Canister Purge Control Valve: Description and Operation

Evaporative Emission System (EVAP) Valve







The evaporative emission system (EVAP) valve is used to open and close the connection between the EVAP canister and the intake manifold. The valve controls the flow of hydro-carbons (fuel vapor) from the EVAP canister to the engine intake manifold using the vacuum in the intake manifold. This ensures that hydro-carbons stored in the EVAP canister are used in the engine combustion process.

The valve is an electro-magnetic valve which is powered from the system relay. When the valve needs to be opened, it is grounded internally in the engine control module (ECM). The evaporative emission system (EVAP) valve is closed when in the standby position (open-circuit). When the control module requests that the EVAP canister should be drained (the hydrocarbons stored in the canister should be released into the engine), the control module deploys the evaporative emission system (EVAP) valve by grounding it. A pulse width modulation (PWM) signal is used to ground the valve and to control the degree to which the valve will open. In this way, the drainage of the EVAP canister is matched to the volumetric efficiency of the EVAP canister, the engine speed (RPM) and the engine load.

The engine control module (ECM) can diagnose the evaporative emission system (EVAP) valve. The valve can be activated using Vehicle Information and Diagnostics Application (VIDA). The evaporative emission system (EVAP) valve is close to the intake manifold.