the end of the story of the 'check engine' light. Ping Ray O

This is just another example of Toyotas fixing themselves!

Keep your copy of that repair order because I do not think the problem is a loose gas cap. Next time the check engine light (known as a malfunction indicator light, or MIL) comes on, do not clear the codes. Instead, take it to the dealer for them to read the codes directly.

A loose gas cap is more likely to cause diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0440, which is "evaporative emission control system malfunction; P0442 Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected (small leak); or P0455 Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected (gross leak). After refueling, always tighten the gas cap until you hear it clicking/ratcheting several times.

The technical service bulletin (TSB) seems to address the problem you are having. I pasted the TSB summary below, and next time you visit the dealership, I would politely ask if the TSB applies to the condition you are experiencing.

TSB EG 013-03 (revised) issued 12/5/2003 - 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 Toyota Avalon, Camry & Solara, 2001, 2002, 2003 Sienna. Under certain driving conditions, some 2000-2003 model year Avalon, Camry (NAP only) and Solara vehicles, and some 2001-2003 model year Sienna vehicles may exhibit a M.I.L. "ON" with DTC(s) P0440, P0441 and/or P0446 stored due to an inoperative Canister Closed Valve Vacuum Switching Valve (CCV VSV). The CCV assembly process has been changed to correct this condition

Thanks (once again) Ray, I'll do as you suggest. And am printing out this post to put with my repair order.

You're welcome! You should be very diplomatic when you show the post. If I were the person being shown the post, I would not appreciate someone telling me that I should do something just because the customer read it on the internet somewhere ;-) On the other hand, although it is not necessary to memorize the contents of every TSB, it certainly helps to be able to remember the existence of a TSB, especially one that covers so many series and model years.

Good luck!

That was also the answer to my "check engine" light coming on; the gas cap simply not tight enough.

Cathy

Sounds like a start of another classic mechanic story. First destroy any evidence of a problem, do not do any research of codes or anything else, 'fix' or do whatever work is easy and profitable (not anything needed), say to bring it back for more punishment if more problems, do not apply any casually acquired knowledge or 'skill' etc. Been there done that more than once.

Other than to protect Ray - our local good guy (you could cut the id of the email). Not sure if one should be polite -once this sort of thing has been proven. What is the downside to demanding a settlement from the owner

- for your time and $ paid for the alleged service?

Just like the LA Co. Sheriff dept. - a crime will only be solved if the perp. actually walks in and confesses to the desk sgt. - even then it is not a sure thing. The sgt may elect to ignore the whole thing - using any number of standard excuses.

I maintain that ANY code comeing from the Evaporative Emissions Control System should be reset before any other work is done, then wait for a repeat code to pop up.

If any code does pop up, then get the gas cap tested and reset teh codes again. If the codes pop up again, THEN get professional help, or dive into the vac hoses and evap canister if you have the skills to do so.

Thanks for the vote of confidence!

One of my former job duties was to work with customers who were dissatisfied with dealer service department repair attempts on their car. In the days before computerized databases, TSB's were filed in a 3 ring binder, and indexes were updated once or twice a year. In between the times when the indexes were updated, the service department had to remember that a TSB was issued for a particular condition or page through every TSB that was issued for a particular system since the last index was issued to see if anything relevant turned up. To make things worse, TSB's were filed based on issue date, not vehicle model year, so you might have to go through several years worth of bulletins to find a relevant one. I don't know how the current computerized system works, but assuming it is as easy as the one on the NHTSA site, it is a lot easier to find if TSB's were issued.

Without checking the back of the hard copy of the repair order, there is no way to tell what the dealership actually did to the car. In the absence of the TSB, the normal procedure for diagnosing the cause of the DTC the OP mentioned would be to vacuum or pressure check the evaporative emissions control system, which it sounds like they did. In my experience in working with service departments, it is not uncommon for a technician, especially non-masters, to be unaware of or forget about or neglect to read a TSB and go through a normal diagnostic routine. If they could not detect a leak in the evaporative emissions control system, then the most likely cause of the DTC is a loose gas cap. Bottom line, IMO, the dealership may be guilty of not checking for TSBs but not intentional fraud or just giving up.

Careless, mistake or fraud - exactly the same difference to the client. Same damage and same remedy.

True, although I'm more likely to forgive an honest mistake than the other two causes.