Check Engine Light (P0446) - 2003 VIBE

[cpalmsvibe]

My 2003 Pontiac Vibe has a service engine light on (solid, not blinking). The dealership servicing my car has been unable to resolve the problem (over $300 spent on the car thus far). It should be noted that have an aftermarket cold air intake system on my car, made by AEM. The tech at the dealership wants me to put the stock air intake back on the car. I do not have it (bought the car at a used car dealership). I called the AEM manufacturer and he told me to check the filter. The filter was extremely dirty so I replaced it with an AEM filter. I unplugged the battery and drove it for 7 cycles. The light came on again. My car has failed inspection, citing the following reason: "Vent Solenoid Failure" and "Evaporator Vent Ctrl Malfunction." The actual code was P0446.The car runs fine and I don't want to take the air intake off the car. The dealer told me it would cost over 1 K.Any idea what to do here?

[Raven]

It has absolutely nothing to do with the intake. It is a common problem with the Evap. system which takes fuel vapor from the gas tank and sends it into the intake to be burned instead of it ending up in the atmosphere. It's part of the pollution control system and that's why you are being failed at inspection. Bring it to another dealer who knows what they are doing. Like I said it is a common problem, not just with the Vibe but lots of other vehicles too. Did they replace the vent solenoid or the evap. vent valve for the $300.00 they charged you?

[joatmon]

P0446 has come up here before a nuber of times, try searching for P0446 ijn post bodies, (not titles) a lot of reading.Sounds like it could be related to all the various vacuum lines, at the charcoal canister behind the left rear wheel, ont thread someone had that code froma disconected vacuum line at the air intake. THe intake should be able to work without causing a CEL.How long have you had the car, has it always had this light or is a new development? If you just bought it and it came this way, can you get the dealer that sold it to you to fix it?

[NibCrom]

Not sure what the problem with your car is, but save all of your paperwork! The dealer will gladly repair any problem you have over and over again without actually fixing the source. If the problem persists and doesn't get fixed properly by the dealership, call GMs customer hotline. They have been helpful to me in the past.

[cpalmsvibe]

Many thanks. I'll give the hotline a call today. I'll also check with another dealership to see if they've seen this problem before. I have a feeling that my local dealer has no clue what's going on with the car. I'm certainly not rushing to pay for the replacement stock intake as they suggested..

[NibCrom]

The intake could be whats throwing up the code. I've heard of Corvettes throwing codes after people installed new filters. Perhaps there's a dealership that could just test it with a stock intake on hand?

[cpalmsvibe]

This is a new development. I've owned the car for a couple years now without a problem. I bought it from a used care dealer (non-pontiac) It passed two previous inspections.Recently, it failed inspection. When I took the filter off, it was in real bad shape. My uneducated theory is that even though I replaced the filter, the months of poor air flow may have left residual crud on / near the sensor. Strictly a theory. I drive the car, change the fluids and pump the gas. That's about all I know...

[cpalmsvibe]

Yes. They replaced the vent and a fuel line for the $300. Just got off the phone with another Pontiac dealership. They told me that I needed to replace the "Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor." This was never mentioned with the dealership that put the vent and fuel line in. They're reading off of the dagnostic chart provided to them by Pontiac. I'm hesitant to make any more moves, even with this new dealership. It's going to be another $70 for the diagnostic + labor + the part.I'm going to try the Pontiac helpline.

[CountryVibe]

If you can't get any help with the pontiac dealership you might want to pop over to a toyota dealership and see if they can help you

[VibeTronic]

Check Enigine lights are a terrible...problem ..most of the time its usally the O2 sensor...thats in your exhaust under the car.....sure the comp. may show air intake problems but the O2 sensor usually is the source.. of all the problems......(im jus tellin you this cause the same thing happened to me at 89.000 miles the light came on ...an i replaced it myself since im amechanic...(hope this solves your problem)..oh also..if it is that..ake your paperwork an get yur money back ..for misleading you on different parts..