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***SOLVED*** XTrail throwing a P0446

1926 Views 10 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  DFSpencer, 
10mm&ADream
Vehicle: 2006 X Trail LE 2.5L QR25DE

Hi guys, new to the fourm, I just got a 2nd hand 2006 Xtrail LE that was in good shape at 246k km, did the basic maintenance to make it safetiable and road worthy, but after getting it back from the mechanic, on my way to work, The service light came on, it was a P0446 code, made it all the way back home (100km ish), parked the car for 2 mins and it stalled?

After that it had issues starting up again, I'm a noob at this and have been searching everywhere as to what it could be (EVAP system is complicated) but I have a mind to fix this myself, I just don't know where the valve is, or the wires for it, or the fuse, or from what I've read it could be the vap cannister itself causing the issue?

Any help would be appreciated it's my only vehicle and I have till Tuesday to get it fixed
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rogoman
The P0446 points to a fuel tank filler cap problem. Maybe just re-tightening it.
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VStar650CL
For the most part only older US models use the P0446 code, but on those, when it occurs by itself, it's rarely caused by anything except the evap Vent Control Valve. That can be a bad VCV, a leaky o-ring seal for the VCV, or broken VCV wires or connector under the vehicle. If other things are causing it then there are generally other codes accompanying it, P0440 for a leaky gas cap, P1444 for a bad Purge Valve or broken charcoal bag, etc. Since you have it alone without other codes, a VCV issue is the most likely culprit. The valve is generally located right on the evap canister.
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10mm&ADream
rogoman said:
The P0446 points to a fuel tank filler cap problem. Maybe just re-tightening it.
Click to expand...
Tried it, it isnt that, it's idling below 1000rpm and stalled while driving it slow this morning
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10mm&ADream
VStar650CL said:
For the most part only older US models use the P0446 code, but on those, when it occurs by itself, it's rarely caused by anything except the evap Vent Control Valve. That can be a bad VCV, a leaky o-ring seal for the VCV, or broken VCV wires or connector under the vehicle. If other things are causing it then there are generally other codes accompanying it, P0440 for a leaky gas cap, P1444 for a bad Purge Valve or broken charcoal bag, etc. Since you have it alone without other codes, a VCV issue is the most likely culprit. The valve is generally located right on the evap canister.
Click to expand...
Where would I locate the VCV valve and the EVAP cannister?i think I found it under the bottom left back bumper corner, behind the gas tank, but i am not sure
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VStar650CL
Behind the tank is usually where they are. If your Exxie is the same as most US models, the canister will have two electrical devices plugged into rubber grommets on the side of it. One will be the evap Pressure Sensor (3 wires), the other will be the VCV (2 wires).
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D
10mm&ADream said:
Where would I locate the VCV valve and the EVAP canister?i think I found it under the bottom left back bumper corner, behind the gas tank, but i am not sure
Click to expand...
The charcoal canister on the T30 X-Trail is enclosed in a plastic box behind the driver's side (so left) rear wheel. The valve mentioned is installed in that canister. I forget whether you have to remove the outer protective box but the valve is easy to see and replace. I had to do that on mine. The valve has a piston and over time it can become seized with fines of charcoal, apparently hastened if you consistently top the fuel as high as you can when at the service station, which can cause liquid gas to get into the canister, not what that unit is designed for.
The service manual that I have for the X-Trail T30 is really for the European model and I have never found a Canadian-specific manual and it probably doesn't exist. The appropriate section in that T30 manual lists lists only P0444 and P0445 codes, which are actually error codes for either open or shorted circuits; the P0446 is a more general error for that component. I note that the section I've looked it in that T30 manual is specified for being "WITH EURO-ODB" implementation for the QR engines but only talks about and shows the control valve that mounted on the engine (the EVAP canister purge volume control solenoid valve) and not those attached to the charcoal canister, which is where the valve I replaced definitely is. The section for the QR "WITHOUT EURO-OBD" doesn't even list P0444, 445 or 446 codes. Now as I have found in several cases a more useful service manual when dealing with the Canadian T30 is in fact often the service manual for the 2006 Sentra (with the 2.5 l engine). In the Sentra manual for the QR25DE there is a proper description of the EVAP system. So on the EVAP/charcoal canister there is the EVAP control system pressure sensor and the EVAP canister vent control valve (which is presumably your problem). The EVAP canister purge volume control solenoid valve is on the engine.
The page that I'm attaching is actually from the Sentra manual which shows what as far as I can recall (haven't looked there in a while) what the EVAP canister looks like on the Canadian T30.

