P0440 driving me nuts

[ehretjs]

My 2000 Trooper is absolutely driving me nuts. For the past 2 years, the CEL has come on at seemingly random intervals. Sometimes every 80 miles, sometimes every few thousand. It's always code P0440. I know that typically means the gas cap, but that's already been replaced early on. My mechanic has had to replace some shorted wiring in the past, which has resolved it previous times. Anyone run into this problem previously that might have some things to try?

For the money I paid for this truck brand new in 2000, it certainly hasn't been worth it. Seems like its in the shop all the time. Its had the IMG replaced, a vacuum problem, the above ongoing CEL problem, one of the cat converters and an 02 sensor were replaced, the rear calipers seized after 1 year, 2 months ago all 4 calipers seized and had to replace all rotors, pads and the front calipers, its now burining oil like most of the other 3.5Ls and just recently discovered I need to find a new muffler (def not buying the $500+ OEM one). Sorry for the ranting. Just getting fed up and trying to decide if I take the loss and trade the beast in (hard decision since it was paid off in August and not worth a whole lot now!).

[amigo-2k]

how many miles do you have on it?

Ever cleaned the EGR? Or replaced the EGR gasket?

Ever replace the PVC?

Read up on the FAQ's for some how to's.

[ehretjs]

Originally Posted by amigo-2k

how many miles do you have on it?

Ever cleaned the EGR? Or replaced the EGR gasket?

Ever replace the PVC?

Read up on the FAQ's for some how to's.

It's got 65k on it. I am not the most technical car guy around, usually have my mechanic handle everything. But I will check with him in the morning to see if he tried any of the stuff you mentioned the last time I had it in. I have to say, this message board is a darn good resource. Thanks for the info. Now if everything else stops breaking on this thing I'll be all set! It gets to be embarassing when your friends know you spent good coin on a truck and its always having something go wrong with it.

[rodeo02]

Originally Posted by ehretjs

..had the IMG replaced, a vacuum problem, the above ongoing CEL problem, one of the cat converters...

Hopefully you didn't pay any parts or labor for the IMG or CC, IMG is covered under the p-train warranty and the CC is covered for 7/70 or 8/80 per California or Federal emissons regs. PO440 = Evaporative Emission Control System Malfunction. That is a fairly general code. You have an EVAP system schematic label/sticker on the underside of the hood that shows the basic hose and component routing. Might me a soleniod valve sticking.

G/luck
Joel

[ehretjs]

Originally Posted by rodeo02

Hopefully you didn't pay any parts or labor for the IMG or CC, IMG is covered under the p-train warranty and the CC is covered for 7/70 or 8/80 per California or Federal emissons regs. PO440 = Evaporative Emission Control System Malfunction. That is a fairly general code. You have an EVAP system schematic label/sticker on the underside of the hood that shows the basic hose and component routing. Might me a soleniod valve sticking.

G/luck
Joel

Joel...glad to see another fellow Buffalonian. No, I didnt pay for the IMG or CC replacement. My dealer actually flubbed the CC replacement and ended up killing an o2 sensor in the process. The forgot to hook it back up and the wires ended up resting on the exhaust or something and melting. Real quality work eh! I have pretty much had it with the truck. Tired of waiting for something to go catastrophically wrong. A complete brake job 6 weeks ago and now a new muffler and the resurfacing of the P0440 CEL code. Couple that with the oil consumption issues, and it just spends too much time in the shop. It's a shame, cause it's so fun to drive in the Buffalo snow we get.

[Canucklehead]

Originally Posted by ehretjs

My 2000 Trooper is absolutely driving me nuts. For the past 2 years, the CEL has come on at seemingly random intervals. Sometimes every 80 miles, sometimes every few thousand. It's always code P0440. I know that typically means the gas cap, but that's already been replaced early on. My mechanic has had to replace some shorted wiring in the past, which has resolved it previous times. Anyone run into this problem previously that might have some things to try?

For the money I paid for this truck brand new in 2000, it certainly hasn't been worth it. Seems like its in the shop all the time. Its had the IMG replaced, a vacuum problem, the above ongoing CEL problem, one of the cat converters and an 02 sensor were replaced, the rear calipers seized after 1 year, 2 months ago all 4 calipers seized and had to replace all rotors, pads and the front calipers, its now burining oil like most of the other 3.5Ls and just recently discovered I need to find a new muffler (def not buying the $500+ OEM one). Sorry for the ranting. Just getting fed up and trying to decide if I take the loss and trade the beast in (hard decision since it was paid off in August and not worth a whole lot now!).

Causes of a P0440 code may be as simple as a loose gas cap but can also be caused by a bad fuel tank pressure sensor or malfunctioning vapor canister. There is a purge solenoid and valve in the vapor canister that can fail preventing the fuel tank from maintaining pressure. Is your fuel tank maintaining pressure (i.e. do you hear a hiss when you take off the gas cap)?

[SPRaYeD9]

just crash it into something and get a first generation isuzu trooper