EVAP code concern level and likely fix?
Hi guys!
Now, I know she's a rusty girl, but she's got a pretty face and she's mine. I'm working on it along the way, and I swear one day I'll do something better than a little rust converter. Just trying to buy some time until I can get something else to daily and give the Baja the makeover it deserves. (or find a manual with less rust and this be my parts car. lol)
Anyway, The Check engine light came on about a week ago in my '03 NA Auto with a small EVAP system leak. (code P0442)
I generally understand that that means the gas tank and associated plumbing has an air leak somewhere, so I put it on the ramps and took a peek at said plumbing. There was some rust and flaking on the filler tube, but nothing that felt bad enough to leak air, so I sanded it as best I could and hit it with some rust converter. There was another metal piece that joins a smaller tube to the larger one that goes into the mystery box on the passenger side that was similarly rusty, but still felt pretty solid. (What is that box for? is that where the EVAP sensors live, maybe?)
What I did find were a fair number of crusty flexible hoses that I'm more willing to bet on as the problem.
It's still running great and AFAICT it's not leaking fuel, so while I plan to fix it this summer, I'm not super worried about it, but I wanted to see if someone smarter than me or who's been here before knows a reason I should take care of this more urgently, and if I'm likely on the right track with the hoses being the issue.