Evaporative Emission Control Canister: Description and Operation

EVAP/PURGE SOLENOID
During the cold start warm-up period and the hot start time delay, the PCM does not energize the solenoid. When de-energized, no vapors are purged.

The proportional purge solenoid operates at a frequency of 200 hz and is controlled by an engine controller circuit that senses the current being applied to the proportional purge solenoid and then adjusts that current to achieve the desired purge flow. The proportional purge solenoid controls the purge rate of fuel vapors from the vapor canister and fuel tank to the engine intake manifold.

Fig. 10 EVAP Canister:

VAPOR CANISTER
The canister attaches to the bracket. The vacuum and vapor tubes connect to the top of the canister. It is a charcoal canister.

All vehicles use a maintenance free, evaporative (EVAP) canister. Fuel tank vapors vent into the canister. The canister temporarily holds the fuel vapors until intake manifold vacuum draws them into the combustion chamber. The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) purges the canister through the proportional purge solenoid. The PCM purges the canister at predetermined intervals and engine conditions.

Purge Free Cells
Purge-free memory cells are used to identify the fuel vapor content of the evaporative canister. Since the evaporative canister is not purged 100% of the time, the PCM stores information about the evaporative canister's vapor content in a memory cell.

The purge-free cells are constructed similar to certain purge-normal cells. The purge-free cells can be monitored by the DRB III Scan Tool. The only difference between the purge-free cells and normal adaptive cells is that in purge-free, the purge is completely turned off. This gives the PCM the ability to compare purge and purge-free operation.