The charcoal canister is a vital component of your vehicle’s emissions system, helping to recirculate the air from your exhaust valve to be reused and recycled. Without the charcoal canister, the vapors would go to waste. To keep your car running well, you need to keep on top of any noticeable bad charcoal canister symptoms, the total charcoal canister price, and the process of replacing the charcoal canister. 

 

The average charcoal canister price for a replacement ranges between $190 and $560 on average for this part’s total replacement. 

What is a charcoal canister?

 

As you know by now, the emissions system within your car produces excess emissions that can be harmful to your car and the environment. These excess emissions can pollute the air we breathe, meaning that the fewer emissions your car produces, the less harmful your car is. If you are looking to keep the environment healthy at the forefront of your concerns, many car owners will switch to trying to use hybrid or electric vehicles instead of their all-fuel counterparts.

 

The main function of the charcoal canister within your vehicle is to absorb the excess fuel vapor that would otherwise be wasted. This fuel vapor would leave the car, cause pollution, and harm the environment. The charcoal canister recirculates the vapors through the purge valve. Keep in mind, if the charcoal canister is damaged, it can lead to a higher charcoal canister price when looking at repairs and replacements. 

 

• Charcoal Canister Mechanism

 

 

Regarding gasoline engines in all-fuel cars, there is one special part that can help the health of the environment and the people around your car. A charcoal canister, also known as an evaporative emission control canister, works to help absorb the fuel vapor before projected to the outside environment, helping to reduce harmful toxins.

 

• Charcoal Canister Function

 

 

This means that after the engine produces these toxic vapors, the charcoal canister redirects these emissions back to the fuel tank. However, suppose your charcoal canister has become damaged due to extreme use or wear and tear over time. In that case, it can lead to unfavorable charcoal canister symptoms and a higher charcoal canister price. 

Bad charcoal canister symptoms

 

A dirty, broken, cracked, or debris-filled charcoal canister can cause problems for you, your car, and the environment as a whole. You need to address these issues as fast as you can before they harm other components in your car and lead to a more expensive replacement or repair. 

 

• High Emissions

 

Since your charcoal canister has to get rid of the unwanted toxic build-up that occurs from being pushed into the environment, a bad charcoal canister will not be able to co clean the air and the filter as much as it needs to. This can result in a higher rate of emissions being released and potential failed emission test. 

 

The emissions test checks the smog and the pollutants that are coming out of your car’s tailpipe. To measure these contaminants in your car, an emissions test also looks at your diagnostics system and the OBD system, indicating internal issues with the engine, transmission, or electrical system. 

 

The emissions test will also measure carbon monoxide levels, organic gases, and nitrogen oxide, all of which will be much higher than normal if the charcoal canister has become damaged over time. If the charcoal canister becomes damaged, this can lead to a replacement and a higher charcoal canister price. 

 

When performing the emissions test, the steps are mainly the same between all states and dealerships. Two main tests will be performed during the emissions inspection, which is the OBD test and the I/M 240 test. Both of these can alert you to any bad canister symptoms and affect the overall charcoal canister price. 

 

• Fuel Smell

 

A damaged charcoal canister will produce a noticeable fuel odor near the engine’s engine exhaust or inside the cabin, alerting the driver and passengers that something is not quite right. Ensure that as soon as you smell this odor, you do something to fix it or bring it to a mechanic, since smelling gas fumes for an extended period of time can make you feel unwell. 

 

When you smell this in your car, the first thing you need to do is check to see where the smell is coming from. This fuel smell can alert drivers to a damaged charcoal canister and higher charcoal canister price, but it can also be a sign of other more serious issues. 

 

When you find out that your car smells like gas, it is important to check the car’s gas cap first. Sometimes, the check engine light or the car with a fuel smell can be a serious problem. This problem could be the car’s mass airflow sensor not working correctly, or something inexpensive and less severe, like the fuel cap being loose after filling up your tank and a damaged charcoal canister. 

 

You can figure out if the gas cap and the gas tank are the main issues of the car smelling like gas by opening the tank. If you find that the gas cap is loose, then the gas cap is your culprit. Additionally, you need to make sure there are no cracks or damaged parts that can turn on the check engine light or lead to a higher charcoal canister price. 

 

This high canister price can be directly related to the charcoal canister being damaged over time. The canister is the main mechanism connected to the fuel tank to catch excess vapor, toxic fumes, and charcoal. The charcoal canister minimizes the emission and harmful toxins, leaving the system, helping to filter out the products. If the canister has worn down over time or is faulty due to improper installation, this can cause the gas fumes to come through the damaged vents or seals. 

