Check engine light after refueling

Southpaw · 12-24-2001, 03:05 PM

I have a 1990 Mustang LX 5.0. Haven't had it long, just a couple of months. In that time, I've put maybe 500 miles on it. Today, I took it out to stretch the horses and fill up the tank. Well, like an idiot, I overfilled. When I started the car back up, the check engine light came on. Could this have come on just by overfilling the tank? I tried a reset and the light came back on. Seems to me I read somewhere that overfilling the tank can cause this warning light to come on. Also happens when the gas cap isn't tight.

Jeb_Bush_2000 · 12-24-2001, 05:55 PM

I believe overfilling the tank can cause damage to the charcoal canister, or something like that.

MikeWeber · 12-25-2001, 11:28 PM

Fuel backups into the vapor purge line and causes the charcoal canister to read no vacuum. This should reset itself after the fuel level drops and a few engine cycles pass.

12-24-2001, 03:05 PM	#1
Southpaw Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Va Posts: 3	Check engine light after refueling I have a 1990 Mustang LX 5.0. Haven't had it long, just a couple of months. In that time, I've put maybe 500 miles on it. Today, I took it out to stretch the horses and fill up the tank. Well, like an idiot, I overfilled. When I started the car back up, the check engine light came on. Could this have come on just by overfilling the tank? I tried a reset and the light came back on. Seems to me I read somewhere that overfilling the tank can cause this warning light to come on. Also happens when the gas cap isn't tight.

12-24-2001, 05:55 PM	#2
Jeb_Bush_2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Taxachusetts Posts: 374	I believe overfilling the tank can cause damage to the charcoal canister, or something like that. __________________ Stripped-down '93 LX Coupe -- "Danielle" R.I.P. 05/30/02 "I've seen some crazy stuff in my life, but that...was...AWESOME!!! Oh, sorry about your car, man."

12-25-2001, 11:28 PM	#3
MikeWeber Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Louisville, KY, USA Posts: 48	Fuel backups into the vapor purge line and causes the charcoal canister to read no vacuum. This should reset itself after the fuel level drops and a few engine cycles pass. __________________ 88 NMRA Pure Street coupe 95 GT-heads, cam, exhaust, intake, road-race suspension 97 Taurus SHO-K&N, ported meter 95 Escort GT-Pacesetter header & exhaust, Weapon R intake tube

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