99ES300Guy

Help me please! I'm no mechanic so please excuse my non-technical description of my problem.

Can someone tell me if the hose in the picture is supposed to be connected to the air intake box (the box that holds the air filter)? I noticed that the hose was just sticking straight up in the air and not connected to anything. I noticed that the air filter box has a little 1 inch "valve" (for lack of a better word) sticking out that seems to fit perfectly with this hose.

Please shed any knowledge you have about this. Thank you in advance!

99ES300Guy

Here is a top-down view of the same hose that is just sticking straight up, not connected to anything. Hope this helps clarify.

yeldogt

yes -- it goes on. I'm not so sure that the connection on the filter box is actually a valve.

I'm not looking at my car.

All of these hoses are part of the emission system -- they vent to the air filter box so everything gets vented to the engine.

hypervish

It should definitely be connected... I'm surprised you don't have a CEL due to that hose being disconnected.

99ES300Guy

Lol, you are good! Actually, the check engine light and "Trac Off" light are both on. I didnt mention this 'cause I didnt know if it was related and wanted to stay on-point.

I had been researching the CEL/Trac Off light issue for the last couple days and found everything from "gas cap is loose" to "replace Charcoal Canister and Vapor Pressure Valve". I even bought a Actron scanner and found code P0446 "EVAP Emission Control System Vent Circuit Malf".

The reason I posted about the disconnected hose first, was because I read this thread: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es3...999-es300.html

The guy (mikejerez) mentions the VSV and "3 rubber tubes attached to it., One of which goes to the vacuum tank under the battery, another one goes to the air intake (just below where the MAF is)".

So, my suspicion is that my disconnected hose (which is below the MAF as he described) goes to the VSV. So, possibly the hose is indeed causing the CEL/Trac Off light problem.

Cheers! I definitely appreciate any insight or experience from you experts. I'm def. not a mechanic but I love to learn this stuff and be educated about my car.

99ES300Guy

One more thing to note: A few days ago, just for kicks and giggles, I connected the hose and drove the car for a good 10 miles. After parking it back in the garage, I noticed that sulfuric stinky smell in the garage. I then disconnected the hose and have not had that smell ever since. Is that normal?