emission questions

I've recently purchased parts to have put on the lumina LTZ. These were the parts suggested to me: Vapor Canister Purge Solenoid, Vapor Canister Purge Valve, and Vapor Canister Filter. I got some part numbers from someone on here (and also looked them up for myself). I got the parts, took them to my mechanic today and he replaced the VC purge solenoid, but not the valve or the filter. The filter, he said could not be replaced. He told me that I would have to replace the entire vapor canister. Is this true? If so, why would I be able to purchase filters? Here's a picture of the filter if that helps...http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/georgew84/100_3866.jpg

just for the hell of it, here are the purge valve (not installed)
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/georgew84/100_3864.jpg


the purge solenoid (installed)
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/georgew84/100_3859.jpg


and the same part (not installed)
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/georgew84/100_3862.jpg

The reason I wanted to replace these parts was because I was told they are the reason my car (and others' cars) do a jerk/chuggle/fishbite from time to time. The purge valve appears to connect to the purge solenoid, but the opposite end is just 2 wires. It came with some wire connectors. Just curious where they connect to. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Lastly, if that filter is replaceable, where is it located and what needs to be done? thanks

The first picture is off an old-school, underhood, round vapor canister from back in the 80's and will not work on your car (gotta love box-store parts monkeys). Your vapor canister is a sealed rectangular unit located back by the gas tank. It has to be replaced as a unit (AC-Delco #215-176, GM#17113327) The second picture is just the vehicle wiring repair pigtail (AC-Delco # PT250, GM #12101858) that plugs into the part shown in picture's 3 and 4 (the canister purge solenoid, AC-Delco part #214-567 [GM# 01997210]). The canister purge valve is mounted near the canister itself in back and is a dealer only piece (GM# 24574755).

The parts you are showing usually trip trouble codes p0440-p0449, and relate to evaporative emission system leaks or open/shorted circuits. Unless they are creating a big vacuum leak, they normally won't cause chuggle/fishbite issues. Those are usually caused by transmission PCS and TCC valves.

well shucks! I will be sending some parts back then! I got them from rockauto.com. They have every year, make, and model listed and you just select the category...in my case emissions. I took the part numbers I got on AF and then found the parts for my vehicle on that website..the numbers matched so I assumed they were correct. I'm not sure why that filter was listed under a '99 lumina (3.8L) if it's not even applicable. I guess my mechanic was correct in that the vapor canister was sealed and the filter could not be used:(.