GoHideTheAsian
New member
well i have the same issue and i changed the gas cap, didnt help, replaced the fuel filter didnt help, what should i do? im tired of that idiot light.
Good ol' P0446
- Thread starter Terrapin
- Start date
Rock Slide
Senior Member
Of course the quick and dirty is take it to the dealer and have them diagnose it.
Chances are, it's going to be either 1 of the 3 switches that need replacing or a new charcoal canister. The 2 switches under the hood are the VSV for CCV and VSV for EVAP. The one at the canister itself is the VSV for VSP. This VSV for VSP typically goes bad before the other 2 switches do. Besides they are much cheaper than a new canister.
Chances are, it's going to be either 1 of the 3 switches that need replacing or a new charcoal canister. The 2 switches under the hood are the VSV for CCV and VSV for EVAP. The one at the canister itself is the VSV for VSP. This VSV for VSP typically goes bad before the other 2 switches do. Besides they are much cheaper than a new canister.
Terrapin
New member
Gas cap and fuel filter have nothing to do with P0446 by itself. Don't waste your money throwing parts at it. Rock slide is right. It will be one of those he mentioned. I had them replace the VSV by the charcoal filter, instead of the entire charcoal filter which seems to have worked since the CEL has been out for ~350mi or so now. Plus saved about $400 on parts by doing so.
Rock Slide
Senior Member
Update:
So after I swapped out the VSV switch at the canister, still no luck. I then had the dealer diagnose the CEL and they said it was the CCV switch under the hood that had failed. I replaced it and my CEL came back on a week later. Took my 4Runner back to the dealer and said try again. They then decided that my bypass valve in the cansiter had failed. Only fix...buy a new canister.
So last week, instead of paying $489.00 just for a new oem canister + XX amount of money for labor for the dealer to install it, I called around to a few junk yards. Ended up finding a '02 4Runner w/ only 45K on the clock about an hour North of me that still had the original canister installed. Had them remove it, package it real well and overnight it to me via UPS (shipping was only $8.00). They only charged me $50 for the canister...so that + the $8.00 shipping, I was still under $60 grand total.
Installed it myself the same day I recv'd it. It's been about a week and so far no CEL. I should be set now, but only time will tell. Heck, even if this replacement canister is damaged as well, I could always order a few more and it'd still be cheaper than getting a brand new one!
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So after I swapped out the VSV switch at the canister, still no luck. I then had the dealer diagnose the CEL and they said it was the CCV switch under the hood that had failed. I replaced it and my CEL came back on a week later. Took my 4Runner back to the dealer and said try again. They then decided that my bypass valve in the cansiter had failed. Only fix...buy a new canister.
So last week, instead of paying $489.00 just for a new oem canister + XX amount of money for labor for the dealer to install it, I called around to a few junk yards. Ended up finding a '02 4Runner w/ only 45K on the clock about an hour North of me that still had the original canister installed. Had them remove it, package it real well and overnight it to me via UPS (shipping was only $8.00). They only charged me $50 for the canister...so that + the $8.00 shipping, I was still under $60 grand total.
Installed it myself the same day I recv'd it. It's been about a week and so far no CEL. I should be set now, but only time will tell. Heck, even if this replacement canister is damaged as well, I could always order a few more and it'd still be cheaper than getting a brand new one!
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Rock Slide
Senior Member
elaborate on your definition of what the "whole little system" is. Are you refering to the canister + all 3 vsv switches or just the canister?
If the vsv at the canister didn't solve your issue, then it could be either of the 2 VSVs under the hood or possibly a new/used canister. As stated in my previous post, I bought a used canister for $60 shipped. Was fairly easy to install and almost a year later, I've had no CEL since.
If the vsv at the canister didn't solve your issue, then it could be either of the 2 VSVs under the hood or possibly a new/used canister. As stated in my previous post, I bought a used canister for $60 shipped. Was fairly easy to install and almost a year later, I've had no CEL since.
Maritimer
New member
By the whole system I mean tubes, wires, pipes, whatever.
Do you think the two other switches plus a canister would put an end to this for good? I find dealing with garages repeatedly more stressful than spending money. Either **** or get off the pot--that's my thinking about repairs. I also prefer a fast solution.
I'm doing the computer reset right now, and I'll get the codes pulled if the light comes on again.
Maritimer
New member
I unplugged the battery and pulled the fuse for 15 minutes, and the lights went off. I took it for a 10 mile spin and gunned it a few times and we're still fine.
It was a past problem with the previous owner, and I don't think this is the end of things, unfortunately, despite the repair last week. We'll see when/if the lights go on again.
However, I'll keep a little hope since the light came on five minutes into a rainy ride the day after a dry dust fest. Dust plus water equals muck everywhere underneath.
It was a past problem with the previous owner, and I don't think this is the end of things, unfortunately, despite the repair last week. We'll see when/if the lights go on again.
However, I'll keep a little hope since the light came on five minutes into a rainy ride the day after a dry dust fest. Dust plus water equals muck everywhere underneath.
Rock Slide
Senior Member
I'd try to find the exact problem before I replaced the entire system. That route could be costly.
