P0452 is a generic OBD II code that can occur in the Cadillac CTS. It means that your CTS’s EVAP system has detected low fuel tank pressure.
The evaporative emissions control system (EVAP) sends fuel vapors from the fuel tank to the intake manifold to be burned off. When the pressure in the system is too low, P0452 is generated.
P0452 should not be considered a breakdown risk when it is the only code that you are experiencing, and is more often than not remedied by a new fuel cap.
P0452 is more often than not caused by a bad gas cap
Symptoms
More often than not, P0452 is not going to be accompanied by any noticeable symptoms, and your CTS will continue to run fine.
Here are some of the more common symptoms that can arise with this code:
- Check engine light (obviously)
- Smell of fuel (indicates loose fuel cap or EVAP leak)
- Hissing sound (indicates vacuum leak
P0452 Causes: Cadillac CTS
Here are some of the more common causes of P0452 in the Cadillac CTS:
- Loose gas cap
- Bad fuel tank pressure sensor or wiring
- Clogged charcoal canister
- Vacuum leak
- EVAP purge solenoid failure
Cadillac CTS P0452 Diagnostic Procedure
Here’s a solid order of diagnosis when dealing with P0452 in your CTS:
1. Check for Other Codes
If P0452 is the only trouble code that you are getting, skip right on down to the next section. If it is not, cross referencing the other code’s causes with the common causes of P0452 can really help you eliminate some possibilities.
2. Check the Gas Cap
P0452 indicates that your CTS’s fuel tank pressure sensor has detected that the pressure in the fuel tank is too low. If the gas cap is not tight, or making a good seal, that causes this code (a lot).
Remove the fuel cap and inspect it. Pay attention to the rubber ring that would snug to the fuel inlet. If it is dry rotted or damaged, a replacement is likely to fix P0452.
OBDII codes stay in the system for a while, even after the problem has been fixed. If you believe that the fuel cap was loose, or you changed it, you’ll need to clear the code with a code scanner and see if it comes back or not.
Also, make sure that nothing on the fuel inlet would be preventing a good seal. If it has gunk built up or mud on it, you’ll need to use a wet rag or some WD-40 to clean it off.
If it does come back, we’ll need to move on to the next step.
3. Check the Fuel Pressure Readings
Unfortunately, outside of checking the gas cap (which more often than not is the cause), diagnosing P0452 gets tricky.
A mechanic would use a professional OBDII scanner to check the fuel tank pressure readings from your CTS’s fuel tank to see if there is vacuum in the tank.
If it doesn’t look right, the wiring to the fuel pressure sensor would need to be inspected.
If that doesn’t help anything, the tank pressure sensor itself would need to be replaced.
If everything looks fine, they’d move on to checking the EVAP system.
4. EVAP System Issues
A failure in the EVAP system itself can cause P0452. Here’s how a good mechanic would go about diagnosing it. It is really worth a watch if you are going to try and tackle this yourself.
A Common Diagnostic Mistake With P0452
A common mistake that people make when diagnosing P0452 is to do anything before checking the gas cap.
Or, they’ll keep going on with the diagnostic process after addressing the fuel cap because they did not clear their trouble codes.
Once you replace the gas cap or tighten it, drive your CTS for a while to see if the code clears before moving any further with the diagnosis.
Cadillac CTS P0452 Conclusion
P0452 is more often than not caused by a bad gas cap. If your gas cap is fine, then this can be a tough code to diagnose.