GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Hello,

I never had a single problem with that great car for 6½ years now (164,000 km), but got my first check engine warnings last friday, with the VSC OFF flashing, as well as the stabilitrak and check engine signals being lit. The car was still running fine, so I disconnected the battery this weekend and erased the codes. But this morning (2 days only later), the warnings are back.

I went to a local garage and they retrieved the following codes: P043F, PO43E, P2402, P2419, P2401 and P2402. What do I do with this? Is there something urgent to fix?

I'm gonna trail my pop-up for a long ride soon (I leave on June 27). I guess I should address these codes before?

Thanks a lot for any help.

My car: Pontiac Vibe 2009 (base, with 2.4 L)

This is a very common problem toyotas have then water gets into the charcoal canister. You'll need to replace the charcoal canister and blow out the lines.

gtv237 wrote:This is a very common problem toyotas have then water gets into the charcoal canister. You'll need to replace the charcoal canister and blow out the lines.

Thanks for the info. Is is a part that is expensive? Could a used part do the job? How long does this take to be changed? Can it be done by any little local shop, or it has to the at GM?

Eloi wrote:

gtv237 wrote:This is a very common problem toyotas have then water gets into the charcoal canister. You'll need to replace the charcoal canister and blow out the lines.

Thanks for the info. Is is a part that is expensive? Could a used part do the job? How long does this take to be changed? Can it be done by any little local shop, or it has to the at GM?

I guess the issue is caused by a flaw in the design. Some vehicles have a revised filler neck available that will prevent the problem from reoccurring. I would call up toyota and tell them the problem you're having with your 2009 matrix(lol) and have them sell you a new canister with the revised filler neck. There should be a TSB on this already.

It's not a hard repair. Any shop could do it. Just tell them its important to blow out any remaining water in the lines.

According to this: http://www.justanswer.com/pontiac/8dskm ... ntiac.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"the odds are there is going to be a wiring issue to the pump or the filter is plugged or the canister is bad or the leak detection pump"

Looks like there will be quite some $$ in labor to find the reason for sure...

I threw the same codes on my 2010 Vibe. Spent a fair amount of time researching the issue and it's likely water/gasoline in the charcoal canister. Second most likely reason is the vapor canister purge valve is plugged or broken.

Cheapest place I found the canister was on Amazon. Right now the AC Delco part is going for $153.66 which is a little more then I paid.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EQ ... refresh_T1

Link is to the thread that I posted my update on a couple months ago
viewtopic.php?p=495078#p495078

As far as urgency, I would place it at pretty low. You will notice very little difference in performance. The only real urgency is dependent on how much the CEL bothers you and whether you have to pass an emissions test anytime soon.

ab2cmiller wrote:I threw the same codes on my 2010 Vibe. Spent a fair amount of time researching the issue and it's likely water/gasoline in the charcoal canister. Second most likely reason is the vapor canister purge valve is plugged or broken.

Cheapest place I found the canister was on Amazon. Right now the AC Delco part is going for $153.66 which is a little more then I paid.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EQ ... refresh_T1

Link is to the thread that I posted my update on a couple months ago
viewtopic.php?p=495078#p495078

Thanks but I'm in Canada and Amazon.ca doesn't carry this part. There are some on Ebay for around $225 CAN. But I'll have to be sure it's really the problem before ordering this.

Well, the codes came back yesterday. I'll go to a local Toyota dealer next Wednesday. I trust Toyota more than GM to find the problem quickly. Now, hopefully it won't cost me an arm and a leg...

Eloi wrote:Well, the codes came back yesterday. I'll go to a local Toyota dealer next Wednesday. I trust Toyota more than GM to find the problem quickly. Now, hopefully it won't cost me an arm and a leg...

Let us know the outcome.

The car is at the Toyota dealer today. They found it's the canister that is faulty, but there is also a modification to make. I have to go back tomorrow as they had to order the canister from GM, Toyota wasn't able to get it before 2 weeks and I need the car ready for Friday...

Total cost of the repair including diagnostic and local taxes (15%): $1324.00

Ouch.... This sucks bad. I tried to find the canister locally from other sources and it's even more expensive than from the dealers (more than $500)...

I'll have to shut up and pay...

Toyota wants to make a fix to make sure the canister problem won't come back again. But my car is 6-years old, with 164,000 km and I just had the canister problem a couple weeks ago. The cost of that fix is more than $300 including labor. I just called another local place (which specialize in repairing Toyota and other Japanese makes) and asked about that fix, the guy said they never do the fix to their customers. They just change the canister and they never had a customer come back with the same problem later.

Do you think I could just have the canister changed and forget about the fix, while saving a good amount of cash?

Anyone knows if GM also do that modification? Is it really necessary?

I'm thinking of letting it go and have a new attitude at the pump as well, never continue fueling after the "click"...

Thanks.

Eloi wrote:Do you think I could just have the canister changed and forget about the fix, while saving a good amount of cash?

Anyone knows if GM also do that modification? Is it really necessary?

I'm thinking of letting it go and have a new attitude at the pump as well, never continue fueling after the "click"...

Thanks.

Well, this thread is certainly an eye opener. How many members here have had this problem I wonder?

At over $1000 to fix is a little insane. Can you explain what exactly is this 'fix'? I think I may order a canister from amazon.com next time I'm in the US and hoard it if this part will inevitably fail. The price is more than double here in Canada.

