P0442 - Evap

I took my sister's '97 Eclipse GS to AutoZone and pulled the code with the OBD II scanner thing since the Check Engine light has been on for quite some time now. The scanner gave me the number P0442 and said "EVAP - Emissions Control System Leak (small)." Does anyone know that means? I asked the guy behind the counter and he said that I have a vacuum hole somewhere in one of my tubes and just had to replace it. Is that right? If so, how do I locate the hole? Where do I even start since there are 20 billion tubes and stuff running all over the place!?! Thanks.

First, post this in the eclipse forum, as they would have more specific info then we will, but as far as a vaccuum leak, you can turn the car on, pop the hood, listen for air coming out. If that doesn't work, you can put soapy water on all the connections and such and look for bubbles...when the car is idling.

If that doesn't work, you will need to pressure test it...there are plenty of pressure testers on www.stealth316.com, or you can check with the dsm guys and see if they have a specific pressure tester method that works best for them. (AS I don't know how similar their intake size is compared to ours.

Yeah, I posted in the Eclipse forum already and tried their suggestions already, but still can't find it. I figured since it's a leak, it would be the same everywhere so I thought I'd post here. And uh.....who are the DSM guys? ;o/

since its a leak, it would most likely be spacific to the car, and not generic at all.

Whats the best way to find a compressed air leak? Would some soapy water work?

WD-40 works.

so how many times has this light show up? have you always had it turn off or did it turn of by itself.. have you try to replace the fuel cap yet, i recommend going to the dealer for it, i didn't like the aftermarket one..well I had that same problem and turned out to be a small valve right on top of the fuel tank which vents the fuel vapor, and if everytime you fill up and don't stop when it shuts off..pumm..bye, bye valve, next time it comes on wait a little while, then unscrew your fuel cap and then screw it back in it...this helped me turn off the "check engine light" make sure its not raining though, cuz somehow this doesn't help if its raining or too humid..BUT IF IN DOUBT GO THE MECHANIC SHOP....they can help a lot

exterra3000gtsl, this is the third time that the light has come up. The first time we replaced the spark plugs and it went away. Second time we replaced the coils/cables connected to the spark plugs and it went away. This time, because it's a leak, I don't know where to start because I can't seem to find the leak.

Yeah, i know, there's a little way to test your vacuum lines for air leaks, you can use one of those bleeding kits that sell in autoparts stores, i go to O'reilly, i don't know if you have one close by, they can't check you engine light but they can give you some good advise. the kit its a little hand held pump that you sucks the air out with... its just that there's sooo...many hoses in this car i dont know where to start. but because its reading it as a leak its really hard to find...it could be that your fuel tank ventilation system might be malfunctioning, therefore its "leaking" the vapors instead of sending them back to the purge valve or selenoid...but its a really &*&^$%# headache, but of course it can be anywhere...sorry i can't really help you, i wish i could do more...

do you fill your car with it runing?

do you fill your car with it runing?

I'm assuming you're referring to filling gas....no.

Slade, DSM is Diamond Star Motors, the divison that made the Talon, Laser and Eclipse. the DSM guys are those who own those cars. sometimes we get confused for DSM because we share the Mitsu logo but we are cousins of the DSM cars.

I just spent another day trying to figure out what's wrong with her car and still no luck. I'm about to throw in the towel and take it to a shop....how does mechanics know where to look? :(