Classic cars are a huge part of California’s world-class car culture. But if you go to a classic car show, you may notice a strong odor of gasoline, even though there are no leaks or malfunctions. Some people love the smell and some people hate it, but it is scientifically proven that gasoline vapors are extremely harmful to inhale because of chemicals like benzene and toluene, which can cause headaches, nausea, and even brain and lung damage with long-term exposure. Because of this, car manufacturers nowadays are required to limit vehicle emissions. A vehicle’s evaporative emissions system consists of a charcoal canister, valves, hoses, and a sealed fuel cap.
The evaporative emissions system controls the amount of gasoline or diesel fuel vapors that are produced in the fuel tank by processing them through the emissions control canister, then venting them into the engine to be burned with the air/fuel mixture. A series of valves control the flow of vapors and allows for diagnostic data to be collected by your engine’s computer.
The canister purge solenoid is a component of the evaporative emissions system which functions by purging the evaporative emissions system by allowing the vapor into the engine. If your vehicle’s purge solenoid fails, it will cause problems with the EVAP system and affect the vehicle’s emissions output levels.
Although a failing evaporations purge valve most likely will not cause a safety or operating issue, it is still an important component of the evaporative emissions system. If your purge valve is not working properly, your vehicle most likely will not pass an emissions test, preventing you from registering it.
Some symptoms of a faulty or failing purge valve are a rough idle, a vacuum leak, difficulty starting, and a check engine light. If your fuel tank nozzle shuts off before your gas tank is full, it may also be a sign of a malfunctioning evaporation vent solenoid.
If you suspect a problem with your vehicle’s evaporative emissions control purge valve, give us a call today at (626) 793-2220 to schedule an appointment. Our certified technicians can fix your emissions control valve and get your vehicle running clean and passing emissions again. Your Certified Auto Repair Specialist is Pasadena’s favorite auto repair and service center!
