Need help identifying a part

[TripleTransAm]

Looking under the MM's rear, right under the trunk 'belly'.

What the heck is that black contraption that is attached to the center of the trunk 'belly'? There appears to be some wiring heading to it, but I haven't had the chance to get up close and personal with it. I'm thinking it's something to do with the EVAP system.

Can anyone confirm?

[vegasmarauder]

Yup, it's the Evaporative Emission Canister. Short version, its full of activated charcoal. When the engine is off the fuel tank vapor goes into here. Then when the engine has warmed up it purges the vapor into the running engine. Usually have no problems with it unless one of the hoses comes loose. It has be said that overfilling the tank after the auto shut off can put too much fuel into the canister and ruin it, but never seen any info to confirm that....

[TripleTransAm]

Thanks, Vegas... I'd heard the same thing about "overfilling" but I've yet to see it happen to any of my cars... until now?

The reason I ask is: there is a very visible fuel damage stain on my driveway, and there is some equivalent staining on the surface of that item I mentioned. The only thing that is different (besides the car having been parked with a full tank for a longer period of time) is that the battery is dead, and I've tried 2x to fire it up unsuccessfully (I just need to give the battery a quick charge and it should be fine). After each unsuccessful attempt, I noticed a fresh stain within a day or two.

[Marauderjack]

She's just marking her spot!!!! :D :D

Marauderjack :rasta:

[merc406]

My buddy tore his right off on his Sable backing over a curb with 2 people in the back seat. It's in a half-a--ed location. :shake:

[TAF]

You talkin about the "black box" that you can see in the VT Marauder pic below?
http://www.mercurygallery.net/mmnet/watermark.php?file=501/1Marauderex-med.jpg

[TripleTransAm]

Todd, yes that's the piece. I think I took some photos the other day, I'll post 'em shortly (worked all night, let me get my head together first).

merc406, that's an interesting thought, about backing over something. After giving it some thought, I think I would have noticed some scrape marks but I will look again. I doubt this is what happened, mostly because I'm primarily worried about scraping those nice shiny tips first and foremost, so I don't think I'd get it to the point of scraping that far in. But it was a great line of thinking, and I'll have a closer look later today.

Marauderjack... she can damn well go mark some other spots, dammit. She already marked a spot on my bankbook, enough's enough!!! ;)

[TripleTransAm]

Here's some closeups from the other day.

No immediate signs of scraping from the rear, although I could have hit something from the front.

Or, as was mentioned, a line worked its way loose. Wouldn't surprise me, considering the substandard assembly line practices I've seen on this (and others') car(s). (hence why I love all those UAW/CAW debates on quality... pff)

*sigh* another visit to the dealer... welcome, 2004!

[vegasmarauder]

That is way too much liquid coming out of that. Its only supposed to have vapor going into it. You would have to way overfill it to get that much fluid to come out. There is definately a problem. Its an emission part which are supposed to have a 100K mile warranty, even though its not spelled out in the written warranty. I think its an EPA thing. Usually what happens with repeated overfilling is that liquid fuel collects in the charcoal, and when the engine tries to vent the canister it throws a trouble code on becuase too much fule is going into the engine. A lot of the older cars used to reccomend changing the canister when it got saturated. Anyway, it will definately be a warranty item. Good luck..

[capt512]

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I think I may have a related problem, and maybe some of you guys can help out. On my sons 1999 Crown Victoria Police Interceptor he has been havin a "belching" problem with his car, that no body can tell what is wrong. The car seems to make a loud "belching"/"thumping" noise after the car has been running for about 10-15 minutes, then the belching continues every 30 secs to a minute. The belching sound sounds like it is originating from somewhere near the gas tank filler tube, as it gets louder when you open the fuel door. I replaced the fuel cap thinking maybe it wasn't sealing right, and this did nothing to help with the problem.

Also, once the belching begins, you have to wait about 5 minutes after you shut the car off to be able to fill it up, if you don't wait, as soon as you start to fill it with gas the pump handle cuts off, and will keep doing so.

Some people have said it could be the EVAP cannister, took it to Ford and they said it is supposed to do that ( Yeah right, thats why my other Crown Victorias and Marauder didn't "belch"!).

So they part that has to do with this thread is, when my son looked under the car at the "Black box" he noticed that, 1 tube is going to the passenger side of the car, just like in the pictures. BUT, another tube is going out of the drivers side of the box, towards the drivers side of the car. Then after that tube goes out of the box about 2 inches, it is "sliced"/"cut" off and just hanging there.

Does anyone know if these problems are connected? What is the deal with the cut tube? What could cause the belching if not the box?

Thanks
Mike :banana2:

[vegasmarauder]

I think the hose is broken. It was a common problem with all of our older CVPI's (200 and back). The hose retainer would come loose and the hose would start hanging down (usually left side only). Then it would snag on something and get pulled off. The car would throw the check engine light and go in the shop. I think it was slightly changed in later models because I don't see the hoses hanging down on cars driving down the street. One hose comes from the tank and the other goes up front to the valve to vent into the engine. There is no longer any venting to the air like the older cars, that's why no more vented fuel caps. I'll look in my 99 Service manual ( I have a 99 CVPI daily driver) and let you know.

[frdwrnch]

One Of The Two Hoses Runs Into The Frame Rail In The Back And That's Where It Vents To Atmosphere.