Thread: 2011 fiesta CEL
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Old 05-10-2014, 11:30 PM   #1 (permalink)
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2011 fiesta CEL

Little glowing engine light says a I have an OBD2 fault code. I run down to Advance and get the code read, very slight vacuum leak in the vapor recovery system. Hmmmm looks like I might have to have it smoke tested.

It has a capless fuel fill system, so a new gas cap (or gasket cleaning) was not an option. I used the special gas tube that comes with the car (so you can fill it from a gas can in an emergency) to open the access flap, held it open with a old Mosin Nagant bayonet and wiped off the valve and it's sealing surface, after a shot of WD40. The I used the emergency fill tube to open and close the flap about 60 times rapidly.

Light still on grrrrr, looks like a hit in the wallet. I told the wife it needs an inspection in about 6 weeks and it won't pass with the CEL on. Some web info said it would only come on if the fuel level was down below 1/3 tank or so.
My ever brilliant wife says "just fill the tank and get it inspected".

Next day I drive the Fiesta down to Wally World and fill the tank, light still on, double grrrrrrrrr. Stopped at another store and when I left the light was out. I read that it takes a while for it to reset, so many cycles on and off, hoping I got lucky and my flap cleaning is fairly permanent.

No manufacturer warranty on salvage vehicles, but they will still do recalls. Ford has been sending me notices of a recall to reprogram the passengers side airbag to work when there is no passenger in the front seat. I haven't bothered since I took the back seat out. There are no connections that would involve the airbag. I guess they would just make the bag blow whether there was someone in the front passengers seat or not, since there is no circuit to determine if there is someone in the rear seat.

48.75 MPG, maybe the corn-puter thinks it is running on air.

regards
Mech

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