P0446 code

Tiny
ROBINREDD1
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
  • 204,000 MILES
Where in California can I pay to have a mechanic to just tell me what exact part needs to be replaced to fix my p0446 EVAP code? I will do the work myself.
Sunday, March 10th, 2019 AT 5:36 PM

13 Replies

Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello,

Right here. What you are looking for here is a plugged charcoal canister, a bad EVAP Purge Valve, or plugged tubing connecting them all. I have included the DTC factory troubleshooting in the diagrams below, as well as key component locations. Get back to us with what you find out.

Thanks,
Alex
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Sunday, March 10th, 2019 AT 6:11 PM
Tiny
ROBINREDD1
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I just changed the charcoal canister today. The one I took out wasn't clogged I can blow air through with no resistance. I changed the purge solenoid, I changed the the vent valve the one right under the driver rear fender. I changed the gas cap. There was something today when I was changing the canister I had to drop the tank partially to get it out. There is an access hole in the trunk to get to the fuel pump. I had to disconnect the pump anyway laying right next to the canister was a hose not connected to anything. I followed that hose up to that access panel to the fuel pump and felt that the hose goes to something poking up next to the fuel pump. Maybe you will understand some of my wording is because I am a girl. That hose goes down and is about as long as to where the lines connect to the canister, but I connected my canister line back it doesn't belong there and I looked all over I don't see anything that it could possibly connect to. I don't know if it is supposed to be that way looking at the end of the hose it doesn't appear like it has been connected to anything. That's just my opinion I don't know. So what do you think of that? Thank you for answering my question. Robin
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Sunday, March 10th, 2019 AT 8:24 PM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
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Hello again,

It looks to me like this is a fuel return type fuel system. You should have one fuel line going to the fuel rail, a return line back from the fuel rail and a third line going from the tank to the canister (EVAP) line. I have included a diagram of your fuel pump and the hanger assembly in the diagrams below.

Thanks,
Alex
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Monday, March 11th, 2019 AT 12:07 AM
Tiny
ROBINREDD1
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Hopefully you can understand my funky drawing.
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Monday, March 11th, 2019 AT 2:57 AM
Tiny
ROBINREDD1
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Oh my gosh, I just spent forty five minutes drawing that and I cannot even read from the website. I hope there is a way you can make it bigger. Let me see if I can zoom up on it.
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Monday, March 11th, 2019 AT 3:01 AM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello again,

It is too small for me to read. I got there is is line coming from the charcoal canister. It should go into the tank somewhere. It looks to me that it should go to one of the three hard metal lines coming off of your fuel pump hanger. Let me know what you find out.

Thanks,
Alex
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Monday, March 11th, 2019 AT 6:35 AM
Tiny
ROBINREDD1
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Are these bigger?
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Monday, March 11th, 2019 AT 10:35 AM
Tiny
ROBINREDD1
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The part I am talking about from the pictures if I stick my hand down the trunk access hole and feel to the side of the top of the fuel pump, not the actual fuel pump but right next to it.
Is that the fuel pressure sensor? What ever that thing is, that's what the rubber hose connects to. I connected the three hard pinch lock connectors back to the fuel pump. So the fuel pump has its lines connected that's not what I am talking about. On the picture the red line is the hose that runs down and is just laying next to the canister not connected to anything. When I changed the canister I put back on the three lines to the canister two of those lines were pinch locking kind and the other hose the third one was the one that go's to the vent valve under the fender so its not a canister line. So I connected the canister back exactly as it was. This hose is separate and I followed the hose and it goes up to the top of the tank next to the fuel pump to what ever that thing is. I can feel through the access hole next to the fuel pump. Does the gas tank have two things coming out of it? The fuel pump and something else?
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Monday, March 11th, 2019 AT 11:12 AM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
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Hello again,

It is probably just what you said. The purpose for the fuel EVAP system is to collect fuel vapor from the gas tank, via an opening, and routing it to the charcoal canister, via a hose, where it collects until the PCM wants to burn it in the engines combustion process.

Thanks,
Alex
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Monday, March 11th, 2019 AT 5:11 PM
Tiny
ROBINREDD1
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Let see if I understand what your saying when you say "It is probably just what you said"replying to my question "Is that the fuel pressure sensor? I am sorry if I am asking, because if I knew I wouldn't be asking. So if this is yes, your saying that the hose that doesn't go to anything that's connected to the pressure censer? That hose is there to suck air from the outside into the gas tank to allow for the movement of air for the vapor to be able to flow "via an opening, and routing it to the charcoal canister, via a hose, where it collects until the PCM wants to burn it in the engines combustion process. Because if there was not any air sucking in through the pressure censer from that hose the gas vapor wouldn't be able to flow through the system.
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Monday, March 11th, 2019 AT 6:51 PM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
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Hello again,

Okay, some how we are getting our wires crossed here. I want to apologize for that. The hole you are talking about does belong to Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor (FTP). The quick connector fuel lines is where the EVAP hose connects to. I have it highlighted in yellow in the last picture in the diagrams. I also have a troubleshooting worksheet for this DTC on your vehicle. I have included it in the diagrams below. You will need a code reader for this worksheet, though. If you don't have access to a code reader I would inspect the fuel tank pressure sensor, EVAP canister vent solenoid, and the the EVAP Purge Valve in that order. If you do have access to a code reader then please go through this and get back to us.

Thanks,
Alex
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Monday, March 11th, 2019 AT 10:02 PM
Tiny
ROBINREDD1
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Quick question could when my gas tank fuel level gets under a half tank of gas it starts to fluctuate one minute I will be driving I will have half a tank and go a few stop signs and it will show empty. Then when I stop and park it will show full then empty, half and all aver never knowing how much gas is left in the tank have anything or tied to my p0446 code? I really hope you say yes because then that will mean I just need to change my fuel tank sending unit and hopefully my code will go away and I can get it smogged. The fuel pump works fine I drive the car daily I just got to make sure I have enough gas in it.
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Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 AT 12:48 PM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello again,

I have good news and bad news for you. Yes, you are correct. It is your fuel tank sending unit that is failing and causing this problem. The bad news is that P0446 is not related to it and fixing it will not take the DTC away. Good news again, I have included instructions for you in the diagrams down below, how to remove, replace, and install the fuel pump assembly and the fuel sending unit. Please use these instructions to fix your vehicle's fuel level issue and get to us with what you find out.

Thanks,
Alex
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Wednesday, March 13th, 2019 AT 7:32 PM

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