Z3 Fail NJ Inspection for leaking gas cap

Here in NJ, the motor vehicle inspectors only check emissions either at the tail pipe on older cars or using the on board diagnostics via the OBD port and for any leaking of the evaporative gas system. My 98 Z3 2.8L passed the OBD tests, but failed for a leaking gas cap. My question is if the gas cap was leaking, shouldn't it have thrown an error, i.e. "small evaporative leak" Has anyone else seen this?

Thanks,
Al

Cap should throw a code.

I am hard pressed to believe the cap is bad. The MV inspector said that he ran the test twice, but if the equipment (I am thinking the adapter was wrong or bad) is faulty, it really doesn't matter how many times you run the test.


Al

Have it retested at another location.

or just buy another cap and get a good sticker.................how much is an after market gas cap compared to to prolonging the hbo drama

Yep, that is the plan to purchase another BMW OEM gas cap, but neither BAV or Pelican has fitment for my 98. I will call BAV tomorrow to see if they carry one, as is not available on line. It's not the $25 that's got me, it's having to go back to the MV inspection station and waste another hour sitting in line.

Al

You don't wait in line. You go to the exit side and tell them you want your cap re-inspected. They should just walk it up the line and do the vacuum check on it and give it back to you. Give them a call and explain what the failure was and how to get it rechecked.

Or you could just replace the filler cap gasket - part no. 16116755071, MSRP $2.07

The original gas cap # 16116750571 and the rubber washer # 16116755071 are discontinued. A relacement cap # 16111184664 is available.

MV told me that they stopped the reinspection at the back door and I will need to wait in line for the new gas cap to get checked.

BUT, back to my original question, "...if the gas cap was leaking, shouldn't it have thrown an error, i.e. "small evaporative leak" ?


-Al

Originally Posted by ALM168

The original gas cap # 16116750571 and the rubber washer # 16116755071 are discontinued. A relacement cap # 16111184664 is available.

MV told me that they stopped the reinspection at the back door and I will need to wait in line for the new gas cap to get checked.

BUT, back to my original question, "...if the gas cap was leaking, shouldn't it have thrown an error, i.e. "small evaporative leak" ?


-Al

it should throw a code. i had a ford ranger pu fail NJDMV gas cap test but not show a cel. did you try getting a cap from an auto supply store [pep boys etc] ? your car tests one way and NJDMV tests another way..................aint fair but ya wanna good sticker ya gadda play by nj rulesi live in trenton and dmv wait time varies at trenton mostly very fast [the few times i have gone] it takes more time to do the paper work than the testing

I purchased a new cap at Princeton BMW, and will go back to Baker Basin when I get time off from work. I am feeling that the inspector was not performing the test correctly or using the wrong adapter, but I will go back with my receipt for the new cap and see what happens.


Al