How to Fix a P0456 P0441 P0446 Error Code on a Toyota Corolla

Is your Check Engine Light on? Are you getting a P0456 error code from an OBDII reader in your vehicle? This article addresses some of the most common causes of this error, and more importantly, how to fix them!

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Okay, so you diagnosed your check engine light with an OBDII reader and found out that you have error p0456. Now what?

What Do Errors P0456 P0446 P0441 Mean?

First of all, this error code refers to the following:

P0456 – Small Leak Detected in Evaporative Emissions System
P0446 – Evaporative Emission Control System (EVAP) Vent Control Circuit Malfunction
P0441 – Evaporative control system (EVAP) purge flow is incorrect
P0400 – This is a general error code indicating a problem with the engine exhaust gas recirculation (EGR)

This means that the ECM (car’s on-board computer) has detected a vapor leak in the evaporation system. The leak is small, smaller than 0.020 inches, but it means that gas vapors are escaping.

Over the years I have had the following error codes periodically: P400, P0441, P0446, and P0456, and the reason has typically been that the gas tank cannot hold a vacuum: it has a leak somewhere. In the vast majority of cases, the leak occurs around the gas cap seal. Either the rubber seal in the gas cap is bad or the lip of the gas tank that the gas cap seals against is rusty causing a poor seal.

The easiest way to deal with this problem is to buy a new gas cap, but the dealership will charge around $65 for a new one. You can buy a replacement gas cap from Amazon fairly inexpensively.

Genuine Toyota Gas Cap (77300-07030) – Twist-lock (2014-2016 Toyota Corolla)
Genuine Toyota Gas Cap (77300-06040) – Twist-lock (2005-2013 Toyota Corolla)
Genuine Toyota Gas Cap (77300-47010)- Twist-lock (2004 Toyota Corolla)
Genuine Toyota Gas Cap (77310-48020) – Threaded-type (1997-2004 Toyota Corolla)

The seals on gas caps tend to go bad after 5-10 years it seems. When I replaced my gas cap, the check engine light (CEL) went off (note, unless you reset the light with an inexpensive OBDII meter, you will have to wait for about 1 tank fill-up before the CEL will turn off).

The other problem can be a rusty or corroded gas tank lip, so that even if you have a new gas cap, it still can’t make a nice seal. In this case, it is just a matter of cleaning the rust off. I also had that problem recently.

Tools and supplies:

vacuum cleaner
screwdriver
rag
files of various sizes
silicone spray rust inhibitor
replacement gas cap (choose model number by year, below)

Corolla Gas Cap Model# by Year

Genuine Toyota Gas Cap (77300-07030) – Twist-lock (2014-2016 Toyota Corolla)
Genuine Toyota Gas Cap (77300-06040) – Twist-lock (2005-2013 Toyota Corolla)
Genuine Toyota Gas Cap (77300-47010)- Twist-lock (2004 Toyota Corolla)
Genuine Toyota Gas Cap (77310-48020) – Threaded-type (1997-2004 Toyota Corolla)

Step by Step Procedure to Fix a P0456 Error

Here is the procedure I followed to fix that.

Here is the OBDII reader. Here it is displaying the P0456 code. If you have one of these units, reset the Check Engine Light after you do this repair, to see if the error code comes back.