CEL p0455 and valve cover gasket change.

[Dawlpop]

Hello Everyone! I'm new here, as you can tell and REALLY need help. I've searched the site many times and still haven't found the answer to my exact problems.

I have a 97 Eclipse RS Automatic

I have TWO problems/questions:

1st: I have a CEL code P0455 (EVAP); I have checked the hoses, changed the gas cap (got one from Autozone), and there's no gas smell. Are there common places where there are EVAP leaks? Or other things that could make this code pop up? I really need to fix this problem since i need to smog my car.

2nd: I'm having a misfire when accelerating from low speeds (hesitates, shakes, etc) with no codes. This started happening after we changed the valve cover gasket (which is fine & sealed right) so we also changed the spark plugs and wires, but it is still happening. ALSO, when i disconnect the battery and reset the CEL (since it's on due to 1st problem) the misfiring stops for a little bit but soon comes back.

HELP?!

Anything is appreciated! I'm really desperate!

 

[ChiTownHussla]

U can use a cigar to find ecap leaks. Look up on YouTube.

 

[erkitner]

Sorry to hear about your problems.

EVAP is part of your emissions system, in case you didn't know. It's called Evap because it's short for evaporation system. Not many people know, but gasoline DOES evaporate. And since the EPA and other tree-hugging hippie don't want us to vent these fumes into the atmosphere, they put the Evap system in to reduce or eliminate these raw fumes. Basically, they are air lines that run these fumes to the intake of your engine to be burned off with the air being sucked in for your engine.

The most common source of the Evap code is the gas cap. A lot of self-absorbed d-bags (more than likely talking on a cell phone, ) don't want to follow the instructions on their gas cap and tighten it down until the instructed amount of clicks after filling their enviro-happy cars. Then wonder why their "Holy Shit" light is on.

Here's what you need for your Evap code.

Tighten down your gas cap all the way and clear the check engine code with an OBDII scanner. Most auto parts stores have them behind the counter for quick use in the parking lot. Clear the code and drive normaly after that. If the code comes back, start researching a smoke test of your evap system. Google is a great resource for this. Or there may be a thread on this somewhere here. Utilize your searches.

There is an Evap canister on the passernger lower side of your firewall. When these get old, they may leak and throw a code. Either the canister itself or the lines coming off of it from age. Some people remove these entirely as it's not pertinent to the functioning of the engine.

As an NC vehicle safety/emissions inspector, I don't recommend this. An inspector looking for this will fail your inspection under the "tamper" portion of the inspection.

That's all I have on that.

As regards to your random misfiring... I may have mis-read your post, but it seemed to me that you stated that your misfires began to happen AFTER changing you gasket and plugs.

Obviously, double check to mak sure your gaskets are FIRMLY seated into the grooved of the valve cover. Secondly, make sure you're using NGK spark plugs. BPR7s or 6s. A lot of people will argue this and say you don't HAVE to run NGKs.

Save yourself the time of convincing yourself that the crummy Bosch plugs you're running are "good enough" and get yourself some NGKs.

Oh, and just to give it the extra "kick", put in an octance booster/fuel system cleaner in the gas tank when you hit a quarter tank and top it all of with a fresh tank of premium. That's the medicine your car needs to cure it's cough.

Cheers.

- E