GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Refer to

EVAP Control System Overview


Object Number: 200517  Size: LF
(1)EVAP Vent Valve/Solenoid
(2)EVAP Vent Valve/Solenoid Ignition Feed Circuit Terminal
(3)EVAP Vent Valve/Solenoid Control Circuit Terminal
(4)EVAP Vent Valve/Solenoid Filter
(5)EVAP Vapor Lines
(6)Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor
(7)Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor Ground Circuit Terminal
(8)Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor Signal Circuit Terminal
(9)Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor Circuit 5 Volt Reference Circuit Terminal
(10)Fuel Filler Pipe
(11)Check Valve (Spitback)
(12)Modular Fuel Sender Assembly
(13)Fuel Limiter Vent Valve (FLVV)
(14)Pressure/Vacuum Relief Valve (Optional)
(15)EVAP Canister
(16)EVAP Canister Purge Valve/Solenoid Ignition Feed Circuit Terminal
(17)EVAP Canister Purge Valve/Solenoid Control Circuit Terminal
(18)Intake Manifold Vacuum Source
(19)EVAP Canister Purge Valve/Solenoid
(20)EVAP Service Port
.

EVAP System Description

The evaporative emissions (EVAP) system includes the following components:

    •  The fuel tank.
    •  The EVAP vent valve/solenoid.
    •  The fuel tank pressure sensor.
    •  The fuel pipes and hoses.
    •  The fuel fill cap.
    •  The EVAP vapor lines.
    •  The EVAP purge lines.
    •  The EVAP canister.
    •  The EVAP canister purge valve/solenoid.

A restricted or blocked EVAP vent path is detected by monitoring the fuel tank pressure during normal operation (EVAP vent valve/solenoid open, EVAP purge valve/solenoid normal). With the EVAP vent valve/solenoid open, the vacuum level in the system should be very low unless the vent path is blocked. A blockage may be caused by the following conditions:

    • A faulty EVAP vent valve/solenoid (stuck closed).
    • A plugged, kinked, or pinched vent hose.
    • A shorted EVAP vent valve/solenoid driver circuit.
    • A plugged EVAP canister.

If any of the conditions described above are present, DTC P0446 is set.

Conditions for Running the DTC

    •  None of the following DTCs are set:
       - Throttle position (TP) sensor DTCs
       - Intake air temperature (IAT) DTCs
       - Manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor DTCs
       - ODM DTCs
    • All conditions for DTC P0440 and DTC P0442 are met and passed.
    • The startup engine coolant temperature (ECT) is between 4° C and 30° C (40° F 86°F).
    • The startup ECT is not over 8° C (14° F) more than the IAT.
    • The startup IAT is between 2° C and 30° C (40° F and 86° F).
    • The startup IAT is not over 2° C (4°F) more than the ECT.
    • The fuel tank level is between 15% and 85%.
    • The BARO is greater than 75 kPa.

Conditions for Setting the DTC

    • The fuel tank pressure is less than -10 in. H2O.
    • The above condition is present for up to 30 seconds.

Action Taken When the DTC Sets

Important: Although these diagnostics are considered type A, the diagnostics act like type B diagnostics under certain conditions. Whenever the EVAP diagnostics report that a system has passed, or if the battery is disconnected, the diagnostic must fail during 2 consecutive cold start trips before setting a DTC. The initial failure is not reported to the diagnostic executive or displayed on a scan tool. A passing system always reports to the diagnostic executive immediately.

    • The PCM illuminates the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) during the first trip in which the diagnostic test has run and failed.
    • The PCM stores the conditions which were present when the DTC set as Freeze Frame and Fail Records data.

Conditions for Clearing the MIL/DTC

    • The PCM turns the MIL off during the third consecutive trip in which the diagnostic has run and passed.
    • The history DTC clears after 40 consecutive warm-up cycles have occurred without a malfunction.
    • The DTC may be cleared by using the scan tool Clear Info function or by disconnecting the PCM battery feed.

Diagnostic Aids

Inspect for the following conditions:

    • A kinked, pinched, or plugged vent hose.
    •  Review the Fail Records vehicle mileage since the diagnostic test last failed. This may help determine how often the condition that caused the DTC to be set occurs and assist in diagnosing the condition.

Test Description

The number(s) below refer to the step number(s) on the Diagnostic Table:

  1. The power train OBD System Check promps you to the basic checks and store the freeze frame and failure records data on the Scan Tool if applicable.

  2. If a EVAP vent valve or EVAP purge valve electrical malfunction is present, the purge system will not operate correctly. Repairing the electrical malfunction that caused the additional DTC to set will very likely correct the condition that set this DTC.

  3. Checks for a fuel tank pressure sensor stuck high condition. The fuel tank pressure must be relieved by removing the canister line from the fuel tank or EVAP canister. The fuel fill cap will not relieve the tank pressure due to a check valve in the filler neck. The check valve seals when pressure is applied to prevent vapor from escaping through the filler neck. The scan tool should read within +/- 1.0 in. H2O of the specified value.

  4. Verifies that the fuel tank pressure sensor accurately reacts to EVAP system pressure changes. The EVAP station is pressurizing a sensor that normally reads vacuum. The Tech II reads high pressure at 0 Volts and high vacuum at 5 Volts. The Tech II can only read a max pressure of 6.0 in. of H2O (0 Volts). However the EVAP Service Station can pressurize the system to much higher pressures. The Scan Tool value should be within +/- 0.5 of the specified value.

