Check engine light!

I have a 2004 Tacoma and recently my check engine light came on and it was an evap emissions very small leak. It's not the gas cap as I went to Toyota and bought a new one, had the light turned off and it came back on in about a week. Any ideas where to find this leak? I've read about smoke tests and the charcoal canister being bad but that's a different code!

 

Yea, it was P0456.

 

Hard to catch you on here when I'm on here. Must be all that employed gotta work stuff, huh? Good on ya' man.

Sorry OP, don't mean to junk up your thread.

Welcome to TW! Don't worry...Chris will get your answer soon as he sees the code.

 

Seems like I get a small hint of it when I go into the garage. It's not very strong.

 

I've seen that video. Thanks! I've been all over the web searching for answers. Don't want to take it to Toyota unless I Absolutely have to. I did my timing belt with them and the manager kept trying to add on all these extra things I needed. Anyways, my tags are up the end of February. Will this evap leak make me fail?

 

any code whatsoever and you will not pass a test....

 

If you have to pass an emissions/safety inspection, then yes, this code will make you fail. There are several ways to diagnose the code, but P0456 is one of those codes that a lot of techs hate to see come up. Vent solenoids and purge solenoids are both culprits for this code. I suggest follow the video and see where it leads you. Otherwise take it to a competent shop. You don't have to take it to the dealer. Many good independent shops are quite capable of diagnosing this code. Chris is a ton of help, and feel free to ask me as well if you have any questions. I have access to all of the Toyota diagnostic information that a dealer tech has access to.

 

Depends. In many cases as long as the code is not an emissions related code, you can still pass. They key is the check engine light. If it is on, then yes, you will fail, however many codes will not turn on the CEL.

 

Is the smoke test expensive?

 

In most cases a smoke test is classified as a "one hour" job. This means that you get billed one hour of labor for the test. Cost depends on local labor rates for the shops. National average is $88 per hour, so expect it to be in that range most likely.

 

How can I find this leak on my own? I know my way around my truck fairly well.

I just paid it off, now I feel I'm gonna start having issues with her.

 

My answer was based on CA emission standards, a check engine light is an automatic fail....more and more states are adopting more stringent emissions tests, I am not sure about Arizona....


Now, I have passed the California test when I lived there by clearing the codes, crossing my fingers, drive 100 miles or so without the code coming back on to reset the ECU, take it in immediately for retesting (same day, however long it takes me to hammer out 100 miles), pass the test then dealt with the code problem at a later date...heck, even driving cross country my check engine light will come occasionally depending on which state I bought the gas and how far out in the boonies the station is located, cleared code, great until the next trip cross country...it always seems to happen in the Northern Midwest states for some reason...


You can try and run down the leak yourself with a handheld gas detector, you can get them on Ebay on the cheap, it will scream at you when you get to a high concentration of gas fumes...I have one, it is a good tool to have generally for household use too checking your gas connections...


Edit, linkee to the gas detector, mine is similar, you can find them as cheap as $30, make sure it is a hydrocarbon type detector, some are for Freon only...


http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Portabl...632?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f2b3733a0

 

Well, you could locate the evap canister and visually check all the vacuum lines running from it. Could be that one of them is split or loose. I don't know where yours is , but on my 2.7, its under the hood, on top of the driver-side wheel well. You can see it next to the brake master cylinder in this photo. Its the big plastic box. Yours should look pretty much like this.



Good luck.

 

Without a scan tool, it is a bit challenging to find on your own. When I get into the shop tomorrow I will post up the information I have to aid you in finding it.

 

Thank you very much! I'll be interested to read all about it!

 

Great picture! Mine does look like that but it's located under the truck back by the gas tank. Dad and I got under there and found it.