A fuel cap is a small yet mighty part of a vehicle, which saves fuel as well as money for you and thereby maintains optimal performance for the car.
But what happens when the gas cap won’t click? If the component has such an issue and doesn’t get a fix timely, it can trigger some other complicated consequences for your vehicle.
Thus, in the blog, we bring some practical signs to help you figure out the real condition of your gas cap and the solution as soon as possible. Dig into us now to get an answer.
What Indicators Show Your Gas Cap Won’t Click?

The Engine Light might come on, a fuel smell appears, and the cap clicks but won’t tighten properly. Also, you might experience rough idling, difficulty speeding up, or even hard start-up.
When it comes to the symptoms of a gas cap wont click, there are many more. But we are going to list some most prevalent, which are mentioned by a lot of experienced drivers.
Engine Light Might Come On
A Check Engine Light flashing intermittently is one of the key signs to show a certain problem related to the car’s gas cap.
The element belongs to the automobile’s evaporative emission line and might provoke trouble in the system if this part has some issue.
An improper way to seal the fuel cap might make this emission system leak, which will activate the Check Engine light.
Also, the indicator may be a way to inform you of a wide range of other issues with your car’s engine.
Therefore, you should scan the computer regularly for error codes if the gas cap is not the source of the problem.
A failing or bad fuel cap won’t indeed lead to serious performance trouble. Yet, once the Check Engine light illuminates, it keeps the car from favorably passing an evaporative emissions test.
So don’t hesitate to ask the technician for help when seeing this warning light.
Appearing Fuel smell
Another pointer of potential trouble with your car’s fuel cap is the appearance of fuel odor stemming from your engine.
If the part’s seal becomes worn out or damaged, it might be a reason for fuel vapors leaking from the tank through its fuel filler neck. Then, it leads to a gasoline smell (the escaping vapors) from the car.
Gas Cap Clicks But Won’t Tighten Properly
The last yet most common indicator is the problem with the fuel cap itself, which was not tightened sufficiently.
According to various manufacturers, gasoline caps are engineered to tap once they fit in snuggly.
If the fuel cap comes loose one more time after clicking or doesn’t click at all, that might be a symptom of worn-out or broken cap.
Like driving without an oil cap, traveling with a loose gas cap also poses some risks. Consider changing the cap as soon as possible to prevent fuel loss and other related hazards.
Hard To Crank The Engine Up
In a lot of bad cases, when the fuel cap doesn’t keep the right pressure or can’t seal the gasoline inside the tank, a detector will activate a warning indicator to the car ECM and switch off gas flow to the motor.
Without gasoline, an engine can’t run.
Rough Idling Or Hard To Speed Up
Do you feel the shaking when idling? Or in some cases, the motor still works properly, yet it’s quite hard to rev up.
This normally stems from the unstable gas flow to the motor due to the fluctuating or reduced fuel inside the gas tank.
How To Fix A Gas Cap That Won’t Click
The First Solution: Check The Gas Cap
Before you learn how to fix gas cap, it is best to get knowledge of what this part does in the car. Particularly, the cap takes two crucial roles:
First, it’s to keep a stable pressure inside the gas tank which powers your automobile. And second, the cap prevents vapors or fuel inside the tank from rushing out through the car’s fill neck.
Once the cap is defective, it will lessen the constant pressure inside the fuel tank and can’t act as a seal.
Now, look at the cap to see whether it’s tightened properly. After fitting the cap to a tee, the Check Engine light should turn off.
But if the light stays on after doing that, some error codes (OBD ones) are at play. Use a OBD-II scanner to check for some codes like below:
- P0456
- P0455
- P0453
- P0446
- P0443
- P0442
- P0441
- P0440
Each code owns a particular description that a technician might explain and fix it for you.
The Second Solution: Check The Cap For Impairment On The Gasket
To do this, you need to know the cap includes two key parts: the relief valve and the gasket. The latter is more likely damaged and impacts the gas cap easier.
A gasket is a rubber one located underneath the cap that is engineered to generate a seal between the cap and the base of its gas filler neck. This part is easily out of order because of excessive removals.
If the fuel cap gasket is broken, dirty, cracked, or pinched, it might make the cap hard-sealed and then most likely won’t “click.”
There are some other elements, yet they don’t affect the gas cap’s ability too much, and the cap is still secure in its place.
However, if the gasket does not “click” and is in trouble, replacement of the component is indeed necessary.
Luckily, car fuel caps are pretty easy to change and quite cheap, which can comfort your pocket somehow.
It would be wiser when you stick to regular service and maintenance. According to many experienced mechanics, you should get a new gas cap for your vehicle every 50,000 miles.
To check the cap properly, follow our below basic guides. Yet, bear in mind that each cap is specific to the car. Don’t forget to have a look at the car’s manual for detailed steps if it is available.
Check the cap for any damages on this gasket: To detach the part, simply utilize a level-blade screwdriver to pry the cap gasket over its cap housing and separate the gasket.
Some clear indicators of gasket impairment include:
- Excessive particles, debris, or other dirt on the gas cap or gasket.
- Cracking or faulty components of this gasket
- The cap gasket is being rolled over or pinched before you take it out from the cap.
If you find any of these signs during the inspection, get a new OEM fuel cap for your car. Don’t make any effort to reuse the old cap.
It’s a waste of money and time since it will ultimately wear out, and the cap will cause more other troubles.
The Third Solution: Check The Tank Filler Housing
Step 1: Detach the cap out of its filler housing
Step 2: Check the filler housing
Have an inspection for excess scratch marks, debris, or dirt where the gas cap screws into the tank.
Step 3: Find out any hindrance on the gas neck
Sometimes, weird objects like leaves, twigs, or other foreign things will find their way into the gasoline neck.
This might trigger a reduced connection or blockage between the fuel tank and the gas cap, resulting in the gas cap not clicking.
Once you notice that your tank filler house is in trouble, asking an experienced technician with a smart scanner for replacement is essential. This can ensure your car is back to normal and can drive safely.
Can You Drive With An Open Gas Cap? What Will Happen?
Yes, you can, but it can also lead to some issues for your car and your wallet.
- You can lose more fuel stemming from actual spillage or evaporation. Any gasoline loss damages the environment and, of course, costs you more to run a car.
- If the state has lasted a while, moisture or debris might spread through the fuel tank, which is not an urgent cause to fix immediately, but it can end up with serious damage to your vehicle in the long run.
- Keeping driving in this condition with an illuminated Engine Check Light will limit your optimal performance.
Once the vehicle’s computer detects a certain issue and activates the alarm light, your car will run at a limited velocity until you stall completely. You’d better pull over and figure out the problem soon.
In The Nutshell
Reading these last words in the blog of gas cap won’t click, we bet you got the reason and some key symptoms to notice when your cap is going to be in trouble.
By and large, there are three crucial signs to know that the gas cap doesn’t click, including engine light, fuel odor, and the component not being tightened properly.
We still can run the car with the non-clicking gas cap. Yet to drive it safely in the long run and save your money, find errors on it and fix the problem as soon as possible.