tmf2004

iTrader: (15)

Recently got a CEL about a month ago and it turned out to be the Charcoal Canister. It kills me to spend this much money on a vehicle that is almost 20yrs old.. The part alone i was quoted $1200... Found one on ebay for about half that brand new.. I may go that route. I didn't think these failed but i guess with age any part can fail.. Currently sitting at 81k miles and pretty much daily the car about 90% of the time...

ThomasGS4

iTrader: (19)

Check for loose vacuum lines in the engine bay first, specifically on the driver side. They like to pop loose if the engine mounts are bad.

tmf2004

iTrader: (15)

thanks parker i'll check that out... Funny how in the beginning the CEL would come on and off and now its on all the time ..

Mr Jokster

iTrader: (8)

Dude, being that it went off and on positively points to the vsv valve at the canister. Many people spend a ton of money on whats usually not the problem. If the canister goes out (cracked or what not) it goes out and thats it. Its cracked and the problem stays. Even if its a broken hose or a popped off hose, again, the problem stays and the CEL will stay on.

The reason it was turning off and on, off and on is because the valve would fail and get stuck open or closed, then would turn back on and close or open itself to the position its needed in. What casused it to stay on now? The valve has now completely failed and is stuck in one position. Buy one for $30 bucks and call it a day!!!

PN:

90910-12109 (08/1997 - 06/2000)
90910-12224 (07/2000 - 12/2004)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vacuum-Switching-Valve-fits-01-05-Lexus-IS300-3-0L-L6-90910-12224-/272065416661?hash=item3f585ccdd5:g:M1kAAOSwcBhWYKZu&vxp=mtr

.....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Vapor-Ca...ZWuhWl&vxp=mtr


I think you can get them at parts store as well for like $50 bucks.

Also, after you replace it (depending on if it was stuck off or on) do check for popped off hoses. If the valve was stuck closed, the pressure builds up and will pop a vacuum line off the metal piping because the pressure needs to release from somewhere.

tmf2004

iTrader: (15)

hey thanks for the help... Is this something i can fix myself and reach up into the rear and replace it? $27.32.... thanks buddy


edit: ,, yea all they did was run a scan on the car and got a code.. They didnt even check if it could be a line or not..... I'll check the engine bay first..

Mr Jokster

iTrader: (8)

Cause they're gonna make more money with the canister. But at the same time, replacing the whole thing fixes the problem and prevents other failures in there as well.

As for replacing yourself, its a pain in the *** and you MUST have a lift to make it very much easier! I had my car in literally the angle of this fore slash ---> /

practically on its side, but it got done in many hours LoL Shops will most likely drop the rear end or remove the axle to get to it which will make it a 1000% easier, but a LOT more disassembly is required. So either spend many hours removing things easily and replacing easily, or spend may hours (probably less) using 2 fingers and contorting your arm as well as using every swear word (and maybe some new ones) while trying to remove just the valve

There are plenty of videos on youtube on how to do the job, just search for charcoal canister.

as for checking under the hood, that all depends on what codes popped up. If they didnt mention them, then you didnt get the code. IIRC, 441 would be the hose up front and 446 or 443 is the valve/canister

Nonetheless, it takes some time for that pressure to build up, so doubt it popped off yet. Unless your CEL has been on for a while.

BTW, you can still drive it, it just wont pass smog. My light was going off and on for 6 years before it stayed on

And even then I still drove it for like 6 months I only replaced it because I had to smog

tmf2004

iTrader: (15)

appreciate the help... Thats why we have these forums... It would be nice if it was a hose that popped off... I have sometime off of work here coming up so ill let the swearing begin lol...

Maridette

A CEL and a smoke test indicated the VSV at the charcoal canister was leaking on my '02 rx. Lexus only sells the entire assembly for $600-1000 (valve and canister) for the rx but the Parts dept says perhaps the VSV is available elsewhere. Hope to replace the VSV (Ebay?) and pass smog.

PandaGS300

Till this day I cannot for the life of me find a video on how to replace this part!!!

FYI - Lexus of englewood sells it for $61
http://parts.lexusofenglewood.com/oe-lexus/9091012224

tmf2004

iTrader: (15)

can we access the canister through the trunk? I saw a video on Youtube where the guy accessed it on a IS300..

porn-adkt

iTrader: (37)

Lol Tony...No U cant...

sakataj

iTrader: (182)

lol, i posted links showing how to do this but i guess he or another mod removed it (along with the link showing how to test your VSV and replace it).

FrankT

To get to the VSV in question one needs to remove the canister...
Others say they have done it without removal, I tried and I could not do it, may be you might have better luck.

Here is how I did it without messing with the rear hub and rear control arms, please refer to the diagram below.
I did not take pics, it was very dirty under there and dirt was landing on my face.
Once I had the car jacked up I was done in 90 minutes...

• Jack up and properly support the passenger side rear of the car.
• Remove passenger side rear wheel.
• Remove the rear suspension brace, both sides.
• Removed the 3 nuts that hold the canister and disconnecting 3 hoses and the 2 connectors.
• Remove the charcoal canister mounting bracket, 2 bolts on the right side of the assembly.
• Remove the 6 10mm allen head bolts that hold the RH rear drive shaft to the differential. Mark the alignment of the axle to the differential.
• Carefully push the axle outward and drop it down to the side.
• Remove the rubber band type hangers that supports the exhaust pipes. this will give you enough room to move the drive shaft a few more inches out of the way.
• Remove the charcoal canister assembly. It might take you a few minutes to fit it through the opening.
• Replacing the new assembly is reverse of removal, including removing the mounting bracket on the right side of the assembly.
• Torque the drive shaft bolts to 61 ft/lbs in a cross pattern

tmf2004

iTrader: (15)

thanks Frank appreciate the help.. car is the shop for another issue but i did find a vacuum line in the engine that was off underneath the intake "box" part. but broke another one in the process on the side of the box. .. So some JB weld should hold it... Maybe that's the issue not sure. but the canister needs to come out just to replace that VSV valve?

sakataj

iTrader: (182)

no it doesnt and not to be rude but if you had not removed my post you would have known that Tony.... this link (seriously can we sticky this link im attaching please) it shows you how to access/remove/test/replace the VSV without removing the diff or the whole evap canister

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...446-w-pic.html

start with the PCV underhood and check and make sure there are no cracks in the hoses and is still connected

(https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...1-remains.html)

then check/test the VSV (there is a video in this link showing how to test it with a 9v)

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...6-bad-cat.html

most people's issues are the VSV and not the whole charcoal canister