QuestionQUESTION: Hello there and thank you for your help.
I have a Hyundai Accent 2002 2 door 4 cylinder and it was running fine until a few days ago.
After my dad took to the gas station to fill up the tank. After a day (I think) the engine light came on. I took to my mechanic and they said that the code that came up was for Gas Evap so he reset it, thinking it could be that we just didnt close the gas tank properly. The light came back on (same code) and he advised me for the quick/cheap fix and told me to buy a new gas cap and so I did. No luck, light on again, and I was thinking that it could be because my dad got the tank really full, he didnt stop at the first click, he kept filling it up. I was reading that it could be the charcoal canister that is wet and that could be the reason why the code keeps showing.
I just dont wanna have to stop my car and spend a fortune to find out what it is.. The engine is fine, the car is running perfectly fine. The only thing I noticed was a smell of gas one day that I wasnt really sure it came from my car... Any advice? If it could be the charcoal canister, could I change it myself??
Thank you so much! :)
ANSWER: On this vehicle, it's doubtful that the issue would be due to liquid fuel in the charcoal canister or in the vapor lines. The system tests itself for leaks via monitoring the current draw of an electric pump. If there's a leak, the larger the leak, the lower the pump current will be. So if we assumed the canister was full of fuel to the point of blocking vapor flow, this would still look like a sealed system to the pump.
Knowing the actual trouble code is key, but given the idea that the fuel cap was a potential problem, I'll go ahead and assume the code indicated some sort of leak:
P0455 = large leak
P0442 = small leak
P0456 = very small leak.
The most common issue causing a vapor leak on this vehicle is a broken vapor hose in the vicinity of the purge control valve.
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QUESTION: Is there a way to check to see if that would really be the problem? If so, can I change it myself? If not, is it something expensive?? Thank you very much for all your help.
AnswerYou can check to see if the hose is the issue simply by inspecting it. Follow the purge hose from the intake to the purge valve and then from the purge valve to the pipe at the firewall. If the rubber lines aren't cracked or broken, then the problem is likely elsewhere. If you're capable of removing a couple hose clamps and perhaps cutting a piece of hose to length, you could I'm sure replace this hose or trim it so it no longer leaks. Even if you think this sort of repair is too much for you, I'd think it'd be relatively inexpensive professionally.
