P0446 CEL .... need some help

[keithy]

Hi fellow TN members,
I had a CEL came up today and I am worried about it. I went over to Autozone and they scanned, then told me that my gas cap was not tight. I saw the code was P0446 on the scanner though. I searched in the forum and found tons of info about vsv malfunction and charcoal canister failure. Thank god I got an idea of what I am dealing with. I also saw some posts regarding a TSB for the same problem (with three different codes), and that toyota extended the warranty to 14 yrs or 150,000 miles. My questions are:

1) what are the symptoms of a vsv malfunction?
2) Does toyota cover the fix (yes, my car is listed as a vehicle with potential problem)even if I bought my car used from an individual seller?

I have a 1998 toyota camry LE, 92,000 mi. if that helps.

Your help is very much appreciated. Thank you.

[keithy]

nobody knows what are the symptoms of a malfunction vsv? please help me out if you do. thanks.

[trdcamrygracia]

i have same code on my car....dealer tell me to replace my Emission Control Sys
P0446
Evap Emission Control Sys
Vent Control Circuit Malfunction

[keithy]

Which part of the Emmision Control Sys? How much did the dealer quote you for it?

I searched through and saw an article stating that 90% of the time if the code is p0446, the problem is with the VSV ...... but I don't know how true it is. I don't really know how to look for symptoms of a bad VSV.
I also looked at the Haynes manual and the VSV is also called the vapor pressure sensor. Cost about $50 if you buy from the internet.

Originally Posted by trdcamrygracia

i have same code on my car....dealer tell me to replace my Emission Control Sys
P0446
Evap Emission Control Sys
Vent Control Circuit Malfunction

Please do update me if you happen to have fixed the problem.

[somick]

As far as I can remember if you forget to close your gas cap the CEL will come on. It will reset itself after couple of fill ups. Since guys at Autozone suggested that your gas cap failed I would give it some time and see if that is the case.

Sam

[ShawnM]

There really arnt any symptoms of a vsv failue other than the check engine light being on. You wont feel and difference in the way the car runs. There are a couple different vsv valves and a charcole canister that could be electrically faulty or have a slight leak. There is no one part that always fixes that particular code.

[keithy]

Thanks for your answer. I will try to first test the vsv on the charcoal canister. Will write back with results once I got the time to remove the vsv.

[keithy]

Latest update. I went and bought a vsv for about 50 bucks from toyota. Was planing to replace the vsv at the charcoal canister, but could not get the old one out. The rust from the metal brace and the screw makes it so hard to get it out. I gave up and zip tied the new vsv onto the old one. Connected all the hoses and the harness to the new one.

Now, the CEL(P0446) is gone. For the time being. Hopefully, this will be permanant.