Purge Valve Replacement
What is a canister purge valve?
The purge valve allows stored fuel vapors in the charcoal containment canister to be sent back into the engine to be burned when necessary.
How does the purge valve work?
The purge valve is located in the vacuum line between the fuel vapor containment canister and the intake manifold. It opens at specific times to let fuel vapors stored in the canister be drawn into the intake manifold and burned as part of the combustion process.
On most vehicles, the canister purge valve is computer-controlled.
What are the symptoms of a bad purge valve?
The most common symptom of a defective purge valve is an illuminated check engine light. Usually, there are no noticeable engine performance symptoms associated with a defective canister purge valve. However, in some cases, black smoke may be seen coming from the exhaust.
Can I drive with a canister purge valve problem?
You should be able to drive a vehicle with a faulty canister purge valve. But a faulty valve can allow raw fuel to enter the intake system cause the engine to run “rich” — this will result in black smoke coming from the exhaust. If you see this, the vehicle should not be driven because the catalytic convertor could get damaged.
How often do purge valves need to be replaced?
There's no set replacement schedule for the purge valve, and it's not a part that fails commonly.