CEL - P0446 !!! Help needed - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

megamac83 · 01-25-2006, 10:01 AM

Hey guys I have a 99 LE and my CEL is on, I took it to Advance Auto so they could pull the code for me, they said it was the P0446. The light has been on for over 2 months now, I really wanna get it off now, I am sick and tired of seeing it there. I was told to change my Evap sensor, so I did, 60 bucks got a new gas cap 15 bucks, now I am being told that I need to change my charcoal canister which is gonna be another 360 bucks, I can be spending money like this I wanna save up for mods, lol but my serious question is i have read alot on the forum about changing the vsv, but someone had said that in most cases P0440, P0441 AND P0446 should show up when scanned, I only have P0446. So should I spend another 50 bucks and get the vsv?? please help or give me an idea of what I should be checking out, This seems to be a common problem with this car

Thank you in advance

celica supra 83 · 01-25-2006, 10:16 AM

if you bring your car to the dealer (or anyone with a scanner that is able to go in test mode)
they can check these vsv's for you,you just have to make them ''click'' with the scanner,you can hear them quite loud if they are working properly.If you have a camry 4 cyl,it is usualy the vsv under the intake manifold that is bad.Evap code are not always all coming on if you have a evap probleme ...i;ve seen po446 alone without 440 and 441 for vsv's
good luck

Simon Hebert e-mail Kerbdog_666@hotmail.com

keithy · 01-25-2006, 10:28 AM

I had the same problem and I think I have solved it. You're right about the vsv on the charcoal canister. My code is also P0446. Just that. I searched around and look into the haynes manual and most of the info I have got, pointed me to the faulty vsv. Although I could not get the old vsv out from my car, I just hook on the new vsv and zip tied it on there. Yes, the CEL dissapeared. Spending $50 just for the vsv is always better than bringing in to the dealership and having them charging you labor just to tell you you need a whole charcoal canister replaced. There is also a TSB on the vsv and the part number has changed. So, sooner or later, the vsv will be a "potential" for problem as well, might as well invest the $50 bucks now and hope it solves the problem.

Yes, I have read somewhere that the code P0446 for our gen 4, is almost 90% caused by the faulty vsv on the charcoal canister.

Hajoca · 01-25-2006, 12:37 PM

For gen 4's the 97 models have the VSV in the engine compartment.

From 98 and on, it is placed at the rear suspension/ gas tank area. I replaced min in about an hour and a half.

That is why the mechanic/ dealer recomendation is to have entire canister replaced as an assembly, that way you can be charged a full whopping $200 in labour alone.

megamac83 · 01-25-2006, 01:02 PM

Cool, I will go ahead and buy a new VSV next month when I have some extra cash to spend I really do hopee that it solves the problem, I will keep you posted on the results,
Thank you all again,

megamac83 · 01-25-2006, 01:28 PM

aight trying to look for the part I am becoming confused, which VSV should I replace,
There is a vsv under the hood which is vsv for Evap, than there is one next to the charcoal canister which is vsv for pressure switching vale? which one of the following should i replace, because Keithy is talking about the one near the canister and Celica Supra83 is talking about the one under th hood? also is there anywhere else I should be able to get the part from besides going to the dealership? if so let me know where I can get it from

keithy · 01-25-2006, 01:33 PM

http://www.toyota-parts.com/oem_parts.html

I would try the vsv on the charcoal canister because there is a TSB on the part requiring replacement. That's how I fixed my problem(P0446) anyways.

megamac83 · 01-25-2006, 09:53 PM

I am sorry I am kinda new to all of this but being that there is a TSB on the part, what exactly can that do for me?

megamac83 · 01-26-2006, 08:43 AM

http://www.toyota-parts.com/oem_parts.html

Yo Keithy, I went to the site but was unable to find the vsv, near the charcoal canister? can it be bought online or do i need to buy it from the dealership?

keithy · 01-26-2006, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megamac83

http://www.toyota-parts.com/oem_parts.html

Yo Keithy, I went to the site but was unable to find the vsv, near the charcoal canister? can it be bought online or do i need to buy it from the dealership?

part number 90910-12271

keithy · 01-26-2006, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megamac83

I am sorry I am kinda new to all of this but being that there is a TSB on the part, what exactly can that do for me?

TSB allow you to easier identify the problem. In this case, at least we know that something about the emmision system is not "design correctly" and cause a lot of cars to behave unexpectly.

Hajoca · 01-26-2006, 09:38 AM

You can get the VSV from any of those... (IIRC Nissan pathfinders and trucks use the same valve as well.)

Just to clarify which one, your charcoal canister VSV is under your car, and not in the engine bay anymore.