2003 Vibe AWD: CEL P0446 Check Engine Light! SOLVED!

[Reaccion]

My 2003 Vibe AWD has two CEL codes which are P0446 (Evaporative Emission Control System Vent Control Circuit Malfunction) + P0446P (Yes the same code with a P at the end :-s ). I have a code reader and I have erased the code a couple times. It keeps showing up. Sometimes the P0446 code takes a week or two to show up and even longer. Now is showing up even 3-5 days later. I also noticed that my fuel gauge stays on full for longer than expected even when driving many miles. After the fuel gauge finally drops a little, the P0446 code tends to trigger. The P0446 code shows up most of the times when I first start up my Vibe in the morning to go to work.

I checked the hoses around the engine to see if there were any leaks but I found nothing. I also double checked the gas tank cap and it seems tied. I understand that this code refers to the vapor canister. However, I wanted to see if there is anything in particular that I have to look for based on your experience. Any help is greatly appreciated!


03 04 05 06 07 08 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Pontiac Base GT 1.8L DOHC VVT-i VVT VVTI

[circuitsmith]

Do you have a habit of adding more gas after the fill nozzle clicks?
This can damage the EVAP system over time.

http://www.obd-codes.com/p0446" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Reaccion]

Do you have a habit of adding more gas after the fill nozzle clicks?
This can damage the EVAP system over time.

http://www.obd-codes.com/p0446" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yes Sr, I fill it up until I can see the actual gas at the gas tank tube. so what should I change or go after? Any valve or the whole EVAP?

[joatmon]

also see forums.genvibe.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=23940

I've been throwing a P0446 for a while now. I bought a replacement gas cap, but that didn't solve the problem. I looked at the canister in a half hearted manner, wasn't obvious how to solve the hose/electrical connectors so I gave up. I need to give a more earnest attempt to check out the VSV tinman999 mentioned in that other thread

I saw forums.genvibe.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=41115 so at the end of the month I'll try a long drive with the OEM cap from my son's trix, just to be sure and fully eliminate the cap as a factor.

[Reaccion]

also see forums.genvibe.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=23940

I've been throwing a P0446 for a while now. I bought a replacement gas cap, but that didn't solve the problem. I looked at the canister in a half hearted manner, wasn't obvious how to solve the hose/electrical connectors so I gave up. I need to give a more earnest attempt to check out the VSV tinman999 mentioned in that other thread

I saw forums.genvibe.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=41115 so at the end of the month I'll try a long drive with the OEM cap from my son's trix, just to be sure and fully eliminate the cap as a factor.

I read the two posts that you referred. I noticed that both of them pointed to the fuel tank cap. You have a point there. Now that you mentioned it, when I tie up the fuel tank cap, the CEL takes longer to show up or not even show until the next fuel fill. It makes a lot of sense to try to change the fuel cap before anything. I found that the ACDelco GT287 one is meant for 2006-2010 Vibe and the ACDelco GT273 is meant for 2005 Vibe. Which AC Delco fuel cap would fit my 2003 Vibe? I also noticed that there come different fuel tank caps for AWD and FWD, do they? Would the ACDelco for 2003 Trix fuel cap fit my 2003 Vibe with the correct standards not to CEL??

[Reaccion]

Hello guys! After getting tired of seeing my P0446 CEL coming on and being turned off by my scanner, I decided to check under my Vibe. I checked the canister which is located right in front of the rear right hand tire (the FWD Vibe vapor canister is located in the front of the rear tire but at the LEFT side). I noticed that the vent control solenoid was really rusted. I applied 12v to it and I noticed that this valve was stuck opened.

IMG-20130704-00268.jpg (67.5 KiB) Viewed 43362 times

I noticed online that many people take this valve apart and they fix it themselves.

IMG-20130704-00267.jpg (70.87 KiB) Viewed 43362 times

[Reaccion]

Checking the following link: http://steampunkworkshop.com/toyota-sie ... lve-repair" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; , I was able to take this pressure valve apart. As the link explained, the little cylinder inside of this valve was stuck. I pulled out using a long metal self screwing screw and took off all the rust on it. After doing so, the little cylinder inside of this valve was able to move freely. I put everything back together. I reset the annoying P0446 and I am now ready to see if the CEL problem is finally solved. I will definitely keep you posted.

This picture was posted by Jake von Slatt at steampunkworkshop.com on his article "Toyota Sienna Evaporative Canister (P0446) and SVS Valve Repair or Think Like a Maker" linked above. This picture has the same valve already taken apart.

640x427x7-toyota-sienna-evap-svs-valve-repair_jpg_pagespeed_ic_6-COjJnwUZ.jpg (159.45 KiB) Viewed 43326 times

[Reaccion]

I have driven my Vibe for about 200 miles already. I checked the Vibe with my scanner and everything is ready on the Vibe’s ECM (Misfire, Catalytic, O2 sensors, etc) except for the evaporator. I will keep driving it for a couple more days to see if the Vibe completes the driving cycles. I am a little worry because the Evap is what I have been working on. Again, I will keep you posted!

[Reaccion]

Hi guys! I am very happy to report to you that my P0446 CEL was cleared and my Vibe is once again ready for inspection! Thanks to the vapor canister pressure valve cleaning! I hope that this thread can help somebody else with this annoying CEL. Thanks guy for all your help!

IMG-20130708-00291.jpg (41.91 KiB) Viewed 43312 times

IMG-20130708-00290.jpg (39.91 KiB) Viewed 43312 times

[SeattleJeremy]

Thank you for the link. It's a good read, and will likely be very helpful on this forum.

