*not bike related* 98 camry failed emissions test

[Brian P]

The first several posts, all of which have some variation of "pull the codes and report back ..." all have it right. Doing ANYthing else, on a vehicle with a lit MIL, is pointless until you find out why the MIL is on.

[TomC]

yes yes i will pull the codes and report back as soon as i can (as time is ticking for my car too)...i just got the obd ii reader today off a friend.

[TomC]

finally got around to plugging in the obd ii reader:

the problem codes are p0441 and p0446



I've googled the problem codes, sort of know what they mean, yet at the same time sort of totally lost...i dont know my head from a hole when it comes to cars, bikes i know just a tiny bit more.

[TwistedKestrel]

Did you check the gas cap yet? It's one possible cause for those codes.

[TomC]

i think p0441 is the gas cap code

[Franko!]

This points to replacing the evap canister:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Toyota-Camry...46-P0440-P0441

This may help you troubleshoot the problems:
http://www.fixya.com/cars/t1616503-9...41_p0446_codes

EVAP stuff is hard for the DIY guys to fix. You may need to take it in to a shop.

Good Luck!

[boooya]

I see that code all the time. Its more then likely a sticking VSV valve on the canister. There about $90 plus install, they can be a real pain in the arse to get off. There is just a small little screw that holds it in and they are usually rusted pretty bad.

[kcalB]

There is no "gas cap sensor"... I assume you have an evap leak.

Post the engine code and we can move from there...
BTW, if you have a check engine light on, you will NEVER pass an emissions test, as something is wrong.

while there is no "gas cap sensor" a loose gas cap can (and i have fixed these before) set off the check engine light. Something to do with the pressure, i didn't ask questions, an apprentice has no right to question.LOL

[boooya]

while there is no "gas cap sensor" a loose gas cap can (and i have fixed these before) set off the check engine light. Something to do with the pressure, i didn't ask questions, an apprentice has no right to question.LOL

Vacuum created by the engine is monitored and by the canister and valves. If you have a small leak in the gas cap it will not hold vacuum and will set off a "gross vacuum leak". A 441 code is a VSV valve thats sticking, not a vacuum leak.

[lucky2]

check your vacuum hoses for a leak

[TomC]

talked to a mech...he quoted me $490 to get the stuff fixed (most likely o2 sensor he says)...

now, this is an old vehicle, 98 camry, my coworker sent me this link http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/air/driv...ST_LIMIT-E.pdf

apparently somethign along the lines of...if repair costs exceed $450, i can get an exemption for the e-test...anyone have any experience with this? I suppose that I will need to repair it down the road eventually, if I want to keep driving it a year or two from now, what should I do, just repair the damn thing or get the mechanic to quote me on the repair cost so i can get a "by".

[TwistedKestrel]

talked to a mech...he quoted me $490 to get the stuff fixed (most likely o2 sensor he says)...

now, this is an old vehicle, 98 camry, my coworker sent me this link http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/air/driv...ST_LIMIT-E.pdf

apparently somethign along the lines of...if repair costs exceed $450, i can get an exemption for the e-test...anyone have any experience with this? I suppose that I will need to repair it down the road eventually, if I want to keep driving it a year or two from now, what should I do, just repair the damn thing or get the mechanic to quote me on the repair cost so i can get a "by".

Well, first of all, you actually need to spend the $450 to get the RCL exemption. You don't get a "bye", it just limits your costs to as near as $450 as you can get repairing the problem.

Second of all, it's not an O2 sensor. Many mechanics that don't understand modern ODB-II will throw an oxygen sensor at a problem, and if that doesn't work they give up. I guarantee you that won't fix this.

Try and get another quote from someone who knows what they're doing, and go from there. And did you get the gas cap tested/replaced yet?!

[TomC]

Well, first of all, you actually need to spend the $450 to get the RCL exemption. You don't get a "bye", it just limits your costs to as near as $450 as you can get repairing the problem.

Second of all, it's not an O2 sensor. Many mechanics that don't understand modern ODB-II will throw an oxygen sensor at a problem, and if that doesn't work they give up. I guarantee you that won't fix this.

Try and get another quote from someone who knows what they're doing, and go from there. And did you get the gas cap tested/replaced yet?!

Thanks for the input
will get this asap.

[GayManLoveIsOK]

check engine light IS on, it has been on for several years though, aint worth fixing...

TL;DR
lol...there might be your problem...

[boooya]

Im telling you its a VSV valve at the canister or a clogged vacume line going to it.
Why arn't you listening.

[lucky2]

Im telling you its a VSV valve at the canister or a clogged vacume line going to it.
Why arn't you listening.

+1 get it diag first. then get it fixed.

[TomC]

Im telling you its a VSV valve at the canister or a clogged vacume line going to it.
Why arn't you listening.

ok i will look at this first, sorry, didnt sift through all the input.

[bigguy1]

Im telling you its a VSV valve at the canister or a clogged vacume line going to it.
Why arn't you listening.

That would be why the light is on but is that why the car is failing the test?
I'm not a mechanic but I had a windstar that had a similar problem with the evaporator canistor that caused the check engine light to come on all the time. It was just over 600 to fix and I didn't plan on keeping it long.

The van still past the emissions test 2 times. The second time I had to replace the gas cap as it failed the pressure test but that was it.
Perhapes a good highway drive or getting one of those additives from CT will help lower the CO enough that the car will pass?

[boooya]

That would be why the light is on but is that why the car is failing the test?
I'm not a mechanic but I had a windstar that had a similar problem with the evaporator canistor that caused the check engine light to come on all the time. It was just over 600 to fix and I didn't plan on keeping it long.

The van still past the emissions test 2 times. The second time I had to replace the gas cap as it failed the pressure test but that was it.
Perhapes a good highway drive or getting one of those additives from CT will help lower the CO enough that the car will pass?

VSV would not make it fail emmisions, im just refering to the MIL light that is on. I see these old camry's come in all the time with that code and 95% of the time its the VSV valve. I just did one yesterday.
There are many things that can make it fail, o2's, cat's, egr, plugs, etc etc...
Without proper diag the op is just taking guesses at why it might be failing. It can fail an emmissions test and not have a MIL light on.

[Torren]

Im telling you its a VSV valve at the canister or a clogged vacume line going to it.
Why arn't you listening.

Because your not telling him what he wants to hear.