P0446 (pending)

[masphx]

Hey guys,

Have a 1998 4R here with 172,000. Bought it 4,000 miles ago.

Anyway, CEL came on one day and the code was P0446. Took truck to mechanic and he preformed a smoke test on the runner, no leaks found. He then found that two of the senors on the Charcoal Canister were bad. They were replaced (at a hefty cost) and computer was reset.

About 100 or so miles later (4 or 5 days later) the CEL came back on. Took it to get checked at Autozone and sure enough good old P0446 again. This time it was a pending code though. Autozone person told me to drive the truck around as the computer needs to see if the issue still exists. So far I have clocked about 140 miles in fours days and the code is still pending? Seems a little long to me?

Driving this Truck to L.A. from PHX on Friday (then back on Sunday). Not sweating bullets over this code but it is just un-easy driving it with this CEL on. Might have to buy a Post-it note soon.

Mason

 

[Stick Figure]

I would take a good close look at the fuel cap and its sealing surface. Worse case its not much to replace it with a new one just to be on the safe side.

otherwise here is the full troubleshooting procedure:

http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/1996/SIL...2rmsour/2002/024runne/di/eg5vzfe/cip0441p.pdf

 

[masphx]

Thanks for the Link. Have looked at that one before but will check it out again. I have tried all the easy stuff it seems. Just would like to know how long this code should be pending and if it is safe to drive with it on for 800 miles.

Mason

 

[BigRogers]

For what is worth I had error code P0440 at 175,000. Took 2 mechanics, 1 being a stealership that didn't really want to help....sorry bunch of S.O.B.'s. But working with another mechanic he was finally able to locate the problem. Which was my charcoal canister, replaced it, and a couple hundred miles later the CEL came back on. Re-ran the code and came up P0446. The mechanic did a few smoke tests the finally was able to find the smallest of cracks in one of the pressure release valves on to of the gas tank. He wouldn't have even know it was there without dropping the tank. Sorry I don't have a part number or picture of what it looks like. But when I say small crack I mean it was tiny. Just a little bit of smoke leaking out. So make sure you mechanic looks very close.

I wod have been fine to drive on it but can stand when that light is on. Hope this helps.
Good Luck

 

[HCurphy]

Might try googling "drive cyycle" for the 4runners, that should tell you how long before it should take for the code to go from pending to actual code(lost on the wording there).

As far as it being safe to drive. I would think it would be fine. I've been driving around with p0420 for quite some time--and it's a somewhat similar code. If you can't tell a difference in the way the truck drives, I think you're ok to drive it on a trip.

 

[masphx]

Thanks for the responses guy. CEL is still there but hoping it will just disappear as it is still pending. I have now driven 180 miles with the pending code. Looks like I will be buying some Post-it notes to put over the light till I have some time to deal with it. The Drive cycle thing from Toyota looks confusing.

Mason

 

[HCurphy]

Thanks for the responses guy. CEL is still there but hoping it will just disappear as it is still pending. I have now driven 180 miles with the pending code. Looks like I will be buying some Post-it notes to put over the light till I have some time to deal with it. The Drive cycle thing from Toyota looks confusing.

Mason

yeah thats why I suggested you search it, because I don't fully understand it.
I just recently replaced the check engine light bulb on mine, and now that damn light just annoys me. I kind of wish I had left it out--I might have to try to psot-its, too.

 

[bitchaaz]

I had that code for the longest time on my Tacoma. I changed this, swapped that. Extended my emissions inspection date a few times also. I was dreading on replacing the charcoal canister because of the expense (> $300). As long as fuel consumption wasen't affected, I learned to live with it until I got rid of it @ 263k miles. Being that you just got it and its still "new" to you, It might be worth the expense.

Its either that or just cut the wire to the CEL.

 

[Maritimer]

I get this code all summer every week or so, or P0440, or P0441 maybe. I got a super-cheap reader so I can delete it, have the light go off, and know it is just the same damn code again. I'd drop the coin on a canister if I were sure it would fix it, but nah. I did get a new filler pipe, which is justified anyway because of rust, but that didn't change things.