FWIW, every time I reset my CEL, it came back on 2 days, to a week later. Usually had to log at least 200 miles for it to come back on. If and when your CEL comes back on, let us know what code(s) it throws.
Typically, the switch at the canister is the most common part to fail. The 2 in the front are the least common, but they can fail. (BTW, these 2 switches under the hood are super easy to replace yourself.) The canister can fail too if you overfill your gas tank repeatedly. Every time I'd fill up my truck, I'd hear the pump click and I'd still keep filling my tank...and look what happened, I had to replace my canister. The canister's not hard to replace, just a lot of hoses to plug back in.
FWIW, every time I reset my CEL, it came back on 2 days, to a week later. Usually had to log at least 200 miles for it to come back on. If and when your CEL comes back on, let us know what code(s) it throws.
Typically, the switch at the canister is the most common part to fail. The 2 in the front are the least common, but they can fail. (BTW, these 2 switches under the hood are super easy to replace yourself.) The canister can fail too if you overfill your gas tank repeatedly. Every time I'd fill up my truck, I'd hear the pump click and I'd still keep filling my tank...and look what happened, I had to replace my canister. The canister's not hard to replace, just a lot of hoses to plug back in.
Maritimer
New member
Yeah, I'm going to wait until the light comes back on, and then think about going to the stealer to get it read. Make them give me my money's worth by picking their brains, and then consider ordering the parts and doing it myself. I'd like to hear them tell me the problem is with the part I just had replaced just so I can tell them they are wrong.
The place where I got the first switch done orders their parts from the dealer, anyway, and what they did didn't help much, and they charged $90 to frig around with a screwdriver and wrench to install the part. As much as I like small shops (and it's either the stealer or a small shop in my town) they didn't really give the impression they knew much about 4Runners.
If there were a problem with the fill up pipe or around the tank opening would this throw P0446, or another code?
Rock Slide
Senior Member
Don't know if your dealer charges you a fee to read codes (I've seen some do it and some not), but you can always go by your local auto parts store and have the code read for free.
If there was a problem with the fill pipe or around the tank opening, I don't think you'd throw a P0446...(I don't even think there's a specific code for that), but I could be wrong.
If there was a problem with the fill pipe or around the tank opening, I don't think you'd throw a P0446...(I don't even think there's a specific code for that), but I could be wrong.
I am having the same issue. I replaced the gas cap right away with no improvement. Next was our family's mechanic who diagnosed it as the Canister after contacting Toyota, that worked for a couple months. He openly acknowledged it may not be the exact cause. When I brought it back they did another complete diagnosis and couldn't find any leaks, reset the CEL and asked me to note the conditions when it comes on again. That was last week. I'll send an update if anything new comes up.
BADGATE
New member
P0441 & p0446
I have been getting the P0441 & P0446 CEL. When I clear the code, sometimes it comes back the next day, sometimes it takes a while. I took to a dealer and was told it was the charcoal canister...$600 to replace. I left alone because the truck runs fine. It is completely annoying seeing the light though. Maybe I should try replacing the VSV switch by the canister first. Anyone have any pics of this?
I have been getting the P0441 & P0446 CEL. When I clear the code, sometimes it comes back the next day, sometimes it takes a while. I took to a dealer and was told it was the charcoal canister...$600 to replace. I left alone because the truck runs fine. It is completely annoying seeing the light though. Maybe I should try replacing the VSV switch by the canister first. Anyone have any pics of this?
Rock Slide
Senior Member
FWIW, I bought a used canister off car-part.com for $60 shipped. Installed it and was good to go. Dealer wanted $489 just for a new canister + labor...what a joke. It's easy to replace yourself. The switch at the canister is around $65 new IIRC.
The 2 switches under the hood are the easiest to replace as they are right beside the main fuse box...yet they rarely fail. I say that, yet one of my switches under the hood failed along w/ my canister. I had to replace both this switch and the canister.
The switch at the canister will require you to remove the canister in order to remove the switch. Don't have a photo of it though...
larrylegend
New member
I have the same code and I smell gas from time to time as well. I am just not going to drop any ammount of money on a new or used charcoal canister to get the code to clear. My state doesn't require inspections though.
cj80cruiser
Senior Member
I'm glad I read this thread and saw about overfilling gas tank...I do it all the time trying to get an even dollar amount in there. I gotta stop my little OCD games, LOL. When I turn my truck off I hear what I always thought was the canister hum a little and make some weird noises like it's releasing pressure. Is this a bad sign or just normal like I believe it is?
Rock Slide
Senior Member
Well, I know on 96-98 3rd gens, the canister is located in the engine bay...so overfilling the tank a bit may not cause any harm. (Although, I'd still side on precaution and stop after the first click.)
On 99-02 3rd gens, they moved the canister to the back of the vehicle near the gas tank. So overfilling a tank can really hurt these year 4Runners. (like mine for example) I've seen it happen to more 4Runner owners than I can count.
On 99-02 3rd gens, they moved the canister to the back of the vehicle near the gas tank. So overfilling a tank can really hurt these year 4Runners. (like mine for example) I've seen it happen to more 4Runner owners than I can count.
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