Re-fueled..then car sputters and throws FOUR codes

[Chuck1986]

I went to fill my tank today and I put it the 91 octane. I've always put in 93 - but thought it wouldn't hurt since it still meets the "premium fuel" requirement. I pull out of the lot and immediately I notice that the engine sputters when accelerating. It almost feels like being pulled back every time I gave it throttle. Scariest thing is, even when I floored it the RPMs wouldn't go above ~2000! I get home and pull the following codes:

P0107 - Manifold Absolute Pressure/Barometric Pressure Circuit Low Input
P0121 - Throttle Position Sensor/Switch A Circuit Range/Performance Problem
P0441 - Evaporative Emission Control System Incorrect Purge Flow
P1400 - Manifold Differential Pressure Sensor Circuit Malfunction

My first question is, how the heck could all these things malfunction at once?! I went ahead, disconnected the battery to clear the codes and took it for a two mile drive to see if that changed anything. It ran just fine, accelerated normally, three codes are gone but code P0441 (evap emission control system incorrect purge flow) is still showing up. I'm thinking the other codes might come back once the ECU has time to re-learn everything.

It makes no sense that going from 93 to 91 octane could cause this. Lastly, I did make sure the fuel cap was on tight...so I don't think that's causing P0441. Any thoughts? All advice/insight is much appreciated, thanks!!

 

[saberz]

Make sure the Gas Cap is one tight, car can throw codes due to it pressure from the fuel tank.

 

[brandini]

I had 2 codes after a fill up and a rough loopy idle, my gas cap and purge valve solenoid had gone bad. (equates to a pressure or vacuum leak)

 

[Chuck1986]

Originally Posted By: Anies
Make sure the Gas Cap is one tight, car can throw codes due to it pressure from the fuel tank.


I already ruled out the gas cap. Even if it had been the gas cap, I've never known such a thing to cause several codes and cause the car to run horrible.

 

[rcy]

Did you top up after the nozzle shut off? Apparently this is a bad thing to do as liquid gas (as opposed to just fumes) can flow down the vent tube and screw up emission things.

 

[Chuck1986]

Originally Posted By: brandini
I had 2 codes after a fill up and a rough loopy idle, my gas cap and purge valve solenoid had gone bad. (equates to a pressure or vacuum leak)


Do you remember the exact codes? That's a possibility, but then again, I never thought a gas cap monitoring issue could cause something catastrophic like this. The car was running so horrible I expected to pull misfire codes! (But didn't)

 

[CourierDriver]

My dodge van did this, codes different,,it was water in the gas,,used stabil and it went away,no more problems now,,bad gas that day

 

[Chuck1986]

Originally Posted By: rcy
Did you top up after the nozzle shut off? Apparently this is a bad thing to do as liquid gas (as opposed to just fumes) can flow down the vent tube and screw up emission things.


Nope didn't top it off.
Worst case scenario is that gas (or something) else contaminated several sensors all at once and now they're all bad. I wonder if I was given junk gas full of crud that damaged the sensors...but that would've thrown a knock sensor code?

 

[Vikas]

The fuel does not come anywhere near MAP sensor or throttle body. The worse gas can NOT contaminate those sensors. If after engine reset, you can rev beyond 2000 RPM, the MAP and throttle body are probably OK.

- Vikas

 

[Chuck1986]

This may sound odd, but could vapor lock be the cause of this problem?

The weather has been warmer lately and with the high volatility of the winter fuel this may just be the case. I know this is HIGHLY unlikely in a fuel injected engine but I'm at a loss for an explanation as to how the heck all this could happen.

 

[Popinski]

wow, I'm surpised that the Eclipse GT requires premium fuel. I hope nothing bad happened.

 

[mechanicx]

It sounds like a problem with your EVAP, maybe it is leaking vaccuum, set off the codes.

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: Chuck1986
Originally Posted By: Anies
Make sure the Gas Cap is one tight, car can throw codes due to it pressure from the fuel tank.


I already ruled out the gas cap. Even if it had been the gas cap, I've never known such a thing to cause several codes and cause the car to run horrible.


Can I equate that to: "I replaced the gas cap" ?? Or does it mean, "I've rejected the gas cap as the source since..." ?


The "topping off" mentioned usually disables the EVAPURGE in many models ..but may be an issue.

