01 Sienna engine light on, vacum switch valve then oxygen sensor

my 01 Sienna last month showed engine light on, went to dealer to fix
and been told code P0446 need replace by pass vacum switch valve. cost
300 and good for 3 weeks and shows light on again.
from Google chat tried to tighten the gas cap and 3 days later light
off but only good for 2 days; went to dealer again, this time read
(P0183?) is oxygen sensor need replacedm, 400!
but seems to me they just read a code and then guess/try to fix with
replacing part but never
show what is wrong with old part. I refused the fix this time casue I
may simply pay 300 per month to lease one. never know next month which
code will show up.
question and help need here:
is it normal that replace VSV or Oxgen sensor like routine oil change
(affortable at least) ?
does Toyota cover to fix emission related problem if my car failed to
emission test?
dose anybody ask Toyota for recall about these engine light on
triggered by emission related part?
is this only Toyota Sienna problem or it is generic issue.

thanks

"henry" <hzhong2@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1147831988.672258.82120@38g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> my 01 Sienna last month showed engine light on, went to dealer to fix
> and been told code P0446 need replace by pass vacum switch valve. cost
> 300 and good for 3 weeks and shows light on again.[/color]

P0446 means that there is a malfunction in the Evaporative Emission Control
System Vent Control Circuit. This could be the result of overfilling the
fuel tank.
[color=blue]
> from Google chat tried to tighten the gas cap and 3 days later light
> off but only good for 2 days; went to dealer again, this time read
> (P0183?) is oxygen sensor need replacedm, 400!
> but seems to me they just read a code and then guess/try to fix with
> replacing part but never
> show what is wrong with old part. I refused the fix this time casue I
> may simply pay 300 per month to lease one. never know next month which
> code will show up.[/color]

P0183 has nothing to do with the oxygen sensor. P0183 means Fuel
Temperature Sensor A Circuit High Input

There are other codes for oxygen sensor troubles and guessing the code is
just a waste of time. You will need to write down the trouble code to get
an informed response to your question.
[color=blue]
> question and help need here:
> is it normal that replace VSV or Oxgen sensor like routine oil change
> (affortable at least) ?[/color]

It depends on how the vehicle was maintained, its age, and mileage.
[color=blue]
> does Toyota cover to fix emission related problem if my car failed to
> emission test?[/color]

Check your warranty manual for emissions warranty. Certain components are
covered for 8 years/80,000 miles from the date of first use. I don't think
the oxygen sensor or vacuum switching valve are covered though.
[color=blue]
> dose anybody ask Toyota for recall about these engine light on
> triggered by emission related part?
> is this only Toyota Sienna problem or it is generic issue.
>
> thanks
>[/color]

No manufacturer will recall vehicles just because a few vehicles had
emissions related parts failures. If a lot off vehicles experience the same
failure, then the manufacturer may issue a recall.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Ray .. thx. P0183 may not be right one, but the mechanic had pointed
out to me the sensor is right after the conveter, I noticed one of the
screw is rusted but still very tied.
Funny things is that after I shake the sensor (try to remove rust) and
engine light turn off after two days. I guess it does point to a bad
connection or bad sensor. what confuse me is that may guy compliant
replace a O2 sensor useless and some expert claim only <10% of O2
sensor really need change.

Henry


Ray O wrote:[color=blue]
> "henry" <hzhong2@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1147831988.672258.82120@38g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=green]
> > my 01 Sienna last month showed engine light on, went to dealer to fix
> > and been told code P0446 need replace by pass vacum switch valve. cost
> > 300 and good for 3 weeks and shows light on again.[/color]
>
> P0446 means that there is a malfunction in the Evaporative Emission Control
> System Vent Control Circuit. This could be the result of overfilling the
> fuel tank.
>[color=green]
> > from Google chat tried to tighten the gas cap and 3 days later light
> > off but only good for 2 days; went to dealer again, this time read
> > (P0183?) is oxygen sensor need replacedm, 400!
> > but seems to me they just read a code and then guess/try to fix with
> > replacing part but never
> > show what is wrong with old part. I refused the fix this time casue I
> > may simply pay 300 per month to lease one. never know next month which
> > code will show up.[/color]
>
> P0183 has nothing to do with the oxygen sensor. P0183 means Fuel
> Temperature Sensor A Circuit High Input
>
> There are other codes for oxygen sensor troubles and guessing the code is
> just a waste of time. You will need to write down the trouble code to get
> an informed response to your question.
>[color=green]
> > question and help need here:
> > is it normal that replace VSV or Oxgen sensor like routine oil change
> > (affortable at least) ?[/color]
>
> It depends on how the vehicle was maintained, its age, and mileage.
>[color=green]
> > does Toyota cover to fix emission related problem if my car failed to
> > emission test?[/color]
>
> Check your warranty manual for emissions warranty. Certain components are
> covered for 8 years/80,000 miles from the date of first use. I don't think
> the oxygen sensor or vacuum switching valve are covered though.
>[color=green]
> > dose anybody ask Toyota for recall about these engine light on
> > triggered by emission related part?
> > is this only Toyota Sienna problem or it is generic issue.
> >
> > thanks
> >[/color]
>
> No manufacturer will recall vehicles just because a few vehicles had
> emissions related parts failures. If a lot off vehicles experience the same
> failure, then the manufacturer may issue a recall.
> --
>
> Ray O
> (correct punctuation to reply)[/color]

"henry" <hzhong2@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1148409004.337022.147050@i39g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Ray .. thx. P0183 may not be right one, but the mechanic had pointed
> out to me the sensor is right after the conveter, I noticed one of the
> screw is rusted but still very tied.[/color]

The sensor in the exhaust pipe right after the catalytic converter is the O2
sensor.
[color=blue]
> Funny things is that after I shake the sensor (try to remove rust) and
> engine light turn off after two days. I guess it does point to a bad
> connection or bad sensor. what confuse me is that may guy compliant
> replace a O2 sensor useless and some expert claim only <10% of O2
> sensor really need change.
>
> Henry[/color]

A competent technican can measure the signal coming from the O2 sensor and
tell whether it is functioning properly or not.

As far as the person who claims only 10% of O2 sensors really needing
change, that explanation is a little off. Most O2 sensors that are changed
may be bad, but a bad O2 sensor may be the symptom, not the cause.


--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)