Scotty,
Thanks to you I was able to fix this on my own and it only cost me $33. I have a 2009 Mercury Mariner hybrid with almost 33,000 miles on it. For the first time since I've had this car, the check engine light came on last week. I got the code P2450 from my cheap scanner. From research, I found the part that was failing, learned where it was, how to check to verify it was failing, how to remove it, found the part online etc. The part is the vapor canister purge valve. My question is could I have just ignored this or would it cause problems if I hadn't replaced it? Thanks.
When you fill up, do you stop when the gas pump auto stops? or do you put in a little more and a little more? Over time putting in that little bit more gas causes all sorts of issues with the vapor purge system.
would it cause problems if I hadn't replaced it?
Of course it could. The EVAP system manages your fuel tank. Your engine depends on the fuel tank working properly. It can also cause problems filling your tank at the gas station.
I replaced the VCPV
Why? The code has nothing to do with your purge valve.
is it harmful to my car if I ignore it?
same answer as the last time you asked. Yes.
could the real problem be somewhere else that leads to the VCPV?
Yes. It could the wiring, a vacuum leak, etc. You never want to blindly just replace parts.
You should also check for technical bulletins.
do I have to spend another $33
Maybe not. Did you read your emissions warranty in the owner's manual?
I posted a few weeks ago about this. Getting the 'check engine' indicator, scanning and getting code P2450. I replaced the VCPV and the code cleared. Yesterday, on my way to the store and the same thing happened. In the store's parking lot I scanned and cleared the code and when I drove back a little later, the 'check engine' light didn't come on so perhaps it's an intermittent issue since my car is 13 years old with 32,000 miles on it and has started to show some electrical 'glitches'. But my questions are:
1. Instead of the VCPV, could the real problem be somewhere else that leads to the VCPV? In order words, is the VCPV being damaged by some other issue or do I have to spend another $33 to replace the VCPV again? I don't drive a great deal and have kept the tank full so perhaps that could be contributing to the valve's failure.
2. What problems does a VCPV that's stuck open produce? In other words, is it harmful to my car if I ignore it?
I know that the VCPV had failed because FordTeckMakULoco showed in a video how to test it to make sure it has, in fact, failed. At this point, I'm treating the repeat as an intermittent issue until it comes back again.