Chrysler Repair: Diagnostic trouble code 1495; 01 Sebring, chrysler sebring, loose fittings

Question
Hi, I have a 2001 Chrysler Sebring Sedan. I noticed the smell of heavy fumes coming through the vents when I first start the car. Once it heats up, I dont smell the fumes anymore. My check engine light just came on and when i got it read the code P1495 came up. I looked up the code and it said leak detection pump, solenoid circuit. What is the solenoid circuit and where is it located? Is this a big job to fix? Thanks

Answer
Hi Amanda,
I assume that you have the 2.7L V-6 engine in the car, otherwise let me know. The code says there is something wrong with the solenoid circuit of the leak detection pump which is located on top of the fuel tank. The solenoid and its wiring may be accessible without removing the pump (but which is required if the pump itself is the problem). The solenoid is on the pump has a 4-wire plug (utilizing 3 wires). The dark blue/white wire should have 12v on it which comes from fuse 23 in the box under the hood when the key is in the run position. The solenoid is activated by the white/dark green wire which is connected to pin 77 of the engine controller, and the orange wire detects the action of the pump and it is connected to pin 72 of the controller. You could check the voltage, and also verify the connections of the latter two wires and verify that neither is shorted to ground when the plugs at the solenoid and the engine controller are disconnected. If that checks out then either the pump is faulty or the engine controller is faulty. Because of the heavy smell of gas fumes it would also be appropriate to check the vapor lines of this system for loose fittings or cracked hoses, but a failure of the pump may cause this as well. It is possible to test the function of the pump by means of a diagnostic readout box connected to the wiring, but that is a device at a dealership. I can xerox copy and mail you a couple of pages that outline the steps of the diagnosis I described above so that a non-dealer shop that is knowledgeable can use that plus this info to do a differential diagnosis as to exactly which of the possibilites I described are at play. Let me know a postal mailing address by means of a 'private' question.
Roland
Please 'rate' my answer.