What are the symptoms of a faulty activated charcoal canister solenoid valve in a car?
2 Answers
The symptoms of a faulty activated charcoal canister solenoid valve in a car include: 1. Abnormal noises during vehicle operation; 2. Strong fuel odor inside the car; 3. Unstable engine idle; 4. Difficulty in starting the engine. The activated charcoal canister solenoid valve is a device installed in cars or motorcycles to reduce air pollution caused by fuel evaporation emissions and simultaneously improve fuel efficiency. The working principle of the activated charcoal canister solenoid valve is: when the engine is turned off, the vehicle's activated charcoal canister begins to absorb fuel vapors evaporating from the fuel tank and locks them in the micropores of the activated charcoal inside the canister, preventing the fuel vapors from being released into the atmosphere. When the engine is started, the fuel vapors adsorbed in the canister are delivered to the engine as fuel.
The activated carbon canister solenoid valve in my car failed, with quite noticeable symptoms. First, the engine warning light suddenly came on, which was annoying. At idle, the car shook violently, feeling like the whole body was rocking when stopped at traffic lights. Acceleration was sluggish, and even climbing a small hill was a struggle. There was always a gasoline smell inside the car, especially noticeable just after starting or during traffic jams, making it a bit worrisome. Fuel consumption also increased significantly—previously, a full tank could cover 600 kilometers, but now it struggles to reach 550. After checking at the repair shop, they said the solenoid valve was stuck and leaking, causing improper handling of fuel vapors and leading to rough engine operation. If left unrepaired, it could damage the carbon canister or increase emissions over time, possibly failing the annual inspection. So, I recommend getting it checked and replaced promptly to prevent small issues from turning into big problems.
