REPLACE YOUR PURGE VALVE SOLENOID ASAP...Drives like new
 

Problem:
Thought my clutch was going. The car seems to slip when on high way doing 70 in 6th gear, it would hop a little, was idling very badly, and just seemed like I may be loosing my engine.

Solution:
Replaced Purge Valve Solenoid, and WOW drives like new.

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Well the other day I got the Check Engine Light code P0443 - Purge Valve Solenoid. Vehicle still drove fine, but I hate CEL so I purchased and changed it today.
PVS part number Z504-18-741A. I purchased one from Advance Auto for $94.

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1. I located the PVS tucked between the intake manifold and the intake body.

2. Used a flat head to push on towards the firewall, and it was able to slide out of the two wholes.

3. I exchanged the nipples from the old to the new PVS.

4. Installed then cleared the CEL code, and went for a drive.

I am hopeful that the issues has been resolved.

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UPDATE: Aug 11th, 2015

OH MY GOSH, IF YOU HAVENT REPLACED YOUR PVS DO IT NOW.

The 8 has so much more power now. Drives like new, I thought I needed a new clutch but apparently not.

Digging up old thread... Is it really this easy to replace? Multiple other threads say upper intake manifold needs to be taken off. Any input, guys?

FS

To get to the AIR, SSV, and VDI solenoids, the UIM should be removed for easy access since they are mounted between the firewall and UIM (unless you have small hands and can reach around).
But the purge solenoid is mounted in the front of the UIM (as illustrated in the 1st post) so its much easier to swap out.

Thanks for the info. I have the P0443 code and am hoping all I need to do is swap this purge solenoid out! Anything I should watch out for?

get those intake manifold gasket/o-ring before u start, replace it all to prevent leak

I just replaced mine yesterday due to CEL code. Now, this is just anecdote, but the throttle response seems much quicker and I think I am getting to 60mph faster.

Anyway, its cheap (partsgeek) and really is easy to replace. Totally worth it, IMHO.

Did you have a stutter at low rpms

I don't know if I would call it a stutter, but the idle was certainly a little rough and did smooth out considerably after the replacement. Really, though, the catalyst for the replacement was the CEL in my case.

I may replace mine too, but I'm going to replace the fuel pump first

Quick question... does anybody know if the AIR,SSV or VDI solenoids can set off code P0443? I know the PVS)does next to the pil cap does.

hey do you have a video on this?

May be bumping a dead horse but ....
 

Just did mine and I can attest to the improvement in idle smoothness as well as revving much more free. Revving to 9k up to 4k ish seemed a bit more push and then up to 9k a bit more pull, now it all feels pull and smoother. My idle was always a tad choppy for my likes, my son's was much more steady, now they are both nice and steady. It's a bit of fun to replace but can be done with out removing any additional parts ( intake manifold) with in about 15 mins, it's just a tight fit to get new unit back in. Want to keep these forums alive as the I fo here has been invaluable to me , so I will continue to post to relevant old threads hoping it may help newer rx8 owners such as my self. This was a P0043 code and it cleared it...

Best,

Wow, so glad to find this thread. My son just got a P0443 code and the part is cheap enough but most DIY info I could find seemed to confuse this valve with the SSV and suggested UIM removal. Having looked at the car and following the purge lines I was pretty sure I had identified the purge control valve and could swap it out with the manifold in place. Thanks for the confirmation!

I was able to get it off but placing the new one is has me on the ropes, any tips you got on putting the new one in?

It's been a while
 

It's been a while, I remember having to angle it and use a lever arm to pry it up and straight at the same time to get it to seat correct. It took me a bunch of tries to get both lines to start at the angle, but once you do ya got to force it pretty hard to get it to seat. I also used a bit of lube on the fittings to help the initial seat, it's a tight fit. Make sure once you get it wedged into place you have it seated in both lines ( easy to get one, not so easy to get both). It will go , keep at it !

Appreciate ya!
 

Awesome, I’m gonna attempt it again tomorrow morning! Really glad to have found this thread and thanks for the reply brother.

[oops, wrong thread - I removed my post]

FYI for those looking for an authentic brand for these and not the cheap ebay ones, Dorman's P/N is 911-706.

I know this is an old thread, but people keep using it so here I go.
I took mine out today, but unfortunately snapped one of the old nipples off. How do you get the new one in without breaking it?

Don't push on the nipple? Taking the solenoid off is much more difficult than popping one on.