I havent been able to find this info, so I'm hoping someone on here can help me. I have been noticing more and more problems with my recently bought 91 firebird, and this is just the latest. I have been looking hi and low on this car for the vacuum canister/vacuum ball. No luck finding it. I'm wondering if I'm even supposed to have one? I don't have cruise control, so I wouldn't need it for that. But what concerns me is I have what looks like a broken vacuum hose just hanging out under the front driver side fender. it goes to a T connection in front of the washer reservoir. I can't figure it out. but there is definitely no vacuum ball under the driver fender. also, if anyone has an idea what else this broken line could go to, I would appreciate the help. I'm starting to get real mad with the last guy that had this car.

 

That's certainly where it goes, but I'm not sure if you need it either. I thought it might be an emissions thing. Nevertheless, here.

 

alright, thanks a lot. I'll probably be picking it up unless someone else tells me I don't need it. So your best guess is that this broken hose probably attached to it? I just dont know. It's what I figured since its in the same area as where the canister should be.

 

The ball is actually under the panel from the top, and above the panel from the bottom - so you can't actually see the darn thing. IIRC, it's easy to remove the underpanel (from under the car) to get to it/see it.

 

That'd be my guess, but I'm not an authority. Best to check the manuals or someone with more experience.

 

Its basically a reserve tank for vacuum. Engines dont keep the same level of vacuum at all times (like under hard acceleration). The ball supplies vacuum to anything that uses it when the engine cant supply it. For example, your AC controls work off vacuum. Without that ball attached, when you hit the go pedal, the controls have no vacuum and could switch from whatever setting its on to the default (which is defrost I think).

 

real easy fix, found it on a truck at the junkyard. didn't realize that they were such common pieces. apparently some gm trucks and vans had the stupid thing mounted directly on the hood, so when you open it, its right there. $5 dollars and 5 minutes for that one haha.

 

I just found mine today right where you suspected under the right front fender.
Mine had no hose hooked up at all (and the AC deleted) so I just removed it and tossed it aside.

Car ran fine without it hooked up so I cant imagine I need it for anything else.

 

Does the HVAC system work as designed?

JamesC

 

I have a '91 'bird too. Mine was directly under the battery tray.
I pulled it & haven't had any issues....

 

Was it attached to the metal tray above or the plastic baffle below (were the two legs up or down)?

Edit: The answer is that the tank is bolted legs up to the metal tray that the charcoal canister sits on.

JamesC

 

Hey guys I just swapped my cammed LQ4 into my 89 'bird which has no A/C or heat (removed all HVAC system including A/C ducting and heater box on passenger side) and also has no cruise. Is this vacuum canister necessary for my car?

 

Check OrangeBirds reply in jcs94's other thread ("Wondering..."
in this section.

It should go without saying, that if you remove a vacuum component,
plug the hose to avoid vacuum leaks.