Evaporative Emissions Control System Failure P0440

[fisherdm]

I have a 1997 Malibu w/ 97K miles. I don't drive it very much in warmer months when I ride a bike to work. Drove this week and check engine light came on. Friend plugged in a diagnostic comuter and w/ we got back Evaporative Emissions Control System Failure w/ P0440 code. I have read some postings that this may be from a loose gas cap but I checked and the cap was firmly seated. We cleared the code and the check engine light stayed off.

Any suggestions at where to start trouble shooting within the emissions system?

BTW, the car seems to be running just fine.

[IOWABOB]

Originally Posted by fisherdm

I have a 1997 Malibu w/ 97K miles. I don't drive it very much in warmer months when I ride a bike to work. Drove this week and check engine light came on. Friend plugged in a diagnostic comuter and w/ we got back Evaporative Emissions Control System Failure w/ P0440 code. I have read some postings that this may be from a loose gas cap but I checked and the cap was firmly seated. We cleared the code and the check engine light stayed off.

Any suggestions at where to start trouble shooting within the emissions system?

BTW, the car seems to be running just fine.

Mine does the same thing about once a month, and has for a year, I just reset the code with a scanner, and everything works fine. (98 2.4 4cyl)

[fisherdm]

I continue to get the P0440 EVAP Emission Control Failure code. 97 Malibu w/ 3.1L now w/ 103K miles. Car still appears to be running fine. Since my last post I have reset the code. Each time it comes back in a few weeks. It also has gone away on its own a few times. Seems that if I keep the fuel tank from going lower than 1/2 tank for a while it will go away but when the fuel tank drops less than 1/2 the code comes back. Not definite about this but it appears to be happening this way.

I have been reading posts on AF on these codes on all models/makes of cars. Read some suggestions on replacing the EVAP canister, PCV valve, checking the vacuum hoses for crack or lose connections, EVAP purge solenoid valve, EVAP vent solenoid valve and the EGR valve.

Any suggestions on where to start w/o straight up swapping parts and trouble shooting? Are these complicated replacement processes? Chiltons makes them sound simple but that is not always the case.

[niccaleb112602]

I had the same problem on my 98. I found that a hose that runs to the "sensor or solinoid" right in the back of the intake manifold closer to the drivers side came off and threw the same code.