Just a couple questions about the "check engine" light. The light in my '05 Sebring (2.4L) came on and stayed on when I started my car. I drove my car that day and the next day. The third day I drove it to my mechanic and had it scanned. He said the code was for "evaporative emissions". He cleared it, put the light off and told me to bring it back if the light came back on. He told me he didn't know why the light was on but that it could have been a loose gas cap or the evap canister, etc. That was two weeks ago. Day before yesterday the light came back on and stays on. I am going to take it back to him. I am wondering, if the light came on because of the gas cap being loose, when the cap was tightened would the light go off the next time the engine is started or would the light stay on for a certain number of miles, engine starts or what? Will the light go off when the problem is fixed or does it have to be cleared? Because the code was for "evaporative emissions" are these the likely causes?

 

If it was just a loose gas cap, it would clear itself once the cap was tightened. It could be a bad gas cap. Could also be something else, like a cracked hose somewhere or something like that.
There is a way of finding the leak. It involves hooking up a smoke machine to the fuel system and pumping in smoke. Where it comes out, there's the leak. Your mechanic may not have the equipment to do that.

 

Thanks dcotter0579. OK, I just got home from having it checked over. It's showing code PO456. My mechanic cleaned the purge (canister?) for the fuel tank but told me that the evap canister is plugged and needs to be replaced along with the attached electric solenoid valve. No one has the part in stock so it will have to be ordered and installed at a later date. The engine light is off again for now. He told me to expect it to come back on. I need my car for the next week or so.

 

You can drive the car with those codes, they have nothing to do with engine performance. Come back and let us know how it all works out.