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Sep 11, 2012 | 08:47 PM

#21

Vicarious.

Burning Brakes

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 911

Likes: 27

From: Southern IL

Try disconnecting the hose to your evap purge valve and see if that fixes it.

Sep 12, 2012 | 08:10 AM

#22

dadaroo

Le Mans Master

Joined: Mar 2011

Posts: 6,835

Likes: 301

From: Columbia SC

I am fairly certain you have a venting issue. I have looked at my factory manuals but they don't have any diagnostics on fuel tank systems that I could see. Will do some internet searches on similar issues.

I would like to know what happens when:

1. Run the tank down to 1/8 tank or less. Put in only enough gas to get to 1/4 tank. Put the gas cap on and try to start and run/drive the car.

2. If that works, go back and add to 1/2 full. Put the gas cap on and try to start and run/drive the car.

3. I want you at some point to fill the tank up like you normally do but do not reinstall the gas cap. Try to start it and see if it run/drive.

Sep 12, 2012 | 09:03 AM

#23

Vicarious.

Burning Brakes

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 911

Likes: 27

From: Southern IL

Could be the charcoal canister is plugged...or the purge valve is failed...

If you fill it up again....do not top it off or put any extra gas after the fuel dispenser clicks off...that can damage your canister.

Sep 12, 2012 | 01:41 PM

#24

thepitstop2010

Racer

Joined: Apr 2012

Posts: 282

Likes: 4

From: Dayton Ohio

Quote:

Originally Posted by NassyBlue

Try disconnecting the hose to your evap purge valve and see if that fixes it.

I have seen this issue before. Sounds like the evap. purge solenoid is stuck open creating contant vacuum to the tank. When you fuel up and the fuel cap is off the vacuum is released through to fill neck. When this happens it sucks all fuel in fuel lines and rails back to fuel tank. Resulting in hard starts and stalling after start up.

Sep 12, 2012 | 06:16 PM

#25

leadfoot4

Team Owner

Joined: May 2001

Posts: 87,294

Likes: 1,579

From: Western NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by thepitstop2010

I have seen this issue before. Sounds like the evap. purge solenoid is stuck open creating contant vacuum to the tank. When you fuel up and the fuel cap is off the vacuum is released through to fill neck. When this happens it sucks all fuel in fuel lines and rails back to fuel tank. Resulting in hard starts and stalling after start up.

As "dadaroo" mentioned, there aren't any really good diagrams in the shop manual for the tank venting system. Could you specify where the purge solenoid is located? I previously mentioned that I thought I fixed my gas odor problem with a new gas cap, but the problem has returned, and I'm having problems troubleshooting the issue.

TIA!!

Sep 12, 2012 | 06:25 PM

#26

thepitstop2010

Racer

Joined: Apr 2012

Posts: 282

Likes: 4

From: Dayton Ohio

The evap. purge solenoid is located on the left side of your intake manifold, between the fuel rail and coils. It will have one two wire electrical plug and two hoses connected to it. I would unhook the vacuum line connected the back side of the solenoid ( closest to the firewall) and start the engine. See if there is vacuum present on the port of the solenoid. There should not be. If there is, the solenoid is bad.

Sep 12, 2012 | 07:01 PM

#27

leadfoot4

Team Owner

Joined: May 2001

Posts: 87,294

Likes: 1,579

From: Western NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by thepitstop2010

OK, thanks. I didn't realize that this was indeed the purge solenoid. I saw it mentioned (but not by name) in another discussion, and I at least checked to see if the hoses were securely attached to it.

Sep 13, 2012 | 01:15 PM

#28

leadfoot4

Team Owner

Joined: May 2001

Posts: 87,294

Likes: 1,579

From: Western NY

An update on my situation....

I had a couple of minutes after lunch, and went out and fired up the car. Then I disconnected the vacuum line betwen the TB and the purge solenoid, and I had vacuum. On the other side of the solenoid, no vacuum. I went to get my volt/ohm meter to check for voltage at the plug, and by the time I got back, the engine had apparently warmed up to some point that the PCM energized the solenoid, and I had vacuum going toward the fuel tank, but the vacuum signal sort of "pulsed". Is that normal? Just for good measure, I sprayed a little TB cleaner through the solenoid.....

Another update...

In my situation, it appears that the ethanol that's now being blended into today's "gas" had deterioriated the seal on the outlet side of my fuel filter, allowing a bit of leakage, causing the gasoline odor I was experiencing. I replaced the filter, and the problem seems to have gone away, at least for now.

Last edited by leadfoot4; Sep 16, 2012 at 08:59 AM.