Check engine light with code P0442?

Tiny
OREO101
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 TOYOTA RAV4
  • 2.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 175,000 MILES
Hi, hope you can help! Evap Sys Leak.P0442 + 3 other lights I assume are related? VSC Trac, Trac Off and OD Off. See image. Replaced gas cap with non-OEM. Cleared code but light returned 2 days later. See a crack on hose to purge valve. See image. Did not look at charcoal canister under car. What do you think? Thank you!
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Sunday, December 1st, 2024 AT 4:29 AM

11 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 51,782 POSTS
Yep, this means there is a leak in the system, I would raise the car up and use a flashlight to see if you can find any hoses that are off or have a split in them, the one in the image you have provided does not look like it is leaking.

The P0442 code indicates a small leak detected in the EVAP (Evaporative Emission Control System).

Here is an image of the system so you can see which hoses to check and how it works. If the hoses are okay, I have seen the charcoal canister cause this problem. Check out the images (below). Please upload pictures or videos in your response of any problems so we can see what to help you with.
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Sunday, December 1st, 2024 AT 12:33 PM
Tiny
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Yes I will get back you!
Thanks!
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Sunday, December 1st, 2024 AT 1:03 PM
Tiny
OREO101
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Thanks!
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Sunday, December 1st, 2024 AT 1:05 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Sounds good, you can use a smoke machine to help look for the leak which is what most repair garages have.
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Monday, December 2nd, 2024 AT 9:36 AM
Tiny
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  • 101 POSTS
Sorry about delay. I just moved to TX. I bought a cheap Manual smoke machine. Could this work in place of better smoke leak detection units? Where would I splice it into Evap system tubing with a tee. See image.
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Thursday, January 23rd, 2025 AT 6:51 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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No worries, thanks for getting back to us, yes as long as you can pump smoke into the system, we are good to go, let me know what you find. My guess is it will be the canister itself. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Thursday, January 23rd, 2025 AT 11:14 AM
Tiny
OREO101
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  • 101 POSTS
Will do!
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Thursday, January 23rd, 2025 AT 2:00 PM
Tiny
OREO101
  • MEMBER
  • 101 POSTS
I could not see any missing, loose or damaged hoses and did not see any smoke when I used the crappy manual smoke leak detector. If I get a quality smoke leak detector. Could I connect to 1 of the hoses that that runs to Purge Control Valve that is under hood. Behind Throttle Body? And do I have to close this valve first? Also, what are the chances that there is another cause for P0442? Like bad O2 sensor, or Cat, etc? And how does one test Charcoal Canister? Is there a small motor or solenoid on canister?

Thanks!
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Thursday, February 6th, 2025 AT 7:35 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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A bad cat or 02 will not cause this code, there is a control solenoid by the charcoal canister and there is a purge valve under the hood, if either of these leak it can cause the code. Please go overt his guide to help us fix it:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/evap-system-code-repair

Let us know what you find.
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Friday, February 7th, 2025 AT 6:01 PM
Tiny
OREO101
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Okay, sorry about the delay.
I moved to TX and took Rav4 to the dealer.
They put an OE gas cap on and cleared code. Did not check hoses or perform smoke leak check.
Light has not come back on after 2 weeks.
So, we will close this question/ticket.
Thank you for your help!
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Wednesday, February 26th, 2025 AT 1:52 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Glad you could get it fixed, thanks for letting us know. Please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help.
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Thursday, February 27th, 2025 AT 10:56 AM

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