Charcoal canister question

1hot87gt · Aug 25, 2024

Took the car out again today for a nice drive with my daughter. Noticed just as I did after the last drive I took, was a significant fuel smell. After popping the hood and doing a little investigating, it seems the smell is very strong on the front passenger side, strongest right at the charcoal canister. I'm assuming as it's the original unit, it's just given up and no longer controlling any fuel vapors.

Seems like a pretty straight install, just see two lines coming out of the top that look like they would just pull off. To anyone who has done this job, is there anything I should know or is it really as straightforward as it looks?

General karthief · Aug 25, 2024

Simple swap. Prolly needs new rubber vac lines too though, not sure how to check the purge valve though

Mcmahst · Aug 25, 2024

Wait, not so fast. The canister may be fine, you might have:
1. A failed vapor canister evacuation valve
2. A disconnected or damaged set of vacuum hoses, connected to 1. and the canister
3. Unlikely, but a bad ECU that is not signaling the value to open, etc, etc.

You can at least check 1 and 2 before you buy a new canister. To check the valve, disconnect the hose from the valve to the canister, unplug the connector for the harness, and give it 12v to see if it opens. You should be able to feel a mechanical click if you touch it. Checking vacuum lines are self explaining. Good luck.

1hot87gt · Aug 26, 2024

Gonna actually order the canister and the valve and inspect the hoses while I'm under the car. All are original now so 37 years old and I'm sure could use replacement.

Thanks guys

Mustang5L5 · Aug 27, 2024

The canisters do somewhat have a lifespan, but the way the system works is designed ot purge the vapors from the charcoal and extend that lifespan.

Good diagram of a similar canister. Your line from the tank plumbs right into the charcoal, which absorbs the fuel vapors and saturates. When it oversaturates, you will smell fuel vapors.

When the purge valve opens, it draws in fresh air from the dust caps, through the charcoal and pulls out all the vapors. SO if this purge isn't happening for some reason (solenoid dead, line broken, etc) then the charcoal will oversaturate and begin to smell.

Mcmahst · Aug 27, 2024

Yea, at least verify the valve is good. A new canister and vacuum lines will do no good if the valve is dead.

1hot87gt · Aug 27, 2024

That makes perfect sense. Thank you.

PonyGTrider · Aug 31, 2024

Mine on my 90 GT was overly fuel saturated and the purge solenoid was clogged.
I cleared the solenoid blockage and as I’m too cheap I opened the canister removed all the carbon pellets and placed them in an old toaster at ~300 degrees until all the fuel got evaporated, filled the canister with the re-activated pellets and sealed the canister with epoxy…. No more stinky fuel vapors! I can say it was a success and was so easy. Best of luck

General karthief · Aug 31, 2024

You're probably lucky using a toaster to dry out those pellets, I cooked a pan full over a burn barrel once. Made a neat colorful flame over top of those pellets.
Could have been some personal consumption of different chemicals involved but I don't remember that part

limp · Sep 1, 2024

I wanna know what agency certified them a " Re activated"??? LOL

PonyGTrider · Sep 1, 2024

As far as I know they don’t have a cert seal or stamp. Are you using one? If so how do you know if it stil effective? Did any agency re-certified it for you??? Just atop wondering….

limp · Sep 1, 2024

PonyGTrider said:
As far as I know they don’t have a cert seal or stamp. Are you using one? If so how do you know if it stil effective? Did any agency re-certified it for you??? Just atop wondering….

I guess nobody gets " old " people jokes anymore.....

PonyGTrider · Sep 1, 2024

limp said:
I guess nobody gets " old " people jokes anymore.....

I do, I was joking too

Mcmahst · Sep 1, 2024

The charcoal they sell in tropical fish stores works very well in rebuilding these vapor recovery units. No joke!

PonyGTrider · Sep 1, 2024

Yeah I learned that but I opted for re-activate mine and they came out really good no fuel smell whatsoever. I had to replace the foam on top of the canister under the two venting ports

General karthief · Sep 1, 2024

That charcoal is reusable although heating them degrades them, our scrubbers (as the containers were called in my old job long time ago) just had ambient air blowing through them, just kinda dissipated the fumes to atmosphere.

General karthief · Sep 1, 2024

That charcoal is reusable although heating them degrades them, our scrubbers (as the containers were called in my old job long time ago) just had ambient air blowing through them, just kinda dissipated the fumes to atmosphere.

1hot87gt · Oct 23, 2024

Hey guys. Quick question. Getting ready to pull the canister today. There appears to be what looks like one small bolt at the top, left side of you are looking straight down at it from the front of the car, which appears to be all that holds it in?

General karthief · Oct 23, 2024

I don't see any other bolts, just the top on mine.

1hot87gt · Oct 23, 2024

General karthief said:
I don't see any other bolts, just the top on mine.

Ok General. Before I start at it I like to know what I'm up against. And it's original, so it may need a bit of persuasion to get it out. I don't want to be thinking in the back of my head that there might be something else holding it in if I'm yanking on it.

Thank you

Charcoal canister question

1hot87gt

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

Mcmahst

1hot87gt

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mcmahst

1hot87gt

PonyGTrider

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

PonyGTrider

limp

wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

PonyGTrider

Mcmahst

PonyGTrider

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

1hot87gt

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

1hot87gt

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wrap a little cheese around it and its a done

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wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

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