Toyota Repair: check engine light for 2000 Toyota Avalon, inner tie rod, toyota avalon

Question
The first time my check engine light came on was 8-03-2007. I brought it to the Toyota dealership in Lake Charles.Tech found code PO440 stored evap system malfunction. Tech found check valve missing from fuel cap, tech replaced fuel cap. Then also gave a 1300.00 est. for other parts. I had just brought my car to the shop in 2005 and already had the work done. The lady tried to convince me that I needed this work done due to a gas leak. I demaned to speack to the tech and let him look at my documentation of the previous work and informed him I called the previous car dealership and was advised to not replace all parts the lady insisted. Finally it came to a point that the shop had a lack of communication and I paid 800.00 for a repair oil leak from valve gaskets, replace pcv valve and inner tie rod.

Now after spending that large amount the light came back on. I brought the car back yesterday, 8-29-07 and was told that the PO440 came back on I was advised that I needed to do a evap system leak test for the cost of 146.00. I do not trust the lady from before and feel like this is an on going issue. The lady said the test would have to be done and if they found somehing during the test that needed to be replaced they would have to stop, replace the part which would cost- and see if the light goes off.
I called the Toyota dealership back in my home town and he said the code could mean 350 things from a gas cap to the censor that he did not think the evap test needed to be done.

So I have been told different things and not sure what to do? Please let me know what you think and inform me of how unsafe/safe this issue can be.


Answer
hi andres, is p0440 the only code in it?  is it possible there is an aftermarket fuel cap on it?  i've found in the past, aftermarket caps do not seal properly over time.  if there are more codes, we need to diagnose them first because p0440 is a very broad code that covers the entire evap system....  auto zone will pull all the codes for free, get back to me and let me know...