Any Techs know what this part number does?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Tempus, Jul 21, 2006.

  1. Tempus

    Tempus Senior Member

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    Well, as you may recall, after my last oil (over)fill, I had the notorious "Will Not Start" Check engine code. They drained the oil and cleaned the intake runners, but within an hour of driving away I had the Check Engine light back.

    I went back in and they said it was an EVAP code and they had to order a Charcoal Canister.

    I went in today to get it fixed, and asked what could cause a Charcoal Canister to go bad if you never over-fill the gas (which I don't, which is why my fillups are 7-8 gallons :) ). They said that sometimes they spring a leak. Never heard of that but oh well. The Ticket did say "Internal Leak in Canister".

    It looks like that may or may not have been the problem, because it still threw the code after the Canister, so they replaced part number 25860-21060 Valve Assy, Vacuum.

    I got the tech to show me where it was, and it's up on the engine to the left of the Air Cleaner. Looks like on the Intakes.

    I asked him what it did, and he said it was a 'purge' valve. Didn't get much more detail than that.

    I asked him if over-filling the oil could have caused a problem with it, and he gave me a funny look. Didn't answer the question directly but he mumbled about how the car had lots and lots of computers. I'm not sure how that relates, but it's certainly true, eh?

    So, I'm wondering if I really needed a Charcoal Canister, or if this is just one more reason to watch that oil level.

    Any techs have any insight?
     
    #1 Tempus, Jul 21, 2006
  2. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    hi tempus-

    the part they replaced sounds like the vsv- vacuum switching valve.

    evaporative emissions permeate into the charcoal canister when the car is off. the vapors store in there. when the vehicle starts, once it's running, the vsv opens and applies vacuum into the canister. at the same time, the canister closed valve opens, allowing air to flow through the canister, pulling vapor into the intake.

    here's one thought. very highly unlikely. but there is an opening in the intake, the size of a ballpoint pen cartridge. (maybe 2mm) and if a bunch of oil is sucked into the intake, and if somehow air was blown into that opening instead of air blowing out of it into the intake, oil could get down to the valve. he cannot think of a way that there could be a failure that would cause oil to go down that line. but that's the only connection between an oil overfill and the vsv.

    the vsv isn't a common problem in a prius, but they do go out.

    can you tell us what the EVAP code was? that will help determine if you needed a new canister. based on the codes, there are some that DH has seen that he would replace a canister.
     
    #2 galaxee, Jul 21, 2006
  3. Frank Hudon

    Frank Hudon Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Jul 21 2006, 05:37 PM) [snapback]290232[/snapback]</div>
    when I was in the auto repair industry I changed lots of VSV's before there was CEL's or OBD. Can't remember changing charcoal canisters other than ones where the vent was plugged with mud. (4X4 useage)
     
    #3 Frank Hudon, Jul 21, 2006
  4. rick57

    rick57 Member

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    Good explaination,galaxee, :) . Would be nice to know what the codes where also. I don't think that the evap vsv could be affected by an oil overfill. Here in Ohio,I have not seen many evap codes in the Prius,if you compare it to other Toyota's. Sure,the evap purge valve,closed canister valve and charcoal canisters have been replaced but very rare in Prius' here. Maybe they bumped something/forgot to hook up a line when working on it for the "Engine did not start" code? Sure is funny the lights came on with a different code after being in for repair, :unsure: .
     
    #4 rick57, Jul 21, 2006
  5. Tempus

    Tempus Senior Member

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    Bah. The tech showed me the code when I brought it back after the oil replacement, but I didn't write it down.

    All I remember is that it started with '4'. I think it was three digits '4XX'. I know they put in in the notes on my account record there, but it wasn't printed on any of the paperwork. I was in a hurry to go deal with house flooding and just wanted to know if it was safe to drive with the CEL on.

    I'll get it next time I go in. That hopefully won't be for a little bit though.

    The only other fuel system problem that I've had that could possibly contributed was long ago when I had the fuel filler next TSB done. The first time I filled up after the filler neck replacement, I looked down to see fuel running on the ground out behind the car as fast as I was pumping it in.

    They said some 'check valve' on top of the tank failed, and they had to drop the tank to replace it. That was long ago though, and I don't see how it could have had any effect on the current issues.

    I'll report back when I find the number.
     
    #5 Tempus, Jul 22, 2006
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