# Toyota RAV4 EVAP problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [July 27, 2015, 6:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-rav4-evap-problem/90730 "2015-07-27T06:05:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Maxrax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@Maxrax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Maxrax)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 6:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-rav4-evap-problem/90730/1 "2015-07-27T06:05:53Z")
I have a 2010 Toyota RAV4. In February 2014 at 34,600 miles when the car was 46 months old I had the EVAP (charcoal) canister and filter replaced for $1,300. Error codes were P043, P0401 and P0402. Recently I had the following check engine error codes appear (P043E & F, P2401, P2402 & P2419) and was told by my mechanic that the car basically had the same problem. I am now at about 50,000 miles. I don’t believe this type of problem is very common; also I think that the EVAP should continue functioning for a lot longer than ~4 years and now ~1.5 years. How likely is it that I got a “bad” original EVAP charcoal canister & filter and then the replacement was also “bad”? Might there be something else that is defective that is causing the EVAP canister to go bad? I don’t generally top off the gas tank when filling up. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 6:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-rav4-evap-problem/90730/2 "2015-07-27T06:50:34Z")
The problem is possibly a defect in the fuel tank that is allowing liquid fuel into the charcoal canister. Below is a link to Toyota service bulletin T-SB-0046-10 to assist in diagnosing those fault codes. You may need to replace the fuel tank and canister. [http://www.rav4world.com/tsb/2010/T-SB-0046-10.pdf](http://www.rav4world.com/tsb/2010/T-SB-0046-10.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 7:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-rav4-evap-problem/90730/3 "2015-07-27T07:26:26Z")
I wonder if OP has a California spec vehicle, and lives in one of those states mentioned . . . If they meet those criteria, it appears that the repair would cost OP nothing 😃 However, if OP does not have a California spec vehicle and doesn’t live in one of those states mentioned, it may be an expensive repair :grimace: ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 3:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-rav4-evap-problem/90730/4 "2015-07-27T15:20:32Z")
Would not filling up the tank mitigate the problem? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-rav4-evap-problem/90730/5 "2015-07-27T16:22:35Z")
Is it possible that a clue to the source of the problem lies in the following sentence? **“I don’t generally top off the gas tank when filling up.”** Topping off only on very rare occasions will probably not produce this type of problem, but the OP may have reached critical mass–so to speak–with one of those top-offs. While this is hardly a scientific study, the only people whom I know who have had this problem were the ones who topped-off their gas tanks at least some of the time. Those who never top-off their tanks have never had this type of problem. ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 5:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-rav4-evap-problem/90730/6 "2015-07-27T17:09:45Z")
Doesn’t federal law - or didn’t it in the past - require that components of emissions control systems be warranted by the carmaker for 90,000 miles? ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 12:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-rav4-evap-problem/90730/7 "2015-07-28T00:27:31Z")
There is anther bulletin, T-SB-0161-11 that deals with the same fault codes but is to correct a problem with water entering the evap system. Careful diagnoses is necessary to determine which condition the vehicle has. Emission control components are required to be warrantied for 24 months/24,000 miles. Manufactures exceed this requirement with their basic warranty, 3 years/36,000 miles in most cases. The catalytic converter and powertrain control module must be covered for 8 years/ 80,000 miles. State by state warranty requirements vary especially for PZEV and hybrids so it is best to check the warranty booklet that came with the vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![Honda-Blackbird](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/honda-blackbird/32/3159_2.png) [@Honda-Blackbird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda-Blackbird)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2015, 8:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-rav4-evap-problem/90730/8 "2015-07-28T20:39:57Z")
Evap codes are usally “Fun” to chase…so much so that a Smoke Machine is often used to find leaks… Predominantly the issue is a cracked rubber hose or 90 degree elbow that has rotted out allowing a leak to occur. Start at the tank with the gas cap and then move on to the lines leading to the canister… Most times I repair all Evap codes with a simple piece of rubber line…High Quality line but…line nontheless… Replacing the canister would have been last on my suspect list Blackbird