Charcoal Canister

[chri0927]

I brought my 1999 rx 300 in for service because my check engine light came on. I was informed that my charcoal cannister has to be replaced and it is going to cost $1100. I was told it takes 5 hours to complete the job and the part is $672. In the little research I have done, this seems quite excessive! Anyone have this done? How much did it cost? How long did it take?

Thanks so much in advance!

[vindseglare]

I brought my 1999 rx 300 in for service because my check engine light came on. I was informed that my charcoal cannister has to be replaced and it is going to cost $1100. I was told it takes 5 hours to complete the job and the part is $672. In the little research I have done, this seems quite excessive! Anyone have this done? How much did it cost? How long did it take?

Thanks so much in advance!

If all the dealer really is doing is replacing the canister then, indeed, it seems they are trying to take you for a ride. I need to have the canister on my RX300 replaced (it is visibly cracked). The local Lexus dealer (Bellevue WA) quoted me $877. My usual auto shop quoted $730. I found the part online for $413 (say, $470 with tax & shipping). In my poking around on the Net, I see labor estimates for this between half an hour and an hour. So, if all that info checks out, I'm thinking $600 or so should be about right. For the approx $100 extra my shop is asking, I'm inclined to give them benefit of the doubt, to minimize the hassle.

Was thinking of doing it myself (I understand the canister is not that difficult to access and replace) but don't have the equipment to turn off the "check engine" light.

Lastly - just out of curiosity - other than being a bad environmental citizen, does anyone know the repercussions of not replacing the canister? (Here in WA we can get an emissions waiver after spending $150 toward diagnosis/repair, so it isn't a legal issue.)

Thanks.