Help Needed With P0446 and P0441 (1999 Prizm/Corolla)
Well, as things usually work out, I worked out in the garage all day Saturday while it was 55 out, only for it to drop to 24 and my CEL come on...dohh.
It's coming up as P0446 and P0441, so I targeted the problem to be the VSV (Vapor Switch Sensor) and the Evap Charcoal Canister.
I managed to wrestle the damn canister out from the rear of the car:
To test the valve correctly, I need 2 alligator clips and a 9V battery, right?
Like this:
If that's correct, then when I touch the black clip to the battery then I should hear the valve open/close, right?
I'm going off of this tutorial online for reference:
And the Vapor/Evap Charcoal Canister is $251.79 on RockAuto.com
If anyone could please chime in and give me some information as to what I should do/the most cost effective solution, I'd greatly appreciate it. I need my car this week so I'm kind of in a bind for time.
I thought about doing the same thing, but the amount of rust scared me off.
Since, you got it all out, I would try to take the valve apart and fix it, if there is any way. You got nothing to lose - it's already broken.
The valve can be fixed. There is rust on the little metal cylinder that moves back and forth inside the valve sleeve.
Carefully bend the rusty tangs so you can remove the front of the valve. The tangs are tiny, so take your time so as to not break them. Remember, they are rusty.
Using a very small drill bit, drill a hole in the plastic back of the valve. Be patient, you only want to go through the plastic.
Using a needle or other suitable tool inserted in to the hole, gently work the cylinder out the front of the valve. You probably will have to tap on the needle. Again, be gentle and patient. It will come out.
You will find that the cylinder has rusted. As a result, the diameter has expanded and caused the cylinder to get stuck in the valve.
Clean the rust off the cylinder and out of the valve body. Test to see that the cylinder now moves back and forth in the valve body.
I sealed up the drilled hole with a dab of Gorilla Glue.
After it sets up, reassemble everything. If you are careful, the tangs will bend back without breaking. If they break, you're screwed ....get a new VSV.
I used Zip ties to re-mount the VSV to the canister so next time I won't need to remove the canister.
Good luck.
The Following User Says Thank You to pchalpin For This Useful Post:
So I can replace just the VSV then, correct? Would there be anything wrong with the canister or no?
Also, this is off a 1999 Chevy Prizm, not that I believe it matters, but when I go on RockAuto.com the vapor canister for the Prizm is 489.99 non-stock, but the Corolla is only 251.79 next day delivery...
Here are some pictures of the VSV after I removed the rusted bracket, do you think it is worth salvaging? There is a tiny crack from what I can see at the end of the valve.
Anything can be repaired, just depends on how long you want it to last.
If it only needs to last until the car gets smogged, than I'd say go ahead and try and fix it - worse thing that would happen is that you'd have to go out and buy the valve. Seeing that it is cracked, even with some of the epoxies they have now, just a matter of time before that flexes enough to crack again.
The canister itself is generally fine in these cases, unless you've gotten into the habit of topping off the tank.
Yes, you can replace just the VSV. As fishexpo said, the canister is nearly always fine. It's exposure to the elements that kills the VSV.
Based on your pictures, I'd say replace the VSV. Look on Ebay for a used one. They are about $30, and most look really clean on the exterior. So odds are the interior is not rusty.
As usual, be patient and check Ebay daily. One will show up, but it may take some time.
I am trying to determine if Camry, Solara or other Toyota model's VSVs are interchangeable with Corollas and Prisms, but have not nailed down any definitive answer yet. They're all 12 volt vacuum switches so it would seem reasonable that style for style (2 wire, 2 hose), they should interchange, but it seems to be a closely guarded Toyota secret as to interchangeability.
I have a brand new valve sitting on my garage shelf, I went through your pain,ended up getting the whole canister. Let ya have it for 45 shipped, genuine part from toyota. Also, be sure its for the back, there is one up front that works the opposite.
with that code, I was suggested to do a smoke test. Of course, I did not and bought the VSV int he engine and the one connecting to the box. Replaced the box with one that passed smog a year before and still CEL 446 441. Decided to sell to my smog guy, who would have done the smoke test, I just didn't want to spend more money. He smokes it, finds out that one of the molded rubber lines to the charcoal canister filter had a leak. Once replaced, was running better than ever. I had a 99 VE 81K miles.
Hey guys, thanks for the responses. I got my VSV installed today, good news and bad news.
Good news: went in no problem, and no longer have P0446
Bad news: still have P0441.
Any ideas as to what I should do next? The VSV definitely solved the P0446 problem, it was faulty from rust exposure. But now I have no idea why I still have the P0441
Any information or help would be awesome, thanks guys!
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Help Needed With P0446 and P0441 (1999 Prizm/Corolla)
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