can put the new ones in with a wrench.

Just 2, not 3? Must be a 4-cylinder?

[Fishindude77]

When you consider the price of new vehicles, $3500 is peanuts to keep one going.
Kudos to you for getting your money's worth out of a vehicle.

Note - I looked at the Tacomas and have stuck with half tons. They get nearly the same mileage plus a lot more room and better ride. Only reason to have a Tacoma, Ranger or similar would be if your garage space is tight.

[QuarterMillionMan]

This is the closest matching thread I could find. BTW, I hope someone doesn't have a hissy fit for me resurrecting an old thread, lol. But my dreaded engine light came on so I used my diagnostic tester and it gave me a code PO420, which has something to do with the catalytic converter and/or O2 sensors. I cleared the code hoping it was a mistake code last week but this week it came back on. I just ordered two O2 sensors for the upstream and downstream w/each sensor costing $25 each so $50 total would be a cheap and easy DIY fix. But these check engine light deals can be complicated and if needed I would take it to the dealer or Pepboys but they often will find something else that they want to service so I'll try and fix it myself first if I can.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

But $3500 + $33k is $36.5k And that's the amount you were thinking of spending.