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10mm&ADream
VStar650CL said:
Behind the tank is usually where they are. If your Exxie is the same as most US models, the canister will have two electrical devices plugged into rubber grommets on the side of it. One will be the evap Pressure Sensor (3 wires), the other will be the VCV (2 wires).
Click to expand...
Thank-you! I found it and purchased a new piece, going to replace it tonight!
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10mm&ADream
DFSpencer said:
The charcoal canister on the T30 X-Trail is enclosed in a plastic box behind the driver's side (so left) rear wheel. The valve mentioned is installed in that canister. I forget whether you have to remove the outer protective box but the valve is easy to see and replace. I had to do that on mine. The valve has a piston and over time it can become seized with fines of charcoal, apparently hastened if you consistently top the fuel as high as you can when at the service station, which can cause liquid gas to get into the canister, not what that unit is designed for.
The service manual that I have for the X-Trail T30 is really for the European model and I have never found a Canadian-specific manual and it probably doesn't exist. The appropriate section in that T30 manual lists lists only P0444 and P0445 codes, which are actually error codes for either open or shorted circuits; the P0446 is a more general error for that component. I note that the section I've looked it in that T30 manual is specified for being "WITH EURO-ODB" implementation for the QR engines but only talks about and shows the control valve that mounted on the engine (the EVAP canister purge volume control solenoid valve) and not those attached to the charcoal canister, which is where the valve I replaced definitely is. The section for the QR "WITHOUT EURO-OBD" doesn't even list P0444, 445 or 446 codes. Now as I have found in several cases a more useful service manual when dealing with the Canadian T30 is in fact often the service manual for the 2006 Sentra (with the 2.5 l engine). In the Sentra manual for the QR25DE there is a proper description of the EVAP system. So on the EVAP/charcoal canister there is the EVAP control system pressure sensor and the EVAP canister vent control valve (which is presumably your problem). The EVAP canister purge volume control solenoid valve is on the engine.
The page that I'm attaching is actually from the Sentra manual which shows what as far as I can recall (haven't looked there in a while) what the EVAP canister looks like on the Canadian T30.
Click to expand...
This is a fantastic resource! I've been searching for a manual online for ages and kept coming up empty handed! And i appreciate the insight on the codes, going to change it tonight after work before I head home, and i will remember to not fill the tank all the way to the top from now on.
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10mm&ADream
Solved! Thank-you everyone! New EVAP VCV Solenoid, and Crankshaft sensor, turns out the old VCV solenoid caused the engine to run rich, and wore out the crankshaft sensor, replaced them both + the camshaft sensor with aftermarket metal ones, and it runs better than it ever has!

Again thank-you everyone for all your help! You saved me a lot of money.
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D
10mm&ADream said:
Solved! Thank-you everyone! New EVAP VCV Solenoid, and Crankshaft sensor, turns out the old VCV solenoid caused the engine to run rich, and wore out the crankshaft sensor, replaced them both + the camshaft sensor with aftermarket metal ones, and it runs better than it ever has!

Again thank-you everyone for all your help! You saved me a lot of money.
Click to expand...
Good you got your vehicle in good working condition. The crankshaft position sensor on these T30s does frequently go bad and usually is replaced together with the camshaft position sensor. But I cannot see any way that the problem with the VCV solenoid could damage the crankshaft sensor, which monitors engine speed and functions in combination with the camshaft position sensor to give the ECM critical information needed for engine operation.
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