PO446 AND PO135...Don't Want to Leave...

[numberforty1]

Hello-

I've had a PO446 code on my 98 Camry V6 for probably 5 years now (all the mechanics that have seen it never told me to bother with it).

Just recently I got a hole in my exhaust flex pipe, and suddenly PO135 jumped into the fray.

I decided I want to get rid of these codes finally.

I figured PO446 was the gas cap, and that the hole in the flex pipe had caused PO135 by throwing off the oxygen levels in the exhaust.

Had the flex pipe replaced, decent price of $175 from discount exhaust place I had good references for.

Also got a new (cheap) gas cap from Autozone.

Went a few miles and the PO135 came back. Went quite a few more and now the PO446 is back as well.

Damn.

Questions are...

1.) Could the ECU take a while to "recalibrate" after having had the hole in flexpipe? That is, might I just reset the codes again and hope the ECU stops throwing the PO135, or is it more likely like the whole hole in the pipe actually broke that oxygen sensor?

2.) The gas cap I got was a cheapo from Autozone...should I get an OEM cap and see if the PO446 goes away, or is any cap as good as another, meaning I've got to start worrying about the VSV and charcoal canister?

You would hope that at least one of these things would be an easy fix, but that wouldn't be like the universe at all now would it? Really, I think I want to buy a pre-ECU car.

Peace out