TrevorS

iTrader: (1)

Underneath the xB2 on the driver's side and a little ahead of the rear wheels is a black plastic box. Does anyone know exactly what it is and what function it performs?

TIA -- Trevor !

ack154

iTrader: (7)

That would be the remotely detonated explosive for when you miss a payment.

EAmon

^ rofl

TrevorS

iTrader: (1)

Aaaargh !

lvbitwiz

dunno, but it made this really cool SCRAPING sound after I dropped the car and went into a car wash...

It dosent make that sound anymore

09XB24

its an evap canister, it keeps the tank pressurized and crap. its for emissions

TrevorS

iTrader: (1)

Geez! You dropped it that low? What remains of my mind is duly boggled !

TrevorS

iTrader: (1)

Thanks! Can you (or anyone else) tell me what that means?

09XB24

i thought the rear axle was lower than that thing....hmmm what springs are you using?

cobb

Maybe hes referring to the seat height adjuster under the drivers seat?

Jailbird

Your fuel in the gas tank gives off vapor. On some cars you can hear it when you open the cap to put gas in. The canister traps the vapor and returns it into the tank. Some canisters are charcoal filters that scrub the vapor from harmful chemicals. It's ther for emission purposes, making the car "cleaner".

-JB

NyoroBox

An evaporative canister is part of the evaporative system that is within the emission system. Hydrocarbons are a form of pollution that gasoline releases as it evaporates or after is is burned. While fuel is stored inside the tank, fumes build up and are retained inside this canister. The canister contains charcoal that absorbs the hydrocarbons. When the engine is started, a valve opens that allows fresh air to come in and purge the fumes (hydrocarbons) into the air intake and then into the combustion chamber for burning. I understand that more hydrocarbons are released into the atmosphere by leaving your fuel cap off, than what comes out of your tailpipe while the engine runs. If there is a leak anywhere in the evaporative system, such as a bad hose, canister leak or leaving the fuel cap loose, the check engine light will set.

TrevorS

iTrader: (1)

Thanks fellows, so it's my old friend the Charcoal Canister. Given the canister contents is flushed into the intake before the throttle body and plenum, I would expect the worst result it could possibly have on engine operation would be a slight richening of the fuel mixture during the flush. Even if the canister were heated (say by a nearby exhaust pipe), I would expect that to have no worse affect than to somewhat reduce the effective capacity of the charcoal, and so perhaps further richen the fuel mixture or increase the pressure within the fuel tank, but it wouldn't interfere with the ability of the engine to run properly.

Can you see anyway partial heating of the canister could cause either engine stumbling or difficulty starting?

NyoroBox

i would think the other way around?

TrevorS

iTrader: (1)

Yes, that's my thought too. If anything, heat would increase the fuel content in the flush air dumping into the intake and hence enrichen the combustion mixture, not lean it.

To me, a warm engine starting and stumbling problem is suggestive of vapor lock. Heat in that area could affect the fuel lines in that fashion, though I'd normally expect fuel pump pressure to prevent it. A strange problem.

NyoroBox

if it gets worse, take it to the dealer