11,851 don't show me the light

last night the yellow engine light came on when i was driving. i look through the owner's manual and it's almost impossible to tell what the hell is wrong. the only thing i can make out is loose gas cap -- so i take it off and tighten it all the way back until it's all clicky. nothing changes, i'm still in amberland.

fine.

although i plan on changing dealers, i drive it to stevens creek chrysler, since they're the closest and i don't mind dropping a flaming problem on their laps without notice.

i give 'em the car, get my rental, and mention, once again that both the sport bar and the metal rattle in the back need fixing.

a day passes, again i don't hear anything from the dealer, so i drive over before a full 24 hours has passed.

they hand me the vehicle with this explanation on my paperwork:

CUSTOMER STATES: CHECK ENG LIGHT ON. PER DIAG CODE FOUND P0456 STORED EVFAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK. CHECKED EVAP SYSTEM VACUUM FOR LEAKS. FOUND POSISIBLE (sic) CAUSE LOOSE FUEL CAP. NO OTHER LEAKS FOUND. TECH CLEARED LIGHT AND RST RELEASED VEHICLE BACK TO CUSTOMER.


nice sleuthing sherlock. it can't be the gas cap, i already tightened it (even though it was already tight).

they've done nothing with the sport bar or the rattle. in fact, they didn't even record it.

what's interesting is they claim my oil is dirty and needs immediate attention. strange since the the change was 1700 miles ago -- only about half of how far i need to drive it before it's changed (and with a new air filter). i can look at the oil and see it's just a tad brownish.

nevertheless, stevens creek chrysler, your service department is (weak)^(weak) [read: weak to the weak power].

{future note: if the engine light comes on and solid, it's not necessary to take the car in immediately -- it can be checked at an oil change. since i have free rentals for the first 7 years, 100,000 miles, i'll probably take it in immediately. if it comes on and flashes, the car really does need service immediately.}