2016 KIA FORTE- Check Engine Light- EVAP suggested solution

ClevelandGal

My car had a check engine light come on yesterday while driving home from a 3hr trip. Stopped in at an O'Reilly's to have them plug it into one of their machines and it spit out P0449 with a suggested solution of "Replace Evaporative Emissions (EVAP_ Canister Vent Valve with suggested parts being a Vapor Canister Shut-Off Valve and a Fuel Tank Breather Filter.

I would have had no idea there was an issue except for the check engine light. I don't drive it that much but haven't really noticed a large change in fuel consumption which in reading up on this seems to be an indicator of this problem.

It would seem that replacing the Vapor Canister Shut-Off Valve is a YT video away. O'Reilly quoted me $32.99 for the part. Dealer said they had to sell me the whole assembly for $352.91- which is robbery. O'Reilly said that the Fuel Tank Breather Filter was a dealer only part, thankfully the dealer said that part was just $20.95. I can't seem to find any information on replacing this part though. The parts guy said that sometimes the gas cap if the seal goes bad can trigger these codes to come on. So, I just cleaned the whole cap and everything I could with rubbing alcohol just in case that might help.

Would like to hear from anyone who has replaced either of these parts and their experience doing so. I have someone helping me who is not a mechanic but does work on his own trucks and machines and willing to give this a try for me.

Would like to know more about replacing the Fuel Tank Breather Filter. The O'Reilly guy said an older Kia he owned had the filter attached to the fuel pump, so he thinks this is a change in the "newer" models.

TIA for any help / suggestions.

thecardoc3

There is a reason why the dealer sells the whole assembly, all of the parts have aged, and they don't always survive any repair attempts. They have a need to be able to give a single phone call and estimate, and then stick to that estimate without having to call someone back and tell them it's going to be more than they planned for. Trying to do "just the one piece" has often bit them for trying to do the work that way so it isn't robbery it is experience.

Trouble codes don't tell you what part is bad; they tell you what test failed. The test of course can fail because a part has gone bad but that's why the system has to be tested. In this case the test is the engine control module monitoring the pressure in the fuel tank during normal cannister purge operation. If the vent valve has stuck closed, or if there is a restriction in the vent system then too much vacuum will build in the tank, just like it does when the evaporative emissions large leak test is running.

The cannister vent valve directly attaches to the filter assembly as can be seen in the picture below. The picture also shows where this is located because you can see the fuel tank, and the fuel filler hose on the bottom left as pointed out in the picture.

The fuel cap guesses are typical and while it can happen that there is a problem with one, the system should always be tested without anyone guessing. With the vent restricted, either by a bad filter or the vent valve stuck closed, this must be a pleasure to fill the gas tank.