 

• Loud Sounds

 

Since your charcoal canister is in charge of getting rid of toxic carbon emissions, if the carbon canister is damaged, it could affect the air and fuel mixture within the combustion chamber in the engine. This will result in loud sounds that come from underneath the hood, like ringing, clunking, or pinging. A damaged charcoal cylinder producing audible sounds underneath the hood of your car will surely have a higher charcoal canister price than a healthy one. 

 

If you realize that the charcoal canister is not the problem, but you still hear the pinging sounds, you should bring your car to a mechanic to see if the charcoal canister is the issue. If you notice the sounds with two other main symptoms of a broken canister, then the charcoal canister is the culprit. 

 

• Weak Performance

 

The main symptom that is very noticeable to the driver and passengers that can pertain to a higher charcoal canister price is a poor engine performance and acceleration. If the carbon emissions are not being reused and recycled in the engine, this can cause problems with your air and fuel mixture ratio. If the air and fuel mixture ratio is not at the right level and is either too lean or too rich, it can cause issues with the power output, acceleration output, and the overall performance of your car. 

 

• Check Engine Light

 

Although having your check engine light can come on for various reasons, some severe and some minor, the check engine light, coupled with one of the other symptoms we already mentioned, can be due to a faulty charcoal canister. A damaged charcoal canister can need a repair or replacement and a higher charcoal canister price. 

 

• Trouble Starting Engine

 

A damaged charcoal canister can produce a vacuum leak, making the engine have to work so much harder to produce the same amount of power and acceleration. The vacuum leak lets in excess air from the outside, causing the proper ratio of the air and fuel mixture within the engine to be off. If this is the case, the mixture might be too lean or too rich, making the combustion not possible within the engine chamber.

 

In addition to the engine’s performance issues from the leak, this leak can also cause rough engine idling. The rough engine idling, coupled with the trouble starting the engine, can lead to a higher charcoal canister price. 

 

• Poor Fuel Economy

 

The last symptom of the charcoal canister being damaged or broken down over time is reducing fuel efficiency and miles per gallon. If you notice you are going to the gas station more often or you are not getting as far with the same amount of fuel, you might also have to pay a higher charcoal canister price. 

 

If the fuel vapors do not recirculate to the engine’s combustion chamber, the engine will be forced to get more fuel from the fuel tank and disrupt the air and fuel ratio. This means that you will end up spending more time and money at the gas station, along with paying a higher charcoal canister price. 

Replacing a Charcoal Canister

 

• How To Replace a Charcoal Canister 

 

All of the vacuum connectors and lines will be removed by a technician, along with any electrical components that are in the way of the charcoal canister. A technician will clean the damaged part’s surface and then replace the broken and damaged component with a new section of the charcoal canister. After the new part has been installed, the mechanic will run diagnostics with a diagnostic tool to make sure the repair was successful. 

 

Suppose the mechanic notices that the problem has not been fixed, and leaks are still occurring, or other parts are becoming damaged over time. In that case, the diagnostics test will alert the mechanic to the issue and the higher charcoal canister replacement price. 

 

• Charcoal Canister Price

 

The average price of replacing a charcoal canister runs between $190 and $560 on average, with the labor cost ranging between $40 and $130. The parts’ total cost will usually be between $150 and $430, but the overall price will be determined by the extent of the damage, the make and model of the car, and taxes and other fees.

 

• Charcoal Canister Options

 

If you know that you need to replace your charcoal canister and search for the best charcoal canister prices, some options can help you save money by buying the parts on your own. 

Dorman 911-762 Vapor Canister

The Dorman charcoal canister provides an easy installation with simple plug-and-play and also features quality construction that uses high-quality materials. The value is a long-lasting product at a low price and can be formulated to fit your exact car make and model.

AC Delco 22963841 GM

The AC Delco is the GM-recommended replacement part of your GM car’s factory component, ensuring there are snug and secure fit for your vehicle. This part offers reliability and durability, making sure to be a long-lasting and reliable product for your car, keeping the overall charcoal canister price low and keeping the longevity at an all-time high. 

AC Delco 215-464 GM

The AC Delco 215-464 version is the GM-recommended replacement part for many GM Cars, providing a durable and consistent option that efficiently recirculates the emission back into the combustion chamber. 

Conclusion

 

As you can see, the charcoal canister is a key part of your car’s internal emissions system. By keeping this charcoal canister working at a high level and preventing any damage that can build up over time, you can keep the air in your cabin and in the environment as healthy as possible. 

 

By knowing the total charcoal canister price that you will have to pay for any replacements or repairs, you can figure out what needs to be done in your vehicle during regular maintenance and how to prevent any unwanted charcoal canister symptoms, like high emissions, a fuel smell, weak performance, the check engine light coming on, poor fuel economy, and loud sounds coming from under the hood.