Wow, that price is astronomical! This is a situation I would just spend the minimum on it, to get the lights turned off, probably used parts if I could find them. I'd call some places on http://www.car-part.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and see if they still have the whole car it could be pulled off of. Hope I never have this problem.

Good luck on it!

Eloi wrote:Toyota wants to make a fix to make sure the canister problem won't come back again.

I also would want to know what exactly this "fix" is. It would have to be something to where the replacement canister's location is altered OR changed to prohibit any future moisture/water from entering it

Eloi wrote: Do you think I could just have the canister changed and forget about the fix, while saving a good amount of cash?

YES ............................. With a new canister you should be back to square one and drive another 6 years or so before it reappears.

I too am guilty of sometimes filling up the Vibe a bit past the "click" when fueling up the Vibe. With the cost of fuel staying around the $4/gal mark, the most I'd ever go over would be one quart of fuel. I ALWAYS round up to the next whole dollar amount when filling up.

In addition to never filling the tank past the first click, my mechanic also suggested skipping the underbody wash option at the automatic car wash.

Just to clarify, the prices that were being quoted from the OP was due to higher prices in Canada.

I bought the canister from Amazon for less than $150 and it's a pretty easy install for a mechanic or if you are good with cars. I think I had probably less than $300 in it total after paying my mechanic and paying for the canister and also I replaced the vapor canister purge valve.

I'm not sure what "the fix" is that the Toyota dealership was referring to.

gtv237 wrote:
I guess the issue is caused by a flaw in the design. Some vehicles have a revised filler neck available that will prevent the problem from reoccurring. I would call up toyota and tell them the problem you're having with your 2009 matrix(lol) and have them sell you a new canister with the revised filler neck. There should be a TSB on this already.

It's not a hard repair. Any shop could do it. Just tell them its important to blow out any remaining water in the lines.

All the info is here. The 'fix' is the revised filler neck.

ab2cmiller wrote:In addition to never filling the tank past the first click, my mechanic also suggested skipping the underbody wash option at the automatic car wash.

Just to clarify, the prices that were being quoted from the OP was due to higher prices in Canada.

I bought the canister from Amazon for less than $150 and it's a pretty easy install for a mechanic or if you are good with cars. I think I had probably less than $300 in it total after paying my mechanic and paying for the canister and also I replaced the vapor canister purge valve.

I'm not sure what "the fix" is that the Toyota dealership was referring to.

Looks like I'm going to have to buy one of these as a spare in case. The price went up another dollar on Amazon since last week lol. The dealer price for this part here is outrageous. Any idea if the vapour canister on Amazon will fit older Vibes/Corolla/Matrix or is it just 09-10 models? Good to know in the event I never need to use the assembly I can always end up selling it online.

Capt.Vibe wrote:

ab2cmiller wrote:In addition to never filling the tank past the first click, my mechanic also suggested skipping the underbody wash option at the automatic car wash.

Just to clarify, the prices that were being quoted from the OP was due to higher prices in Canada.

I bought the canister from Amazon for less than $150 and it's a pretty easy install for a mechanic or if you are good with cars. I think I had probably less than $300 in it total after paying my mechanic and paying for the canister and also I replaced the vapor canister purge valve.

I'm not sure what "the fix" is that the Toyota dealership was referring to.

Looks like I'm going to have to buy one of these as a spare in case. The price went up another dollar on Amazon since last week lol. The dealer price for this part here is outrageous. Any idea if the vapour canister on Amazon will fit older Vibes/Corolla/Matrix or is it just 09-10 models? Good to know in the event I never need to use the assembly I can always end up selling it online.

It looks like there is a different part number for the 2003 and 2004 models. Here is the link to Amazon for AC Delco part number 215-674 currently priced at $188.97 from Amazon (see other sellers listed on the side) however it says it will ship in 1 to 2 months.
http://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-215-674-V ... lco+215674

From what I can tell 2005 to 2010 use AC Delco part number 215-474 currently priced at $154.92 on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-215-474-C ... icleType=5

ab2cmiller wrote:

Capt.Vibe wrote:

ab2cmiller wrote:In addition to never filling the tank past the first click, my mechanic also suggested skipping the underbody wash option at the automatic car wash.

Just to clarify, the prices that were being quoted from the OP was due to higher prices in Canada.

I bought the canister from Amazon for less than $150 and it's a pretty easy install for a mechanic or if you are good with cars. I think I had probably less than $300 in it total after paying my mechanic and paying for the canister and also I replaced the vapor canister purge valve.

I'm not sure what "the fix" is that the Toyota dealership was referring to.

Looks like I'm going to have to buy one of these as a spare in case. The price went up another dollar on Amazon since last week lol. The dealer price for this part here is outrageous. Any idea if the vapour canister on Amazon will fit older Vibes/Corolla/Matrix or is it just 09-10 models? Good to know in the event I never need to use the assembly I can always end up selling it online.

It looks like there is a different part number for the 2003 and 2004 models. Here is the link to Amazon for AC Delco part number 215-674 currently priced at $188.97 from Amazon (see other sellers listed on the side) however it says it will ship in 1 to 2 months.
http://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-215-674-V ... lco+215674

From what I can tell 2005 to 2010 use AC Delco part number 215-474 currently priced at $154.92 on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-215-474-C ... icleType=5

Thanks for the good info, at least there is enough of a market to sell it in case I never use it. I would imagine it fits Corolla/Matrix as well. When you purchased your unit from Amazon did you happen to notice where it was manufactured? Was it made in the USA or Mexico? Maybe I can slip past customs duty free under NAFTA agreement.