Canister purge is controlled by an EVAP purge valve that allows manifold vacuum to purge the canister. The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) supplies a ground to energize the EVAP purge valve (purge ON ). The EVAP purge valve control is Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) or turned ON and OFF several times a second. The PCM controlled PWM output is commanded when the following conditions have been met:
• | Engine coolant temperature above 60°C (140°F). |
• | After the engine has been running about 3 minutes on a cold start or 20 seconds on a warm start. |
Canister purge PWM duty cycle varys according to operating conditions determined by mass air flow, fuel trim, and intake air temperature.
Canister purge operation is also affected by throttle position.
• | VIN 1 -- Canister purge will be disabled if TP angle increases to above 33 percent. Canister purge will be re-enabled when TP angle decreases below 29 percent. |
• | VIN K -- Canister purge will be disabled if TP angle increases to above 70 percent. Canister purge will be re-enabled when TP angle decreases below 66 percent. |
The EVAP vacuum switch is a normally closed switch positioned in the purge line between the canister and the EVAP purge valve. The EVAP vacuum switch will open when vacuum increases to greater than 5 inches of water (in H2O) in the purge line. The PCM monitors the EVAP vacuum switch signal to determine if the evaporative emission control system is working properly. If the switch is open (purge flow detected) when the PCM is not commanding the EVAP purge valve ON, DTC P1441 will be set.
• | No TP sensor, IAT sensor, MAP sensor, ECT sensor, or MAF sensor DTCs set. |
• | BARO reading is greater than 70 kPa. |
• | Engine Coolant Temperature is less than 114°C (237°F). |
• | Intake Air Temperature (IAT) sensor indicates an ambient temperature between 10°C (50°F) and 70°C (158°F). |
• | The difference between ECT and IAT is less than 10°C (18°F). |
• | Throttle angle is between 2.5% and 55%. |
• | Engine speed is between 550 rpm and 5000 rpm. |
• | EVAP Purge PWM is below 3%. |
• | EVAP purge vacuum switch is open. |
• | Above conditions for longer than 4 seconds. |
• | The PCM will illuminate the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) during the second consecutive trip in which the diagnostic test has been run and failed. |
• | The PCM will store conditions which were present when the DTC set as Freeze Frame and Failure Records data. |
• | The PCM will turn OFF the MIL during the third consecutive trip in which the diagnostic has been run and passed. |
• | The History DTC will clear after 40 consecutive warm-up cycles have occurred without a malfunction. |
• | The DTC can be cleared by using the scan tool. |
Check for the following conditions:
• | Poor connection at PCM. Inspect harness connectors for backed out terminals, improper mating, broken locks, improperly formed or damaged terminals, and poor terminal to wire connection. |
• | Damaged harness. Inspect the wiring harness for damage. If the harness appears to be OK, observe the EVAP vacuum switch display on the scan tool while moving connectors and wiring harnesses related to the switch. A change in the display will indicate the location of the fault. |
• | Incorrect vacuum hose routing. Verify that the vacuum hose routing to the canister purge vacuum switch and the canister purge solenoid is correct and that the vacuum hoses at the canister purge solenoid are not switched. Refer to Evaporative Emission Control System . |
• | Restricted fuel vapor line, purge hose, canister vent, or blocked canister. A condition that causes the EVAP system to trap vacuum can keep the EVAP vacuum switch open , causing DTC P1441 to be set. |
• | Faulty or damaged canister. A faulty canister may intermittenly allow charcoal into the EVAP purge solenoid, vacuum switch, and associated lines causing a DTC to be set. |
Reviewing the Fail Records vehicle mileage since the diagnostic test last failed may help determine how often the condition that caused the DTC to be set occurs. This may assist in diagnosing the condition.
Number(s) below refer to the step number(s) on the Diagnostic Table.
The canister purge vacuum switch is normally closed when no vacuum is present. With the ignition switch ON and the engine not running, there should not be any vacuum applied to the EVAP system.
Determines if the PCM is able to control the EVAP purge solenoid valve.
Determines if the DTC will set under the conditions present when the DTC was originally stored. If not, the fault is intermittent.
Checks for a grounded EVAP purge solenoid driver circuit, a faulty EVAP vacuum switch, or a leaking EVAP purge solenoid valve.
Checks for an open EVAP vacuum switch.
This vehicle is equipped with a PCM which utilizes an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM). When the PCM is being replaced, the new PCM must be programmed.
Step | Action | Value(s) | Yes | No | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Was the Powertrain On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) System Check performed? | -- | Go to the A Powertrain On Board Diagnostic (OBD) System Check | |||||||
Does EVAP Vacuum Sw. display No Purge? | -- | |||||||||
Does EVAP Vacuum Sw. display No Purge with the EVAP purge solenoid commanded OFF? | -- | |||||||||
Does the scan tool indicate DTC P1441 failed? | -- | Refer to DTC P1441 Diagnostic Aids | ||||||||
Does EVAP Vacuum Sw. display No Purge? | -- | |||||||||
6 |
Was a problem found? | -- | ||||||||
7 |
Is the vacuum greater than the specified value? | 5 in H2O | ||||||||
8 |
Was a problem found? | -- | ||||||||
9 | Replace the EVAP purge solenoid. Go to EVAP Canister Purge Solenoid . Is action complete? | -- | -- | |||||||
10 |
Was a problem found? | -- | ||||||||
11 |
Was a problem found? | -- | ||||||||
Does EVAP Vacuum Sw. display No Purge? | -- | |||||||||
13 |
Was a problem found? | -- | ||||||||
14 |
Was a problem found? | -- | ||||||||
15 | Replace the EVAP vacuum switch. Go to EVAP Vacuum Switch . Is action complete? | -- | -- | |||||||
Replace the PCM. Important:: The replacement PCM must be programmed. Go to PCM Replacement/Programming . Is action complete? | -- | -- | ||||||||
17 |
Does the scan tool indicate DTC P1441 failed? | -- | System OK |