CarScan

Canister and purge valves

The charcoal canister and its valves: the system that catches petrol vapour from the tank and sends it into the engine instead of the atmosphere. The purge valve and the vent valve live here — two parts that stick more often than they fail.

9 codes in this section, 9 with a guide

What it usually turns out to be

  • A stuck purge valve gives hunting idle and a smell of petrol in the cabin.
  • An «incorrect purge flow» code is about the flow, not about the valve electrics.
  • The check almost always starts at the fuel cap: ten seconds and no money.