My car is a 1991 GTA with the L98 350 TPI. A few days ago, it started developing a strong gas smell towards the front of the car. The last time it did this was 10k miles ago, and I replaced the charcoal canister because it was saturated and the solenoid was not purging. Now, the charcoal canister is causing me to run rich in the lower rpms, but the solenoid engages when it is supposed to and after a long drive the smell of gas is back in the same area. Would it pay to replace the vapor canister purge valve first and see if the EVAP canister is still operational? How often do these valves fail anyway?

 

let me know if have any luck with purge valve, I bought a new one. but havn't tryed it yet. My charcoal canister is pouring fuel out of it, and can't find the correct one for my car to replace the canister itself. new solenoid comes in Monday/ tuesday.

The purge vave it self suposed to allow flow through it with only the fuel line hooked up to it? IE unplugging the solenoid?

 

Mine may have been diff, but return and vapor line at tank were mixed up, but my canister wasn't only saturated but couse got a nice vacuum going fuel was puring through it.