SES light and evamp code

[jrozanc]

I own a 2000 alero. It has about 89k miles on it. It's been through at the problems..Intake Gasket, blower motor switch and the hazard warning switch also. Yesterday the SES light came on. After a trip to Autozone the guy who ran the code says it was a "evamp code" (correct terminology?) basically the fuel system had a little leak in there. Could either mean the gas cap was loose or there might be a fuel leak somewhere. So far no SES light has come on.

Has anyone else ran into this problem?

[Ridenour]

Same problem on my Grand Am. Over and over it happens. It's most likely just a sensor freaking out. I thought the threading on my gas cap might've been bad, so I replaced the cap, and still got the code time and time again, so I'm pretty damn sure it's just a sensor freaking out. Probably same in your case. I keep getting it cleared, but it usually comes back on in a few days.

By a new gas cap for like 6 bucks at autozone, and if that donesn't fix it, don't worry about it. You're deffinately not "leaking fuel" because the computer thinks you're losing it through evaporation, and if your gas cap is good, then it's most likely just the sensor.

[JTrujillo86]

Dude, I don't mean to be rude, but in every post, you give advice to everyone that it must just be "sensors freaking out". Obviously if there is a light on there is a problem with the car.

To jrozanc: Your evap canister may be bad. When you fill up with gas, if you keep pumping after the pump stops itself, the evap canister can become flooded with fuel. After time, the charcol in the evap cansiter can be depleted, making your evap canister useless. I would also check any vacuum hoses.

Jeremy

[Ridenour]

Originally Posted by JTrujillo86

Dude, I don't mean to be rude, but in every post, you give advice to everyone that it must just be "sensors freaking out". Obviously if there is a light on there is a problem with the car.

To jrozanc: Your evap canister may be bad. When you fill up with gas, if you keep pumping after the pump stops itself, the evap canister can become flooded with fuel. After time, the charcol in the evap cansiter can be depleted, making your evap canister useless. I would also check any vacuum hoses.

Jeremy

No offense taken jeremy. You're right, that what I say is usually along those lines, but in my case I thought it was, just cause it goes off like every few weeks, I get it reset, and then a few weeks later it comes back on. I never noticed any difference in gas mileage or performance, so I assumed it was just a glitch, and not actually a real problem though. That's what other people had said. But you might be right about that evap canister though - I didn't know you were able to flood that. I'll have to check into it. Thanks man.

[derik_richard]

I am new to this place so any help will be nice. I have a 99 alero 3.4. Here are a list of my problems. Car will not start after refueling, ses light is on and the error code is P1441 (evap under non pressurized condition in chevey cars only). don't exactly know what this means. I just completely tour down my engine and rebuilt it because of blown head gaskets (2nd time). It sometimes idels roughtly when at a light stoped. Run great at speed. Crapy fuel milage. Can anybody give me a place to start other than replacing a gas cap that I already replaced twice. I also can't keep coolant in the system. It seems to be leaking from the resovoir or somewhere on the passangers side. I love this car I just can't get her right and that is really bothering me.

[JTrujillo86]

Look around the posts because I know other people have had the issue with the car not starting after refueling and the rough idle issue, but I just can't remember what was causing either of those.

Jeremy

[Ridenour]

Originally Posted by derik_richard

I am new to this place so any help will be nice. I have a 99 alero 3.4. Here are a list of my problems. Car will not start after refueling, ses light is on and the error code is P1441 (evap under non pressurized condition in chevey cars only). don't exactly know what this means. I just completely tour down my engine and rebuilt it because of blown head gaskets (2nd time). It sometimes idels roughtly when at a light stoped. Run great at speed. Crapy fuel milage. Can anybody give me a place to start other than replacing a gas cap that I already replaced twice. I also can't keep coolant in the system. It seems to be leaking from the resovoir or somewhere on the passangers side. I love this car I just can't get her right and that is really bothering me.

I don't know about your code, but here's some other stuff to check for your other issues.

blocked cat converter
bad coil packs
bad wires
maybe even air filter

for your coolant, it sounds like the infamous 3.4 LIM (lower intake manifold) issue. That'd be my guess - or since it's on your passenger side, it could be the water pump. But my 1st guess would be LIM.

[derik_richard]

thanks I will check these things out. My water leak doesn't seem to be comming from the lower manifold, engine seems to be dry. I still can not keep water in the resovoir.