Jan Marie

Thanks for your quick reply. I will use these notes when I visit my "second opinion" mechanic.

Nothing has been done to the car since the last oil checkup when a new battery was installed, but

who knows what could have been disturbed when that was changed. I do value my traction control especially in all the bad PA weather.

I don't know if it is the same way on your car, but the "traction control" and "check engine" lights always came on together on my previous 92 LS400. None of the problems I had were ever actually with the traction control system- as soon as I solved the emission control/check engine problem, both lights would always go off. I suspect they are programmed to come on together for a reason I don't know.

I helped a neighbor troubleshoot a similar problem on her 2001 Toyota Highlander (same engine as your ES300) a couple years ago. Her car's computer system also gave a code that indicated a problem with the charcoal canister, although I can't remember if it was the same one as yours. I thought this sounded odd on a car with only 80,000 miles, but went ahead and tried to find out what I could about that part.

I was about to tell her just to take the car in when she said she forgot to tell me she had changed the air filter herself just the day before. I figured there was a strong possibility these two events could be related- so I took a closer look at the air filter/intake area. Sure enough, I found a small vacuum line on the bottom that was disconnected- I am sure accidentally when she was changing the filter. I reconnected it, the light went off, and the car is still running fine today.

Did your Lexus dealership do a full diagnostic procedure on your car, or just hook up their computer and pull the code? I don't know for sure, but I certainly don't hear of people replacing their charcoal canister much and I have never changed one myself. My 92 LS was still on its original one and working fine at nearly 200,000 miles at the time I sold it.

I don't know where all of them are located on the ES300, but it would probably be worth checking to make sure all your car's vacuum lines are still connected and in good condition, particularly in the air filter/intake area. It could be a simple fix.

My traction control light and check engine lights were on. The dealer diagnosed code PO446. I need a charcoal canister. What does that have to do with the traction control? Estimated price is $500. The 2001 ES300 has been great and I now have 105,000 miles. Has anyone had this problem?