Canister Control Valve? What does it do?

[PeteA216]

Hey everyone... does anybody know what the canister control valve is on the emmission system in my '84 Caprice? What does it do? What would happen If I were to remove it and block off the hoses so I wouldn't have any vaccume leaks? This is just a "curiosity" question, but any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone!

[silicon212]

Without it, you will have a gasoline vapor issue - you will smell gasoline basically all the time with it.

I've had one fail before and it resulted in the carb bowl being filled with charcoal from the canister - resulting in the need for a new E4ME carb - and a new valve. While it was failed, as a quick fix I pulled the carb apart and cleaned as much as I could out of it and blocked off the valve. I had the vapor issue I detailed above.

If you're having vacuum leaks, it's best to replace the hoses and leave everything as it is.

[PeteA216]

Thanks for the quick reply... I spoke with my neighbor (he's a mechanic at doan) and apparantly the charcoal canister has been in cars for years; before emissions even really came into play (aside from the EGR & PCV valve). It looks like I'm just going to have to deal with all these hoses clustering across my engine. I was kinda trying to eliminate the "rubberband engine" look.

[cyclonicblade]

You can extent or decrease the lenth of the hoses to an extent and dress them with a wire loom wrap to hide them or reroute them to clean up the clutter in the engine bay

[PeteA216]

Thats what I'm trying ta do... get rid of the clutter. I like the look of pre-emission engines where it was simple looking, hardly any hoses or wires going everywhere.

[cyclonicblade]

yea , you can do that. get a vacum line map or draw one your self take and pick a route from the engine. to the firewall or each fender well and reroute each line along the chosen path but branch out like a bean sprout. when all lines are where you want them cover them with a wire loom wrap avail at most auto part stores (Junk yards have miles of the stuff) at each branch you can use a small gauge wrap. joined with elec. tape. cleans up the bay and gives it a custom look. just keep it away from the EX. manafolds and when doing hoses like the canaster use the right hose. it's not a vacum line. its a fuel vapor line. it would prematurely dryrot a normal vacum line.

[PeteA216]

Thanks for the tips! I'll get working on rerouting everything. Now what about the large cluster of wires coming from the ECM unit and spreading out throughout the engine (Inside a massive piece of loom). Do I cut the wires, extend them, and reconnect them? Thanks

[cyclonicblade]

Originally Posted by PeteA216

Thanks for the tips! I'll get working on rerouting everything. Now what about the large cluster of wires coming from the ECM unit and spreading out throughout the engine (Inside a massive piece of loom). Do I cut the wires, extend them, and reconnect them? Thanks

i would try to get them all tucked in the loom and covered to see how it looks . the problem u will have with some of the sensors is that 1. any splices will need to be soldered. 2. the computer is expecting a set base value from each sensor change the leinth of wire too much u change the resistance so work in baby steps. 3. draw a map in case your memory fails. and when doing any work on the elec. system disconnet batt.