Re: Help diagnose intermittent rough running
I doubt the purge valve/solenoid is your problem.
There is a shut off valve on top of the charcoal canister. It is normally open. When you blow through the vacuum line at the purge valve the gas in the line probably came out that shutoff valve. The shutoff valve is controlled by the PCM and only closes when a test of the system is in progress. The test uses the fuel tank pressure sensor to detect a leak when the PCM closes the shutoff valve and pulls a vacuum on the lines through the purge valve/solenoid.
It may be that the fuel tank overfill check valve is not operating for some reason. My understanding is that overfill check valve is basically a float operated valve that blocks fuel from flowing into the tank when refueling. It causes fuel to rise in the intake tube and trips the gas nozzle at a gas station to close. There are also vent/rollover valves inside the fuel tank piped to the canister which may be compromised. Some how gas is getting into the canister. That should not happen. You need to get under the car, pull the plastic cover off and take a good look at what is happening back there. Taking the canister off is not a big deal.
Be certain the lines at the fuel pump and filter are in their proper connections. Seems a good scan tool (DRB III or emulator) could get some info and give a clue as to what is happening. I sure would pull the canister off and see if it is full of gasoline.
From your post #62" I had my purge valve unplugged for a few days and it ran great, but i couldn't put in more than 0.25 gallons of gas in before the pump shuts off.... then after plugging it back in still went to the gas station 2 times with the same result."
This seems to point at the tank overfill check valve, as mentioned above, or the fuel filler tube check valve did not open.
Frustrating! Good Luck!! Getting at the tank is a real pain, with a lot of broken plastic clips as these cars age and the plastic becomes brittle. That's why I'm saying get a scan from a tool designed for the car if at all possible. It may save some unnecessary work and broken plastic. Frustrating, GOOD LUCK !!
READ my post # 58. Makes me wonder if the shut off valve is stuck closed causing a vacuum that sucks fuel from the tank into the canister; Not sure about that. Just kinda thinking out loud.
Last edited by zip439; Dec 24, 2023 at 10:00 PM.
Reason: Added the last ref post 58