02 Tacoma (California): first PO441, then PO135

[Rod in Smiths Falls,]

I bought a code reader shortly after the front fuel sensor went on my 02 Tacoma 2.7 4WD. It proved quite reassuring as I played with a series of PO441 codes in an effort to understand how everything works. Someone wrote that 441 comes on ten miles after startup, every other day. He had that just about right.

My muffler was quite worn so I replaced it with one ordered from Kentucky by the local dealer. Then I realized there was no way to change the thing in a driveway: it needed torch and hoist, so off to Canadian Tire I went. The guy cut my spare tire off (ratchet seized), but what horrified me was when I saw the muffler hanging by the axle and the 02 sensor wire. He used the torch to free the sensor from the old muffler, as well.

Not unexpectedly, error PO136 popped up a few miles out of the garage, and now turns up quite regularly. I figure it's due for the sensor, as most contributors claim if the front one goes, the back one can't be far behind.

But my question is this: how come I don't get error code PO441 any more? I keep checking the codes when I reset, but it doesn't come up.

Any insights on this would be appreciated.

For an account of the importation of my 02 Tacoma to Canada after an ebay purchase, check Walnut Diary

[Rod in Smiths Falls,]

A slight correction. The current error code is P0136. It comes on when the cat heats up, then recurs about every twenty minutes of driving if I shut it off each time. There's still no sign of the earlier P0441 code, though, and the only thing changed is the muffler.

[Rod in Smiths Falls,]

All better. I bought the replacement O2 sensor on ebay and installed it. The only problem was in wiggling the large electrical connector through the narrow rubber grommet to seal the cabin floor. I srayed it with lubricant, cut a small incision and had at it, later sealing it with a cable tie. The connection is under the passenger seat, accessible once the plastic trim over the rocker panel is unscrewed and lifted.

PO441 has come on only once since the repairs, and I think the gas cap was a bit loose that time.

The truck's reluctance to start after a fill-up gives reason to believe there's something wrong which drains fuel away from the injector pump when the gas cap is opened. I've found pressing the gas at startup from a fill-up gets past the problem, but the roaring engine the first time I tried this disconcerted fellow pump-jockeys.

[Rod in Smiths Falls,]

Somewhat later, an update. Yesterday the Tacoma flunked the NO ppm portion of the Ontario emissions test. The ebay $68.00 original equipment O2 sensor lasted about two months, and then started showing PO136 on rainy days, and then on slushy days in winter.

I sent an email to the guy in Texas about his one-year warranty, but haven't heard from him. Perhaps a too-good-to-be-true price really is too good to be true. Turns out the Toyota dealership parts network does not have one of these oxygen sensors in North America. The local auto parts place will have an NKG ($265 CDN) in for me tomorrow morning, though. I have another etest scheduled at a more reputable garage for tomorrow afternoon. Hope it works.

[Cobb]

Man, sorry to hear of those problems. I use to have an e250 van and after buying it used I noticed under the cover in the center hump that almost everything was disconnected. I reconnected all the plugs, then things just got worse. I got an error scan tool and man, everything was wrong. To make maters worse the tranny started to slip. To make maters worse the guy I bought it from said to just add gas, water and oil and drive it, dont bother fixing anything. I should of listened to him.My next car was a 1979 240d mercedes which could run without the battery and did so when teh vacuum line to the fuel cut off did.

Since then, its been good luck and new cars for me, except for the 97 v6 4wd ext cab super charged tacoma I bought at an estate sale a few months ago. Although it isnt setting any records in anything other than having the leters TRD plastered everywhere on every body panel, pipe, hose, etc, etc, I have no compliants. I hope it stays that way too.

I did replace the spark plugs from urd and had the check engine light come on a few days, then go back off.

I think o2 sensors are like halogen bulbs, got to be careful touching them when installing and torque correctly so they work right.

[Rod in Smiths Falls,]

Things sorted themselves out nicely today. It was way too cold to work under the truck so I took the NKG 02 sensor to new garage where I'd booked a fresh etest and asked if they'd put it on for me. Turns out these guys do 3000 etests a year, about 600 of which need repairs. "Hardly ever do we exceed the $450 limit for emissions repairs."

The $300 sensor went on fine. Then the owner came over and asked the tech to drill a small hole in the cat and probe with a coat hanger, because he feared that the cat would have melted after the O2 sensor went south. Turned out the cat was at least marginally o.k., so the tech welded it up, the owner sent me for a twenty-mile drive in 4th gear, and the Tacoma aced the test. No problems.

The lesson from this? A $68. O2 sensor on ebay is not a good buy. But I found a good mechanic out of it. Good thing I was too lazy to work in a snowbank this morning.

[Cobb]

Goes to show, you can never be too careful with something from ebay.

[JBH1989]

Glad it turned out for you.

FYI, the P0441 code is an evap systems leak. Just went over this in the Sequoia forum. The code is set when the evaporative emissions system can't hold a vacuum. Just something to think about.