[Reaccion]

Reaccion,

Right now I am experiencing the same problem (CEL P0446) with my Vibe, which needs to be emissions tested in 2 weeks time. Your posts have been incredibly helpful to this point, so I thank you for them. I just have a few quick questions I was hoping you (or anyone else) could help me with: is there any technique to getting the vapor pressure value off? Did you have to remove the evap. canister beforehand? Before I start just pulling on the lines that attach to the valve, I wanted to check. Last thing I need is to damage a line and create further headaches.

Again, many thanks!

Hello there! I am glad to have helped you. There is only one screw holding the valve to the canister. So you actually do not need to remove the entire canister to remove the valve. There are many hoses at the canister and you would not want to confuse them not to get other related CEL codes. Even with the valve, there is an inlet and outlet hose. You can not confuse them either (You may trigger other codes as well). So be careful when removing those hoses from the canister. Take pictures before removing any hoses if necessary. After driving more than 2K miles and after many fuel tanks later, the check engine light is still off. The Vibe is positive to pass inspection proven by the scanner. This procedure really solved my P0446 problem. Good luck to you! Please keep us posted!

[joatmon]

I think the valve that Reaccion was talking about is not the one indicated by the arrow in your picture, but the rusty one at the bottom of the picture that has an electrical connector.

[SeattleJeremy]

Did you try using pliers to twist the rubber hose around the pipe to break it loose?

[Reaccion]

Thanks for getting back to me.

Here's a re-count of my experience trying to remove the vapor pressure valve. I got under the car - I'm only 160lbs. so I was able to slide under without lifting it up and placing the car on jack stands. It was a bit tight but manageable. Only downside was the dirt raining down on my face. I saw the screw that you are talking about on the back of the valve. I was able to reach it with a long screw driver but it was so badly rusted that nothing was doing. I am still not sure what type of screw it is - looked like a small Robertson. Time for plan B.

Removing the evap. canister - I removed the 3 bolts (12mm) holding the canister to the underside of the car and supported it on a block of wood while I worked on getting the various hoses and connectors off. There were 5 in total running back to the car. I got 4 of them. Ultimately I was foiled by one connector just behind the largest one. I'll try to post a photo with an arrow to the part in question (it's the Sienna image from the punksteamworks article but is very similar).

The attachment Vapor Canister.jpg is no longer available

I worked on it for more than an hour, but no luck. Because the part it connects to is plastic, I was worried about breaking that off. Cursing didn't help but felt good. I gave up and put everything back in 10 minutes (I did take photos and made a few marks to make sure I got the hoses connected correctly). As soon as I went for a drive, the MIL came back on and my code reader gave me two codes: P0442 and P0456. Probably from having had the canister off.

My next move is probably to take the car in to the shop and have them inspect the vapor pressure valve. Sure to cost me some $$...frustrating because this wasn't that hard of a job. If you can recall how you got that specific connector off, I am all ears. I'd be willing to give it one more shot. Thanks again!

Do not give up!! I hope that you are not confusing the valve. Check the picture below:

Vapor%20Canister copy.jpg (64.5 KiB) Viewed 43140 times

You can remove the valve using a screw driver. You do not have to remove the whole canister. If you cannot remove the screw because it is probably too rusty, I will suggest you to push the valve back and forward to break off the rusty metal plate that holds the valve to the canister (you can always place it back using some tie rods). Again, do not give up! After you take the valve off the canister, the rest of the procedure is a piece of cake

[Reaccion]

This is an update: If you find it a little complicated to dissemble this part, you could also get the Intermotor CVS40. This is the part replacement that you need. I bought it new on eBay for less than $50.00 (For some reason, the picture in the listing shows an aftermarket part but I received the genuine Toyota one see the picture below):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/231128801566?ss ... 1497.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

IMG_20140206_111117.jpg (56.94 KiB) Viewed 42667 times

[beefy]

So I have had this same check engine light and code on my vibe for a couple years now. Changed the gas cap and some of the under hood Evap system hoses. And now after finding this thread I whent looking for the valve and I can't find a purge valve on or near the Evap canister. It is a 2006 base model. Any help would be appreciated.

[reddplanet]

Good day. Yes, I realize this post is ancient. But I used it to troubleshoot P0446 in my 03 Vibe. The solid CEL came on about 3 weeks ago, I went to Advance Auto, they pulled the code and said it's related to the emission system and the likely candidate is the gas cap. But first try Vaseline on the gas cap gasket. I tried the Vaseline then purchased a new cap with no success, then jumped on to genvibe for help and found this thread the most related and detailed. Reading all the comments I started with the canister solenoid valve, removed the electrical connector, applied 9V to the terminals, but did not hear the solenoid actuate (someone said you can hear it click). As corroded as the valve was I decided to try a new valve, I used the link to ebay and found one for $53 delivered. I received an Intermotor CVS40. To slightly elevate the rear end I drove onto three 2x4's, swapped out the solenoid (I broke the old solenoid off the metal frame by bending, the screw was not coming out), reset the CEL using my neighbor's Oxgord MS300 reader, and all seems well now. Before I installed the new solenoid I applied 9V to the terminals and oh yes you can hear it click. $59 and the problem is solved, and I have an extra gas cap to boot!

I also recently replaced the HVAC system fan, another project that genvibe helped with. Was straightforward and relatively easy.

My 03 Vibe is now at 154.5K.