I got a CEL light on my truck about 3 days ago. I thought it was a bad charcoal canister (even thought I changed the charcoal canister and purge solenoid about 3 years ago). So I took out the canister and shook it but nothing came out. I figured that meant that the canisters good. My question would be, how do I check to see if the purge solenoid is good or not? If my solenoid is good, what else could it be?

 

the purge solenoid should be normally closed. leave the key off and pull the solenoid off the manifold. suck through the solenoid, creating a vacuum in the normal direction (toward the engine), if you can taste fuel vapor, shes stuck open. i just did one of these on an 04 chev and i found that once i took it out and hit it a couple of times, it worked fine.

 

Due to a recall on the truck i just got recently (1996). I got the purge solenoid and canister replaced at the dealership not long ago. I still got the CEL with the 0441 code.

The dealership did tell me that the hose needed to be replaced, and it was on back order. So i'm still waiting on that to come in. I have cleared the CEL and it has not come back in about a week. But that may be charcoal in the hose or leak somewhere on the hose?

-D

 

Charcoal in the hose might be a cause, but 90% of the time, it's the solenoid. You might also throw your stock gas cap back on or change to a new one. I was getting the 0441 code, but I also noticed at the gas station that the cap wasn't relieving pressure like it should be. This was because when gas was so high, I had some stolen, and I bought a locking gas cap to put on it.

 

I have a locking gas cap myself about 4 years old. I bought it for the same reason, gas prices. None the less, wouldn't a bad gas cap throw a different code then 0441?

 

Well, it didn't for me. Even the OBD2 site says that an 0441 code can be cause by a malfunctioning gas cap. I thought you were the guy that said that didn't help your problem? That it went away when you put in a new canister, and quit filling the tank so full?
Oh, just got home tonight, and I just got a 0441 code..... I hate you.... You brought this juju on me.....

I am going to try smacking the purge solenoid in the morning and see if that helps.

 

i got a p0442 this morning. i hate you too.

 

Funny thing is that I stopped topping off my tank BECAUSE OF THAT. I guess I'll have to get in line, 'cause I hate me too...does this mean I'm the new Viper???(Veteran Member will be the only ones to understand that) DAMN ME AND MY BAD MOJO!!!

 

Hey Laramie, Dhvaughan, did you guys ever get those codes squared away?

 

just wanted to update this thread. didn't want to leave anyone hanging. I changed the gas cap but the CEL was still there. Then I changed the purge solenoid, and sure enough, that cleared it right up. the sucky thing is that I just changed that solenoid and the canister about 4 years ago. Oh well, problem solved.