A while ago I stumbled upon a circular filter-like object in the engine bay near the right side fender. I'm pretty sure it's this "ELCD" as shown in the image below. Could someone please explain the purpose of this and whether it requires any maintenance as it's never been touched in it's life I don't think?? Thanks guys.
The tank is sealed - there is a breather that goes to this tank and a solnoid valve - functioned by the engine managment system vents it into the inlet when it,s under vacuum
To my knowledge it is for venting your fuel tank. It is charcoal activated, meaning it will vent the gas tank as it expands (and allows fresh air in the tank as it contracts). The charcoal filters the fumes as the tank pressure increases usually when it heats up. If the cannister has a problem (usually clogging), the fumes will not vent from the tank. This can cause the tank to expand sometimes a LOT. If you drive the car for a while and open the gas cap and there is a LOT of hissing air, you may have a clogged filter. All cars will have some hiss if the gascap and cannister are working properly. By excessive, I mean you will often hear a pop from the tank as it realeases its expanded gas. This is because the tank is plastic. If the filter is NOT allowing air into the tank, as the tank gets negative pressure from the gas being used up, eventually there will be so much negative pressure that the car will actually have fuel starvation issues. If you are not having either of these issues, the unit does not need to be serviced.I hope this helped
Those symptoms describe an ELCD electronically controlled valve that isn't working, or a plugged vent; that would cause pressure build-up.
The Tank vents through the Charcoal Cannister. The Charcoal absorbs the volatile hydrocarbons. The Charcoal gets purged of hydrocabons by sucking intake air through it when the engine is producing Vacuum.
In older systems, a vacuum-controlled valve determined when to purge. This sometimes led to over-rich mixtures when the Engine was cold. In newer models, the Fuel System ECU decides, based on temperature, mixture, and idle stability, when to purge.
In most cases, a Check Engine light will signal an electronic fault. Most Body Shops don't know what to do with any of that stuff and often scramble or plug vent or vacuum lines.
On mine, there is a short hose on the bottom, maybe 5/8" diameter x 6" that leads to nowhere. I also have the dreaded stink of gas in my car but no fault codes. Can I route the line from the gas tank into the intake near where the recirculation valve is? I don't care if some vapors escape while I'm filling the tank, but I don't want my passengers dizzy from gas fumes.
If you do that, you'll probably collapse the Gas Tank and/or starve the Fuel Pump so it won't run.
The most common causes of Fuel Smell are a faulty Gas Cap or a cracked Filler Neck. If it smells very strong in the Trunk, inspect all the Fuel Tank fittings for leaks.
If you do that, you'll probably collapse the Gas Tank and/or starve the Fuel Pump so it won't run.
The most common causes of Fuel Smell are a faulty Gas Cap or a cracked Filler Neck. If it smells very strong in the Trunk, inspect all the Fuel Tank fittings for leaks.
Why would the gas tank collapse? There no pressure or vacuum where the recirculation valve is. This is the spot between the turbo inlet and air filter. My gas cap is good and the filler looks good as well. There is a stink of gas through the vents, it's coming from under the hood. Fuel fittings are tight and do not leak.
In that case, I don't know which part you're referrinig to as the "recirculation valve".
All I can do is explain how the system is supposed to work, and relate my experience of the most common problems. I certainly cannot identify the source of odors in your car through the internet.
In my experience, altering the ELCD is not the best or cheapest way to eliminate Fuel smell.
Do you know what the large tube sticking out of the bottom is for?
By recirculation valve, I mean the valve that relieves the charge pipe of pressure when you let off the gas, the one that goes PSHHHHH. I figure I could just vent the gas tank to the same place the charge pipe dumps to, before the turbo, after the filter. I wouldn't be modding the canister, I just wouldn't be using it.
Thanks heaps guys, this is heap of information and just the feedback I was looking for. I'm sure others will find this helpful in the future. It appears I don't need to do anything to it as my fuel system seems fine. Although I do get a check engine light before I start, but the strange thing is this only happens with my modded ECU's (Swedish Dynamics APC and FUEL EPROMS), if I revert back to the originals the Check Engine code's stop.
Anyway, thanks again.
I suppose, under some unusual set of circumstances that I've never seen, it would be possible.
I've serviced literally thousands of 9000s and dealt with gas smell at least a hundred times; I've never seen a properly connected ELCD system fail to control fuel vapor.
The most common causes of Fuel Smell are a faulty Gas Cap or a cracked Filler Neck.
If you do that, you'll probably collapse the Gas Tank and/or starve the Fuel Pump so it won't run.
Sorry Jim just had to laugh. My friend out of high school had a 71 Roadrunner with a 440 wedge and dual quad tunnel ram and we used to swear you could hear the gas tank crinkling while it idled.:lol: Big electrically fed MECHANICAL fuel pump. Dang car could break 'em loose and smoke 'em in 4th gear at 60. Fun but 4 mpg. Ah those WERE the days.
I didn't think an electric vane fuel pump could pull that off but I could be wrong!
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