 

[Chuck1986]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Originally Posted By: Chuck1986
Originally Posted By: Anies
Make sure the Gas Cap is one tight, car can throw codes due to it pressure from the fuel tank.


I already ruled out the gas cap. Even if it had been the gas cap, I've never known such a thing to cause several codes and cause the car to run horrible.


Can I equate that to: "I replaced the gas cap" ?? Or does it mean, "I've rejected the gas cap as the source since..." ?


The "topping off" mentioned usually disables the EVAPURGE in many models ..but may be an issue.


I meant to say I've "rejected the gas cap as the source", since it would have triggered code PO455 or PO456. Also, before re-setting the ECU I did make sure gas cap was tight and the evap code still came up.

 

[Chuck1986]

For what it's worth...
I just did a thorough exam of the underhood component (vacuum lines, electrical connections etc) and I checked the nuts on the intake manifold as well. One of the nuts was so loose that I could unscrew it with my fingers.

Could improper torquing of the manifold nuts cause a vacuum leak?

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: Chuck1986
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Originally Posted By: Chuck1986
Originally Posted By: Anies
Make sure the Gas Cap is one tight, car can throw codes due to it pressure from the fuel tank.


I already ruled out the gas cap. Even if it had been the gas cap, I've never known such a thing to cause several codes and cause the car to run horrible.


Can I equate that to: "I replaced the gas cap" ?? Or does it mean, "I've rejected the gas cap as the source since..." ?


The "topping off" mentioned usually disables the EVAPURGE in many models ..but may be an issue.


I meant to say I've "rejected the gas cap as the source", since it would have triggered code PO455 or PO456. Also, before re-setting the ECU I did make sure gas cap was tight and the evap code still came up.


Just assuring that you earned your gold star in the "factoring" part of the test, pal.

 

[bigmike]

Look on the bright side. I have a blonde co-worker that put diesel in her Dodge Caliber. She sat at the gas station and, since she couldn't force the green handled pump (diesel) in her fuel inlet, she poured (see sprayed) fuel until it filled up (and ran all over her car). She made it a few blocks before she was calling a tow truck.

And this idiot oversees my work. *sigh*

 

[Trav]

How soon after getting gas did this happen?If this happened within a mile or so the first thing i would do is pull a sample and look for separation in a clear jar,does it smell like diesel?
Does it idle properly?

It could be an evap issue but most ecm will not run an evap if the fuel level is bellow 1/4 or more than 3/4 at a relativity constant RPM to prevent this scenario.

Flooring it would fully open the throttle plate,the ecm would would be signalled by the TPS input for max fuel,the ecm would also expect to receive the signal that max air is flowing through the MAF.Depending on the sensors being used other sensors they would also be expected to respond to full throttle.
O2 sensor input is ignored when WOT is called for.
When the engine didn't respond it would definitely throw some codes.

It may be coincidence that this happened after getting fuel but personally i would check the fuel first.

 

[mechtech2]

Chuck - That is an oddball problem!
It's not the octane, but could be bad fuel. MAybe some water in it that passed through and it is better now.

 

[Chuck1986]

Originally Posted By: Trav
How soon after getting gas did this happen?If this happened within a mile or so the first thing i would do is pull a sample and look for separation in a clear jar,does it smell like diesel?
Does it idle properly?

It could be an evap issue but most ecm will not run an evap if the fuel level is bellow 1/4 or more than 3/4 at a relativity constant RPM to prevent this scenario.

Flooring it would fully open the throttle plate,the ecm would would be signalled by the TPS input for max fuel,the ecm would also expect to receive the signal that max air is flowing through the MAF.Depending on the sensors being used other sensors they would also be expected to respond to full throttle.
O2 sensor input is ignored when WOT is called for.
When the engine didn't respond it would definitely throw some codes.

It may be coincidence that this happened after getting fuel but personally i would check the fuel first.



This happened immediately after getting fuel - right as I pulled out of the station. It is idling properly, so that's a good sign. I got the fuel from Sunoco, which has a pretty good reputation but all it takes is a little incompetency on their part for me to have gotten bad fuel.

I can't say that the problem is gone completely. But for what it's worth my one mile commute went fine today. No SES light or pending codes just yet.