Canister Purge Solenoid (again)

[locknar]

First off : 91 Legacy A/T, non-turbo, AWD

 

I know this has been hashed out several times, but I just want to be sure I have all my info correct. I just replaced my ECU (thanks go out to lmdew) and now instead of getting all the trouble codes I only get 35. After unplugging and cleaning the wiring contacts it seems the canister purge solenoid is bad. The car runs much better after replacing the ECU but still idles very rough. I've read about this and think I have the right part # 14774AA351. The cheapest I've found it is about $80. My question is can I get it cheaper, is it worth buying used, and where can I find a complete list of part numbers?

 

 

Thanks

[Setright]

Sorry cant help on price and where to buy. But I can confirm that a bad purge solenoide will give a rough idle.

[DerFahrer]

There's a bit more info on this at the LegacyCentral site for 1st-gen Legacies...

 

The canister purge valve is part of the EVAP emissions control system which works as follows:

 

There are noxious and very flammable gas fumes in your tank, needless to say. The EVAP system rids the tank of these fumes, slightly reducing emissions from the entire car, and making the best use of all the gas in the tank. There is a box close to the tank that gathers these fumes from a tube at the top of the tank, then sends them over to the charcoal canister in your engine bay (it's the black cylinder with a a few vacuum hoses on it sitting on the passenger side, just next to the radiator). This charcoal canister stores the fumes, and then they are sucked out of the canister by engine vacuum whenever the canister purge valve is open.

 

This valve is extremely notorious for sticking closed, I've actually never talked to anyone with a BC/BF Legacy who has not dealt with it before. When it's stuck closed, the engine is not getting those fumes it's normally accustomed to getting, so it's running about .0000000000001% leaner than it's normally supposed to . That would explain your rough idle.

 

The part is a dealer-only part, and yes expect to pay about $80 for it. It's not exactly easy to replace either, as it sits right underneath the passenger side intake runners. Be happy yours is nonturbo, a Turbo Legacy would require either the removal of the turbo or intake manifold in order to reach this part.

 

If it gives you any peace of mind, it's in no way an emergency. I drove my Legacy around with my Check Engine light on for this exact same thing for over a year with absolutely no problems, and my friend with a 91 turbo has the same thing, and is not even going to bother touching it :-\

 

Good luck!