DTC P0442 Evaporative Emission (EVAP) System Small Leak Detected

my car started throwing this code today. what does this really mean? is this just a loose vaccum line or hose I should be looking for or does it mean the canister is shot?

Yes, start looking at vacum lines and hoses associated with the evap system. Look closely at the evap canister also. what the code means is that the integrity of the evap system has been breached, but only on a small scale. It is possible that the gas cap is not sealing properly also.

so someone unscrewed my gas cap and that has to have been the problem. I am still stuck with the check engine light though. how can I clear this without a scanner? I disconnected the battery, but that didn't clear it. should I leave it disconnected longer? or do I have to get a scanner to clear this stupid thing? OBD II sucks

If it was just the gas cap and the problem is now fixed, the code should clear evetually, or try a longer battery disconnnect...at least 10 minutes IIRC.

EDIT for better info. The MIL (check engine light) will turn off after 3 consecutive trips in which the system passes the evap test.

The history of the code will disappear after 40 consecutive warm-up cycles without a malfunction.

thanks

how long do theses trips have to be? I have started a dozen times now and it still hasn't gone away

Hmmm...that is odd..maybe the real problem has not been fixed?

A trip is really not defined at all. I would assume a normal start and warm up cycle, then shut down would constitute a trip. Give it another day and see if it goes away. If not, you could try doing the battery disconnect.

well the gas cap was completly off so that is what has to have tripped the light. still hasn't gone away though. I am letting it sit with the battery cable off trying to let it reset but it seems to take a while to get this to clear the system. I left it off for more than 10 mins and all I lost was the clock. still had radio presets.

Try to give it a good, long reset, like an hour or more. That should do the trick. I have never known a CEL to remain illuminated after a long battery disconnect.

I guess that means you'll need to lower your selling price

The run cycle as mentioned isn't defined anywhere...

I have found at least 5 minutes and possibly requires you go actually drive.