Evaporative Emissions Control

Systems (EVAP)

Purpose
Enhanced and Non-Enhanced
Components
Function
Finding Faults
 Purpose:
To trap and hold gasoline vapors (HC)
To deliver vapors to engine airflow for complete
burning
Provides system ventilation to allow purging
Provides pressure relief to prevent excess pressure
inside fuel tank
2 Types of Systems
Non-Enhanced
Diagnostic ability is limited to purge
detection and monitoring
Enhanced
Monitors purge flow
Monitors system integrity
Leak checking
1996-2000: leak checking to .040 in.
2000-up: leak checking to .020 in.
Components:
Carbon canister
Traps and holds fuel vapors for burning by engine
Purge valve/ Purge solenoid
Controlled by PCM to allow canister purging during certain
conditions
Vacuum lines
Connect tank to canister
Connect canister to engine
Fuel tank filler cap
Seals fuel tank
Allows for pressure relief
Prevents excessive vacuum from collapsing tank
Fuel expansion tank
Prevents liquid fuel from entering canister
Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor (Enhanced)
Vent valve (Enhanced)
Provides fresh air for system purging
Can be used to seal system to check for leaks
Function:
As
fuel heats up: vapors form and are
vented to canister
Canister is filled with activated charcoal
Fuel vapors attach to carbon surface
1 gram of charcoal contains surface area
equal to acre
Holds 1/3 of its own weight in fuel vapors
Assystem is purged, vapor molecules are
pulled from carbon surface
Function:
Pressure build-up is caused by:
Volatility rates
Fuel tank size
Fuel level inside tank
Fuel slosh
Temperature
Fuel return
Function:
Purging is closely controlled
Excess fuel vapors can upset air/fuel ratio
Purging is allowed:
Closed loop
Cruising speeds
Purging is not allowed:
Open loop
Idle or deceleration
WOT
Finding Faults
Two types of complaints:
Fuel vapor smell
MIL illumination
Retrieve DTCs
Check freeze frame data for ECT and VSS
Check TSBs, recalls and PCM reflashes
DTCs:
Purge control circuit failures
Purge flow failures
Leak detection DTCs
Finding Faults
Follow manufacturers diagnostic
troubleshooting procedure
Purge control circuit failures: can be
checked with bidirectional scan tool
Command purge valve on and listen for clicking
sound
With valve commanded on check for air flow
through valve
Check power and ground wires with
voltmeter
Purge valve can be manually activated
with jumper wires
Finding Faults
Purge flow failures: can be caused by
leakage or restriction preventing purge
Smoke machine: insert probe into test port
and watch machines flow meter
Proper flow eliminates possibility of
restriction in system
Improper flow indicates system is restricted:
isolate system and continue checking
Finding Faults
Leak
checks: connect smoke machine
and close vent solenoid
Vent solenoid can be closed with scan tool,
manually cycled with jumper wires or vent
pinched with suitable tool
Smoke machine should indicate no flow if
system is free from leaks
If leaks are present, smoke will be visible
Locating Leaks
Smoke testing: uses low pressure smoke
introduced to system from test port
Allows for visual leak detection
Nitrogen gas pressurization
Very low pressure (> 1 psi)
Uses sound amplification for detecting leaks
Toyota Evaporative Emissions