The "service engine soon" light came on two days ago on my 97 SE (mileage: 59,200). The codes stored were 0807 (EVAP canister purge control valve circuit fault) and 0903 (EVAP canister vent control valve circuit fault).

From what I've read in the Hayes manual it suggests checking the condition of the canister and hoses. Everything looks fine to me. I am not experiencing any problems with the vehicle including the ones listed in the repair manual: poor idle, stalling and poor driveability. Any ideas about how I should check/fix this problem would be appreciated.

 

Under the left rear wheel, where the charcoal canister is. It's not a major problem, just a bug that makes your dash glow yellow. Apparently, the valaves tend to get alot of bugs, weeds stuck in them. That's what happened to mine. I got mine fixed under federal warranty, 3 years or 50 k miles.

DW

 

Unfortunately I'm covered under any warranty. What was done to "fix it"?

 

Mine had seized on me @ 32k. I had it replaced under warranty.

 

I'm currently going through the same issues that you said you had with the canister vent control valve.... one question for you how long did you drive your car before getting it fixed after the "service engine soon" light came on? my light came on yesterday and i pulled the codes from the ECU tonight.

thanks,
-randy

 

It's part of the EVAP system. I was told that it monitors emissions and that it will not affect the performance of the car. The dealership reset it once to make sure it wasn't a glitch. It went on a couple days later. So then I made an appointment to have it replaced. So I probably drove around for about 7-10 days. I don't think it will harm the car, but that yellow light is annoying to look at!

 

nickstam;
i hear you there, the yellow light isn't too bad during the day, but at night.....another story..... sticks out like a sore thumb, anyways, i guess since i reset the light tonight after running the ECU test, i'll just let it go for a few days and see what happens. I get the impression that this code isn't crucial to not being able to drive the car, so i'll let it decide it's own fate.
regardless, thanks for the reply.

-randy

 

I had problems with that do-hickey about 2 months or so again, and had it fixed for free under warranty. Turns out some wires were corroded, and that's it. No big deal at all.


And if you don't know how, I suggest you learn how to read your codes and reset your error light. All you need is a screwdriver, and you'll save yourself a trip to the dealership.

 

I performed the 60K service, including spark plug replacement, on 3/12 but didn't get the MIL until 4/2. I realized that I had removed the EVAP purge control valve to allow easier access one of the rear plugs. There is a picture at http://vbxmaxima.8m.com/sparkplug.html. If the purge valve was damaged when I moved it would it take this long to receive an error? Do you think both errors are related...one causing the other and if I fix one problem will the other go away?

 

The Emission Control System has many components and some have similar names.

EVAP is short for EVAPorative emission.

There is an EVAP Canister Purge Volume Control Solenoid Valve. This part is located in the engine compartment, on the top of the engine.

There is an EVAP Canister Vent Control Valve. This part is located on the EVAP canister, under the car, near the left rear tire.

Confusingly similar names hinder clear communication. It helps every forum contributor to use the exact name of each part and also to provide the Diagnostic Trouble Code if known.

 

Thanks for the exact names Daniel, I was going by the error code description listed in the Haynes manual. Today I reset the MIL. After driving for appox. 15 mins/10 miles the MIL light came on again. This time it only had 0903 - EVAP Canister Vent Control Valve stored. What does this part look like and are there any other tests, besides the MIL, that should be used to check this part.

 

YES, thanks for the exact names Daniel and for the great info yesterday. Since resetting the ECU in my MAX last night, i've driven roughly 90 miles without triggering the light... so, i have my fingers crossed that it doesn't "reappear".... we'll see though... as VQMAX stated, I'd also be curious to know what the part looks like. so far what i've read from previous posts when i did a search was the the canister is charcol in color and somewhere above the left rear tire... right? ... and that you can take it out and run it test on the selenoid (sp?) with a 12v battery if the purge valve is failing... hmmmmm... possiblities... i guess i'm hoping that my light won't come back on...

 

The EVAP Canister Vent Control Valve is located on the EVAP canister (underneath the vehicle near the left rear tire) and is used to seal the canister vent. It has one hose connection and one two-wire electrical connector. The solenoid in the EVAP CVCV responds to signals from the ECM. When the ECM sends an ON signal, the coil in the solenoid valve is energized. A plunger then moves to seal the canister vent. The ability to seal the vent is a necessary part of the diagnosis algorithms for other evaporative loss system components. This solenoid valve is used only for diagnosis, and usually remains open. When the vent is closed, under normal purge conditions, the evaporative loss system is depressurized allowing "EVAP Control System (Small Leak)" diagnosis. Since this part is used only for brief emissions tests the vehicle will usually start and run well despite a Service Engine Soon warning light on the dashboard.

The EVAP CVCV may be bench tested. Remove it from the vehicle (one hose, one connector, two bolts). Verify that air may pass freely through the valve. Then use a pair of fused test leads to apply 12 volts to the terminals to energize the solenoid. Verify that air does not pass freely through the valve. If the CVCV fails these tests, try cleaning it with WD-40 and compressed air. If this fails to free it up, replace the valve using a new O-ring.

 

Thanks Daniel. According to http://carpoint.msn.com/Vip/UsedSing...axima/1995.asp "An occasional problem of this vehicle is failure of the Evap Canister Vent Control Solenoid Valve. The cost to repair the Evap Canister Vent Control Solenoid Valve is estimated at $59.94 for parts and $26.00 for labor." This report is for the 1995 Maxima. Looks like I have this "occasional problem" on my 97.

 

excellent, excellent, excellent... i'm printing this for future reference... hopefully I won't need it, but "hey you never know"
on another note, i'm half tempted to go look under my car during my lunchbreak and check it out!

-Randy

 

The EVAP CVCV passed this test. Air passed freely though the valve until 12 volts were applied to leads. I have put the EVAP CVCV back on the vehicle and once again reset the MIL. What else could error code 0903 (EVAP Canister vent control valve circuit fault) indicate? Next I would like to check the connector on the vehicle to make sure it is suppling the 12 volts to the EVAP CVCV...do you know when the 12 volts are supplied?

 

Do you fill up the gas tank with the engine running? If you have done it, the evap canistor itself might have moisture in it. This would cause the same error code 0903.

 

I have always filled the gas tank while the engine is running. I didn't know it was bad for the EVAP canister. How do you know that doing this may damage the EVAP? If there is moisture in the canister how do I fix it and are there any tests to verify that it's that canister that is faulty?

Thanks,
Brian

 

No. As I understand it, the Engine Control Module makes at most one fuel leak test per trip. There is a set of criteria which must be met in order for the ECM to decide it is "in the mood" to make the test. I don't know all the criteria but they include the engine being at normal operating temperature.

Here's an idea for your consideration. Rig a temporary wire from the EVAP CVCV using the lightest possible wire. Something line 22-gauge single-conductor telephone wire would do. Make a twisted pair, just for convenience. This can be done in one minute with an electric drill. Run this test lead pair from the EVAP CVCV into the passenger cabin and put a low-wattage 12 volt bulb at the end. This arrangement provides you with a temporary instrumentation. Light on = 12 volts present.

 

Thanks for the suggestion Daniel, I'll have to try that...IF I need to. After putting the vent control valve back and resetting the MIL I drove the car for around 40 mins. So far, so good...no light. Maybe it was just a bad connection and taking it out and putting it back in fixed it. The part itself was functioning properly according to the test you suggested I perform. Great advice, thanks a lot.

 

is the evap canister itself metal or plastic?

 

alright, need to know if the evap canister itself is made of metal or plastic?

 

For crying out LOUD, a 9 year old thread?? :matt93se:

 

Is plastic