psiboost
Probationary Member
- 26
- 0
- Nov 8, 2005
-
Chicago,
Illinois
I have been having an emission code problem for the past year on my 420A Eclipse. It didn't affect performance or MPG, but emission testing time came up and of course I failed. I did quite a bit of research into the code:
P0443 - EVAP System Purge Control Valve Circuit Malfunction
and after talking to a couple of Mitsu mechanics and doing some online research, I decided that the Purge solenoid might be the source. So I purchased a new one from the dealer and bench tested it according to the Chiltons book. The old one did not make any clicking noises when power was applied, and the new one did...so I assume that the actuator in the solenoid was bad on the old one.
So after replacing and plugging back in the hoses and power, I turned my car on accessories, and the check engine light did not go on! As soon as I cranked the car though, the light popped back on. From what I understand, ODB-II doesn't allow battery reset of the CEL...I tried nevertheless and of course it didn't help. I went to Auto Zone for a scan and the same code is still coming up. I asked them to do a reset on the code *which I assume they did correctly*, but as soon as I cranked the code came back up.
What is strange is that the CEL is not on if the engine is not running. I could swear that before I replaced the solenoid, the CEL was on regardless of if the engine was running or not. I am confident that I fixed the problem with the new solenoid, but having the CEL on tells me different.
I am on the verge of having my plates and license suspended if I don't fix this problem by the end of this month. I know that if I take the car to Mitsu for emissions diag, the bill will be outrageous since they will have to troubleshoot. I have always been a DSM fan (I have owned 4), but when a car with 70,000 miles throws a hard to fix code and could cause me being suspended, I lose some faith in the Diamond.
Anyway - if anyone can please help me out with either looking at other sources of the problem of the p0443 code, or telling me why my CEL is not going off, I'd really appreciate it.
Thank you
P0443 - EVAP System Purge Control Valve Circuit Malfunction
and after talking to a couple of Mitsu mechanics and doing some online research, I decided that the Purge solenoid might be the source. So I purchased a new one from the dealer and bench tested it according to the Chiltons book. The old one did not make any clicking noises when power was applied, and the new one did...so I assume that the actuator in the solenoid was bad on the old one.
So after replacing and plugging back in the hoses and power, I turned my car on accessories, and the check engine light did not go on! As soon as I cranked the car though, the light popped back on. From what I understand, ODB-II doesn't allow battery reset of the CEL...I tried nevertheless and of course it didn't help. I went to Auto Zone for a scan and the same code is still coming up. I asked them to do a reset on the code *which I assume they did correctly*, but as soon as I cranked the code came back up.
What is strange is that the CEL is not on if the engine is not running. I could swear that before I replaced the solenoid, the CEL was on regardless of if the engine was running or not. I am confident that I fixed the problem with the new solenoid, but having the CEL on tells me different.
I am on the verge of having my plates and license suspended if I don't fix this problem by the end of this month. I know that if I take the car to Mitsu for emissions diag, the bill will be outrageous since they will have to troubleshoot. I have always been a DSM fan (I have owned 4), but when a car with 70,000 miles throws a hard to fix code and could cause me being suspended, I lose some faith in the Diamond.
Anyway - if anyone can please help me out with either looking at other sources of the problem of the p0443 code, or telling me why my CEL is not going off, I'd really appreciate it.
Thank you
