Source of evaporative emissions system leak

[99obw]

I just thought that I would post my experience with this difficult to diagnose code. When I first got the code I spent a fair amount of time checking the evap solenoid, PSS valve, map sensor, and related tubing, finding nothing wrong. I decided that I could wait, as it doesn't really affect drivability, so I waited until my NYS inspection had nearly expired (80-120 hour weeks will cause this) to take a look at it again.

 

A couple of days ago I discovered from looking in the gas filler tube that it had a small rust hole that was probably the location of the leak. Last night from inside the wheel well I took off the small plastic cover that hides the fill tube and evap lines that run in that area. All of the fasteners very easily broke off. I WAS MORTIFIED!!! The damage from salt is absolute unbelievable, bordering on carnage.

 

I highly recommend to anyone driving in the salt belt that they try to wash behind this cover the best they can on a regular basis during winter. It had about five pounds of salty sand stuck behind it when I removed it, and the car has been washed half a dozen times since winter. I take great care to wash the wheel wells when I wash a car, but I doubt my wife is as anal, and this is her daily driver. This is a design flaw in my opinion, it either needs to be completely sealed to keep stuff out, or it needs enough access to allow easy washing without endangering the lines from flying rocks.

 

I will probably need to buy the "shut valve" as well. It bolts to the top of the fill tube and two evap line connect to it. It is totally encrusted in a mound of salty sand, and I'm relatively sure I won't be able to reuse it. Some of the other metal evap lines in the area crumbled when I touched them. This is not going to be an easy repair. I'll post back later....

[Legacy777]

Yup....this is pretty common on the cars up in the NE. My buddy in college had a 95 legacy, and had to replace the filler neck tube because it rusted through.