1996 Lexus ES300 P0441 Check Engine Light

[Nick1994]

My brother just bought a Lexus, it has the 3.0L V6 with 167k miles. Runs pretty good but it had a check engine light for the EGR valve. We changed the plugs, PCV valve, oil, and egr valve modulator (not the entire valve). Check engine light changed to P0441 which is Evaporative Emission System Incorrect Purge Flow. I heard it's often a gas cap and we changed that, and the light hasn't gone away. Even tried the gas cap off my Camry. I've also heard of the charcoal canister but this car has a different set up that I believe changed in 1996 or was only in Lexus as we have been through the junk yards and observed this. No cracks in vacuum lines either. Any ideas?

 

[Rolla07]

O2 sensor?

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

If your state doesn't do emission inspections then probably just ignore it if it isn't affecting driveability or gas mileage.

 

[95busa]

No charcoal canister? If there is one, changing the filter on the bottom used to help with GM products. Might be irrelevant with Toyotas.

 

[Merkava_4]

There's a youtube video about it:

 

[SF0059]

If it wasn't the gas cap it is the Evaporation Purge Control Valve. I had the same thing happen to the Audi. $30 and 15 minutes is all it took to install a new one.

 

[The_Eric]

The MIL will stay on for several key cycles before it clears, provided that the problem has been corrected. It will run it's tests and check the EVAP system and log it as pass or fail. After so many successful tests, then the light will be turned off.

The better way to do it, would be to clear the code, and drive the car to see if the light comes back on. If you have a scan tool that can read some data, then you might be able to monitor the EVAP, but I'm guessing you don't.

 

[tommygunn]

The evap system on the 1996 1MZ-FE is entirely mechanical and controlled by a TVV that opens when the engine speed is above 3000 rpm and the coolant temp is at least 150.

These conditions can be difficult or impossible to meet in some urban or semi-urban areas because a powerful engine in heavy traffic doesn't need to work very hard to keep up.

Do you get the engine warmed up enough when you drive it? Do you ever go over 3000 rpm? I almost never did until I found out how the TVV operates, so now when I get the engine reaches operating temp sometimes I shift manually (L-->2-->D-->OD) and don't shift until 3500 rpm or so.

 

[Vikas]

Best of luck with Toyota P0441! Let me know if you do manage to fix it without spending $500. I am using electrical tape over the light