Engine light stays on until I refuel and reset

Engine light stays on permanently (does not flash on and off) until I refuel and reset fuel usage screen. Light stays off for an hour or so – then comes back on and stays on?

My car has 2000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello. It sounds like you have a programming issue in the computer. The computer is not properly detecting the fuel level in the tank. I would like to know what the code that is coming up, but you need to take the vehicle back to the dealer since it is under warranty. They will need to reprogram the computer.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

There are a couple of simple solutions if your check engine light came on after getting gas. A loose gas cap is one of the most common reasons for the check engine light to go on. Check that your gas cap is screwed on securely and that it`s in good condition.
The Light Stays On

If you`re experiencing this, don`t panic. You may think that there is still a problem with the car after the repair, but it`s because the light needs time to reset. The car`s internal computer only resets after a set period where it checks all of its sensors once more.

The check engine light is most commonly caused by one of five factors; the O2 sensor, a loose gas cap, the catalytic converter, the mass airflow sensor or the vehicle`s spark plug wires. Most of which are rather inexpensive problems to repair.
Sometimes, the check engine light comes on to let you know that there`s a problem with the car`s internal diagnostic mechanism. That means the system could be “finding” a problem that doesn`t exist, or it could be that loose wire systems are creating a false positive in the system.
Most often check engine lights that go on and off around the time you add fuel to the car are gas cap closure or once in a while gas cap seal defect problems. Make sure you put the gas cap on right – turn until it clicks a couple of times. If it persists you may need a new gas cap. it happens infrequently.
Will your check engine light turn off by itself? In most cases, successfully repairing the issue that caused your light to come on will cause the check engine light to turn off automatically—but only after 10 to 20 “cycles”.
But, there are other possible causes of intermittent illumination of the Check Engine Light such as failures in engine sensors, intermittent misfires, and faults with sticky or stuck valves such as in the EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) system or the EVAP system.
Press the odometer`s Trip and Reset buttons while turning the ignition key ON. After turning the key ON, release the odometer Reset and Trip buttons to check if the Diagnostic Trouble Code or DTC appears on the odometer display.
Bad Gas, What are the Symptoms? If you`ve inspected the gas cap, the problems you are having may be due to contaminated fuel. If a car, truck, or SUV has trouble starting, will not accelerate, or just is not running smoothly, then it`s possible you just have a contaminated tank of gas.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Check engine light refuses to go off after engine replaced
ANSWER : Hello there, you have a long series of issues going on with your 2013 Hyundai Sonata. If you keep getting a repeating oil light on than there is likely a fault in that system.

Since this fault has lasted after the engine was replaced it could be a oil pressure sensor, wiring harness fault, ECU fault, oil pump, oil strainer clogged, or low oil pressure.

To diagnose this issue properly you need a complete vehicle inspection to start from square one and identify the root cause of all this.

2012 equinox reduced power light engine light and traction light came on. Lost a lot of power got home and all light except engine
ANSWER : Your car has what is called a "safe mode" that will be engaged by the computer when it detects that something critical has gone wrong related to any of the major components in your engine chassis or power train. This may be related to a number of things, most of which should have been registered in the computer when the check engine light came on. I recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to inspect your check engine light and diagnose any codes registered by your vehicle’s computer.

While driving on freeway truck goes into a limp mode, and the check engine light, abs light, parking break light, service brake
ANSWER : It is possible that you could be having an issue with your powertrain control module. This is somewhat of a common problem on many GM vehicles. I would recommend having your vehicle inspected by the dealership to determine if the powertrain control module is functioning properly. If not, a reflash of the powertrain control module may resolve the issue but often times it must be replaced.

Abs light, emergency brake light, steering wheel assist light, engine light, EPC light, traction control light
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The vehicle does utilize a lot of the same sensors for these systems. Are there any other codes that are coming up when this code appears? If so you will want to take these into consideration when processing the repair and making a diagnosis. The module may be bad, and replacing it should fix the problem. The lights should turn off once the main computer recognizes the new module and the sensors sync up. If you believe the sensors need to be cleaned you may do so. Do as minimal as possible to make sure you are not damaging the sensor or disrupting the wiring inside. A bad connection would make the lights stay on. With so many lights that are effected by the module being illuminated, the module is likely bad or does not have a connection. Check the connection first and then resort to replacing the unit. For more help with these electrical tests, contact our service department.

2006 Ridgeline RTL engine light stays on. Vehicle runs great and has new catalytic converter. Did reset but light came back on. Best guess please.
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The checking engine light that you are receiving can stand for a large number of issues with the vehicle, and knowing what codes have been triggered are the only way to resolve the issue. With that being said, if you have made changes to the vehicle since you first found or scanned the check engine light, then you will want to re-scan the vehicle and not assume that the diagnostic codes which triggered the light originally are the same. They will change on you, and you will never know because all you see is a generic light. Scanning can be done at most automotive parts stores, or by a technician. Do not wait for the check engine light to blink, if it is on, the computer is detecting a problem. For more help scanning the vehicle and taking corrective action, contact our service department to schedule an appointment. At first glance, it sounds like you have a sensor issue (that is assuming the check engine light is pertaining to the O2 sensor).

ABS light on, ESP light on,Traction OFF light on, engine light on, rides perfectly OBDI reads only Front Right Wheel Speed Sensor
ANSWER : If a faulty component is still in place, the fault codes will return almost immediately after clearing them. ABS, ESP, and traction control systems all rely on input from wheel speed sensors to determine as the name implies, the speed of each wheel. When a wheel, or wheels are spinning faster than others due to wheel slip or the vehicle is sliding, the ABS and ESP systems can reduce throttle input as well as apply braking to an individual wheel or all of them if needed. With a wheel speed sensor fault code stored, these systems cannot determine the rate that all 4 wheels are spinning and sets a fault. That is why the abs/esp light is on. The system should be scanned by a certified technician and the wheel speed sensor replaced if found to be the cause. The warning lights will stay on and these systems will not function as designed until the fault is corrected. These lights do not come on to indicate a need for routine service. Rather they only come on when a component in the system is at fault.

Battery light goes on when I start car then turns off, if I rev engine light comes back until rpms go down. Abs goes comes on/off
ANSWER : Batteries can die due to faults in the charging system so ideally a suspected "faulty" battery should be load tested before a decision is made to condemn it. The only exception to this rule is if the battery is already clearly "old" (greater than 5 years) but even then once you put a new battery in, as a replacement for a "dead" battery, you have to comprehensively check out the charging system. Diagnostic Trouble Code P0460 will result in disruption of the dashboard fuel gauge’s ability to accurately report your tank’s fuel levels. The fuel gauge readings may be erratic, or read somewhere off scale. Vehicles equipped with a low fuel warning light feature may also suffer from erratic low fuel warnings in the event of a code P0460. Unless the P0460 code has been reported alongside other trouble code, all of the vehicle’s essential systems should otherwise function normally. I would recommend that you request a check engine light diagnostic to first resolve the fault causing the P0460 code to set. The check gas cap light warning light could be due a faulty gas cap and/or small leaks in the EVAP system.

Traction light/reduced engine power and check engine light coming on
ANSWER : Hello. From what you describe, it would appear that your vehicle may be experiencing some sort of intermittent wiring or sensor issue. If the problem occurred again after driving over a bump, then it may be possible that a damaged or loose wire is shorting or having contact issues. A common issue that can cause stalling is a faulty crank position sensor or wiring. I would carefully examine the engine for any loose or damaged wires. If the Check Engine Light comes back on, I would recommend having the trouble codes scanned before resetting the computer.