  5. Checks for a plugged or stuck closed EVAP Vent Valve/Solenoid. The value should decrease to within +/- 1.0 in. HG of the specified value.

DTC P0446 - EVAP Canister Vent Blocked

Step

Action

Value(s)

Yes

No

1

Was the Powertrain OBD System Check performed?

--

Go to Step 2

Go to Powertrain On Board Diagnostic (OBD) System Check

2

Important: Visually/Physically inspect for the following conditions:

   • Vacuum or Purge lines disconnected. Refer to Emission Hose Routing Diagram .
   • Loose or missing fuel fill cap.

Is DTC DTC P1665 Evaporative Emission (EVAP) Vent Solenoid Control Circuit or DTC P1676 Evaporative Emission (EVAP) Purge Solenoid Control Circuit also set?

--

Go to the other DTC first

Go to Step 3

3

  1. Ignition switch OFF.
  2. Remove the EVAP canister line from the fuel tank or EVAP canister. This will relieve the fuel tank pressure.
  3. Ignition Switch ON, Engine OFF.
  4. Observe Fuel Tank Pressure on the scan tool.

Is Fuel Tank Pressure near the specified value?

0 in. H2O

Go to Step 4

Go to Step  11

4

Important: :  Before continuing with diagnosis, zero the EVAP Pressure and Vacuum (inches of H2O gauges on the J 41413 EVAP Pressure/Purge Diagnostic Station.

Important: Do not exceed the pressure in the specified value.

  1. Ignition Switch OFF.
  2. Reconnect all EVAP hardware that was previously disconnected..
  3. Install theJ 41415-40 fuel fill cap adaptor to the fuel fill neck and fuel fill cap.
  4. Connect the EVAP station to the Fuel Tank Cap Adaptor.
  5. Ignition Switch ON, Engine OFF.
  6. Capture Fail Records data for DTC P0446 and clear DTCs
  7. Using the Scan Tool, EVAP Vent Valve/Solenoid, command the Vent Valve/Solenoid On (closed) to seal the system.
  8. Attempt to pressurize the EVAP system to the specified value by slowly turning the EVAP Service Station rotary switch to the "pressure" position (monitor the pressure with the gauge on the cart with the rotary switch in the "Off/Hold" position).
  9. Observe Fuel Tank Pressure on the scan tool.

Is the Fuel Tank Pressure at the specified value?

5  in. H2O

Go to Step 5

Go to Step 7

5

  1. Maintain EVAP pressure at the first specified (higher) value.
  2. Command the Vent Valve/Solenoid Off (open) to relieve the pressure through the Vent Valve.

Does the EVAP pressure gauge decrease to near the Second specified (lower) value within 2 minutes with the rotary switch in the "Off/Hold" position?

5 in. H2O

0 in. H2O

Go to Diagnostic Aids

Go to Step  6

6

  1. Disconnect the large vent hose (marked AIR ) from the EVAP canister.
  2. Switch the rotary switch on the EVAP Pressure/Purge Diagnostic station to "Purge".
  3. Start the vehicle and allow to reach operating temperature
  4. Using the scan tool, EVAP Purge Valve/Solenoid, increase EVAP purge to 100%. The scan tool will abort the test if the vacuum is above 15 in. H2O.
  5. Monitor the Vacuum (inches H2O) gauge on the EVAP Pressure/Purge for 5 seconds while holding the engine speed at 2,500 RPM.

Does the vacuum remain below than the specified value?

 10 in. H2O

Go to Step 7

Go to Step 9

7

  1. Inspect the vent hose between the EVAP canister and the EVAP vent valve/solenoid for being kinked, pinched, or otherwise blocked.
  2. If a problem is found, repair as necessary.

Was a problem found?

--

Go to Step  12

Go to Step 8

8

Is the action complete?

--

Go to Step 12

--

9

Is the action complete?

--

Go to Step  12

--

10

  1. Check for a kinked or restricted canister purge line between the EVAP canister purge valve and EVAP canister.
  2. Repair the canister purge line as necessary.

Is action complete?

0 in. H2O

Go to Step  12

--

11

  1. Ignition switch OFF.
  2. Remove the EVAP canister line from the fuel tank or EVAP canister. This will relieve the fuel tank pressure.
  3. Ignition Switch ON, Engine OFF.
  4. Observe Fuel Tank Pressure on the scan tool.

Is Fuel Tank Pressure near the specified value?

0 in. H2O

Go to Step 10

Go to DTC P0453 Fuel Tank Pressure Sensor Circuit High Voltage

12

  1. Reconnect all EVAP hardware that was previously disconnected.
  2. Ignition Switch ON, Engine OFF.
  3. Using the scan tool, EVAP Vent Valve/Solenoid, Command the vent Valve ON (closed) to seal the system.
  4. Pressurize the EVAP system to the first specified (higher) value by slowly turning the EVAP Service Station Rotary Switch to the "Pressure" position. (Monitor the pressure with the gauge on the cart with the rotary switch in the "Off/Hold" position).
  5. Command the EVAP Vent Valve/Solenoid OFF (open) to relieve the system pressure through the Vent Valve/Solenoid.

Does EVAP pressure decrease to less than the second specified (lower) value within 2 minutes with the rotary switch in the 'Off/Hold" position?

5 in. H2O

0 in. H2O

Go to Step 3

System OK