ENGINE DRIVEABILITY AND EMISSIONS
6E–49
GENERAL DESCRIPTION FOR
EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM
EVAP Emission Control System Purpose
The basic evaporative emission control system used on
the charcoal canister storage method. The method
transfers fuel vapor from the fuel tank to an activated
carbon (charcoal) storage devise to hold the vapors
when the vehicle is not operating.
The canister is located on the rear axle housing by the
frame cross-member.
When the engine is running, the fuel vapor is purged
from the carbon element by intake air flow and
consumed in the normal combustion process.
EVAP Emission Control System Operation
The EVAP canister purge is controlled by a solenoid
valve that allows the manifold vacuum to purge the
canister. The engine control module (ECM) supplies a
ground to energize the solenoid valve (purge on). The
EVAP purge solenoid control is pulse-width modulated
(PWM) (turned on and off several times a second). The
duty cycle (pulse width) is determined by engine
operating conditions including load, throttle position,
coolant temperature and ambient temperature. The duty
cycle is calculated by the ECM. the output is
commanded when the appropriate conditions have
been met. These conditions are:
• The engine is fully warmed up.
• The engine has been running for a specified time.
• The IAT reading is above 10°C (50°F).
• Purge/Vacuum Hoses. Made of rubber compounds,
these hoses route the gasoline fumes from their
sources to the canister and from the canister to the
intake air flow.
• EVAP Canister. Mounted on a bracket ahead of the
fuel tank, the canister stores fuel vapors until the
ECM determined that engine conditions are right for
them to be removed and burned.
Poor idle, stalling and Poor driveability can be caused
by:
• A malfunctioning purge solenoid.
• A damaged canister.
• Hoses that are split, cracked, or not connected
properly.
System Fault Detection
The EVAP leak detection strategy is based on applying
vacuum to the EVAP system and monitoring vacuum
decay. At an appropriate time, the EVAP purge solenoid
is turned “ON,” allowing the engine vacuum to draw a
small vacuum on the entire evaporative emission
system.
After the desired vacuum level has been achieved, the
EVAP purge solenoid is turned “OFF,” sealing the
system. A leak is detected by monitoring for a decrease
in vacuum level over a given time period, all other
variables remaining constant.
If the desired vacuum level cannot be achieved in the
test described above, a large leak or a faulty EVAP
purge control solenoid valve is indicated.
Leaks can be caused by the following conditions:
• Missing or faulty fuel cap
• Disconnected, damaged, pinched, or blocked EVAP
purge line
• Disconnected, damaged, pinched, or blocked fuel
tank vapor line
• Disconnected or faulty EVAP purge control solenoid
valve
• Open ignition feed circuit to the purge solenoid
(1) Purge Solenoid Valve
(2) From Canistor to Purge Solenoid
(3) From Purge Solenoid to Intake
(1) Canistor
(2) Air Separator
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