The bimetallic vacuum valve in my 4runner is broken and my truck gets crappy gas millage. Any idea what this thing does and do I plug the 2 vacuum hoses or connect them until I can get a new valve. And to top it off, anyone know where I can get one for less than $60? Thanks.....

 

BVSV(Bimetallic Vacuum Switching Valve).

Is it connected to the hose that goes to the charcoal canister(EVAP) and the other hose going to the throttle body? If so, it regulates the flow of the vapors collected in the canister to the intake. It opens allowing flow when the engine is running warm enough to handle the enrichment. And closes when the engine cools, at which point the charcoal canister absorbs the excess vapors from the fuel tank for later use.

I wouldn't try by-passing the valve(connecting the hoses).You might be able to get away with plugging the ports. I don't know for sure what might happen, besides plugging the vacuum leak you have going on that's killing your mpg(my best guess as to what's causing your performance loss anyway). Which should be a good thing.

I'd try a junkyard. I don't have a clue, besides the dealership, where else to get one.

 

Thanks man, I appreciate the reply. I plugged the ports until I can get a replacement part........

 

I'm in the same boat as you. if you do a search under my name and looke at the thread regarding the broken nipple (lol) it will have a link in it showing how to repair the valve. As for running a hose from the throttle body directly to the canaster, I ended up doing that till i can get the valve off and repaired. I think it has affected my mileage in that it has gone down but I'm not 100% sure as its only been 2 weeks and Ive been doing a lot of city driving. From what I understand, that valve only controls when to allow vacuum ( as Moose mentioned above ) through which is when coolant temp reaches 94 degrees iirc. But the canaster as another valve inside of it that only opens when vacuum reaches a certain amount ( based on engine speed, cant remember at what rpm) otherwise it stays closed. Hope this helps.

 

I found one on Amazon for $20.00. It was like 60-80 everywhere else

 

Welcome to YotaTech, James. Finding sources for parts is one of the great advantages of fora like this, so thanks.

But ... "I found one on Amazon" is approximately equivalent to saying "I found one in a junkyard in the United States." In each case, we need a little more direction.

So I took a quick look. The part you need is 90925-05047 https://parts.lakelandtoyota.com/p/T...092505047.html I found one of these on Amazon for $66 (more than the dealer price!) . So that's not what you're talking about.

A little more searching turned up 90925-05068 for $20
While the pictures look similar, that's not the correct part. That's for a Celica/Camry/Cressida. https://parts.lakelandtoyota.com/p/_...092505068.html
(click "What This Fits.")

Did you find a 90925-05047 ? Do you remember where?

 

Excellent points, Scope, and thanks for referring Lakeland Toyota.
That, McGeorge Toyota and Toyota Parts Deal are now my go-to stores for OEM parts.

 

I might as well add that the BVSV is one of a handful of parts I would not get from a salvaged vehicle. I and quite a few others on this forum have broken the plastic part of the valve. It's in a hellish environment, and after a mere 20 years the plastic became very weak. It was not only easy to break, but impossible (for me) to fix with glue. Any salvaged part is likely to suffer the same age-related deficit.

 

Yup I have been here and done this on both my sons 3VZ-E's and my now own when I broke it pulling the engine. I took some aluminum tubing that you can find in an RC hobby shop. I hand drilled out the remaining plastic and used J&B weld epoxy to fix what is now three BVSV's. The worst part is waiting 24 hours for the J&B Weld epoxy to cure!...