Topic: 98 S check engine light

[austenjanzen]

Alright so, my girlfriend had bought her forester about a month ago now, about 2 weeks ago her check engine light came on, and she freaked but me being me figured it would be a simple O2 sensor or something so we plugged in the code reader and found out it was the evaporation system malfunction, did a quick google search said often enough if your gas cap is loose it'll throw the code we went took it off and put it back in and deleted the code and never came back on, until I filled the car up and dropped below 3/4 of a tank, it has now done it 3 times from having a full tank and dropping down to under 3/4


What else may be causing this problem, thanks

[snackers]

What code?

[austenjanzen]

I can't remember but I believe it is PO440

It's evaporative emission control system malfunction

[austenjanzen]

Does that tube come off the filler neck? Is it accessible from inside the car or outside

[snackers]

0440 can't be fixed without replacing the fuel filler neck and all related breather tubes (I think there are 3)
This is common on all subaru, especially the age of yours.
You will forever have the CEL unless you replace all those hoses and tubes.

One POSSIBLE cause (though in all my previous experience this has never been the problem) is to check and replace the purge solenoid.
It's on the intake manifold, between the alt and PS pump.

Be careful. If that *isn't* the problem and you go futzing in there, you'll likely break the nipples off the solenoid. After 18 years, it's going to be brittle.

Random goggles pic.

[austenjanzen]

I'll check and see if I can get them hoses brand new and hope that's the problem thanks for the info

[jutes]

Replaced the filler neck today with a few of the rubber lines. 98 Forester S.

Don't bother fuking around with these screws, just drill the heads off:



Once you remove everything this is what you are looking at:



This tube just fell apart, yes thats supposed to be metal. Could be a cause of my P0440 among other rusts.




When doing this job replace everything related to the fill tube. So tube, gas cap, valve, screws, nuts etc. After 244k most of the hardware was unusable. Ill report back after a few tanks to see if the CEL comes back.   

[jutes]

Gone through two tanks of gas now. No CEL. Praise jebus.

[seat safety switch]

JB Weld Jesus is disappointed. He suffered so that he could bring you Steelstik, and this is how you repay him?

[austenjanzen]

Yes I have heard that, I actually bought a brand new filler neck for $80