Hey guys, A few days ago my car threw a P0444 code, which is for the fuel evap system. There's some info on it, including a very good video on YouTube explaining how to replace it.
But there's not a whole lot of accessible information on the code. There are some threads on it, but there's a lot of people going back-and-forth as to what it might be. So, if anybody has this code and is not quite sure what it is, hopefully this is straightforward and can help.
If you're getting a P0444 code it is probably not your gas cap. From what I understand the P0443 or P0442 are more likely to be your gas cap. And if I'm not mistaken, the E46 has a "check gas cap" light on the cluster. But I replaced the gas cap anyway, cleared the code and it came back immediately.
So I decided to switch out the fuel tank purge valve. It takes built up gas vapors and allows them to flow into the intake manifold to get burned. It's really easy to switch out. Take out your air filter box (two 10mm bolts), and you'll have access to it. Some people unbolt the power steering fluid reservoir and move it to the side for more room, but I didn't have to and I have pretty big hands. It's a little valve under the intake next to the oil dipstick. There's a slip-on hose, a clamped hose, and a little electrical connector. Disconnect them all and swap the new one in. Super easy, it took me less than 20 minutes. After that, I cleared the code, jumped in the car, and drove around for a little bit. No more code!
The part can be purchased all over. They have the "eBay special" ones for 20 bucks. From AutoZone or O'Reilly the part is 80 bucks. From the stealership it's 150. And I think I saw one on ECS tuning for around 97. I got an OEM one because I hear that some people that buy one that's after market (eBay) say that the valve didn't work when they put it in, and then when they switch it out for an OEM one it worked right away.
But there's not a whole lot of accessible information on the code. There are some threads on it, but there's a lot of people going back-and-forth as to what it might be. So, if anybody has this code and is not quite sure what it is, hopefully this is straightforward and can help.
If you're getting a P0444 code it is probably not your gas cap. From what I understand the P0443 or P0442 are more likely to be your gas cap. And if I'm not mistaken, the E46 has a "check gas cap" light on the cluster. But I replaced the gas cap anyway, cleared the code and it came back immediately.
So I decided to switch out the fuel tank purge valve. It takes built up gas vapors and allows them to flow into the intake manifold to get burned. It's really easy to switch out. Take out your air filter box (two 10mm bolts), and you'll have access to it. Some people unbolt the power steering fluid reservoir and move it to the side for more room, but I didn't have to and I have pretty big hands. It's a little valve under the intake next to the oil dipstick. There's a slip-on hose, a clamped hose, and a little electrical connector. Disconnect them all and swap the new one in. Super easy, it took me less than 20 minutes. After that, I cleared the code, jumped in the car, and drove around for a little bit. No more code!
The part can be purchased all over. They have the "eBay special" ones for 20 bucks. From AutoZone or O'Reilly the part is 80 bucks. From the stealership it's 150. And I think I saw one on ECS tuning for around 97. I got an OEM one because I hear that some people that buy one that's after market (eBay) say that the valve didn't work when they put it in, and then when they switch it out for an OEM one it worked right away.
