Hey everyone, not sure exactly how this whole evap system works but I have a few questions. Ive been driving around for months with this stupid evap leak (and CEL) and I feel like ive been throwing money at it left and right to tackle it. So far Ive bought a gas cap and the valve that sits inside the canister toward the back. I spent an hour or so following lines to find any visible cracks or heavy rust in any of the lines, as I had a fuel line leak because the car sat while i was on leave. My main question would be, if its the solenoid/valve up front under the hood would I be able to smell gas fumes or would that indicate a hole/crack/rusted section in a line somewhere? Every once in a while Ill catch a wiff of fuel during normal cruising. My only options left is that solenoid, $75 dollar smoke test, or to replace the canister itself. My second question is, could an evap leak cause a slight misfire? Its nothing bad but when checking data while in my car I notice #2 has a misfire every so often. Ive heard that the evap system is a closed system and somehow cycles the fumes which is making me wonder if this could be the culprit of my misfire. If anyone has any more knowledge on how this system works or any person experience I would love to hear about it! Thanks!

 

You can do a quick and free test on the solenoid up front. Take the hoses off, and blow through it both ways. If air comes out of it at all, the valve is bad and needs replacing.

Edit: Whether that is the cause of your issues or not I can't say, but since you haven't messed with it yet and it's an easy test, you won't lose anything but a few minutes of your time to check.

Edit #2: edited info, originally put wrong car.

 

Check the plastic lines coming directly off the purge solenoid under the hood. My cel was on for this over the summer. Could smell gas at idle too. Replaced both solenoids and that still didn't fix it. As the smell of gas got stronger I started sniffing around under the hood and found out the evap line coming off the purge solenoid itself had a small crack in it from where it was rubbing against the brake fluid resovoir. I tightly wrapped it in electrical tape and then generously applied liquid plastic glue over the electrical tape. The smell/leak/CEL all went away after that.

 

Thanks! As soon as I get some time tomorrow Im going to check out both of these suggestions, Ill get back to ya and let you know what I find.

 

Buy an ebay smoke machine. Worth it