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

Purge valve/ Purge solenoid

Seals fuel tank

Allows for pressure relief
Prevents excessive vacuum from collapsing tank

Fuel expansion tank

Connect tank to canister

Connect canister to engine

Fuel tank filler cap

Controlled by PCM to allow canister purging during certain

conditions

Vacuum lines

Traps and holds fuel vapors for burning by engine

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

As

system 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

Excess fuel vapors can upset air/fuel ratio

Purging

is allowed:

Closed loop
Cruising speeds

Purging

is closely controlled

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,
DTCs:

recalls and PCM reflashes

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