What the @#$% is THAT?

BC_Girl · 05-10-2008, 05:36 AM

Can someone tell me what the black box under the back right corner of our cars is? My car is an 04 WRX. It has hoses and a plug with a wire harness attatched. I am afraid that it has something to do with fuel because it's in that area. Why am I afraid? I broke it. I ran over my kid's bike last night.

As soon as it happened I got a CEL, and it has stayed on ever since. It drives fine, but I haven't got on it yet because I'm unsure what kind of damage I did. The box and hoses are intact, however, the wires and the "plug" are broken. Any ideas?

dumdum · 05-10-2008, 08:35 AM

It's the EVAP canister and it is emmisions related.It does have to do with fuel vapor.

BC_Girl · 05-10-2008, 08:40 AM

So, is it OK to drive it like that until I can get it fixed?

Also, can I replace just the wires and harness or do I need a whole new canister?

dak287 · 05-10-2008, 08:51 AM

the canister looks fine? that with the wire in it is the pressure control selinoid valve it relives gas pressur from you tank and sends it back to your intake to be burnt of. if the parts are fine and you just broke the connector maybe you could solider the wires back together and seal em with a water proof connector?

BC_Girl · 05-10-2008, 09:03 AM

Canister is fine, my husband looked at it last night, he said that one of the hoses had come loose, he hooked it back up and there are no tears in it anywhere. Just the wires are broken, and he said that the "plug" was pulled out. It runs fine, no leaks and nothing smells funny, just a CEL.

dak287 · 05-10-2008, 09:07 AM

your good then hook the wires back up they dont control the valve they just tell the em if the part is working

BC_Girl · 05-10-2008, 09:24 AM

That's why I'm throwing a CEL. Thank you for your help. If we fix the wires, will the CEL shut off or will I need to have it reset?

dak287 · 05-10-2008, 09:53 AM

fix the wires and the cell should go away if not unplug the negatve batt. terminal wait about 20 sec and plug it back in. make sure you use water tight connectors.

dak287 · 05-10-2008, 09:54 AM

good practice you should unplug the negative term. before you mess with the wires

BC_Girl · 05-10-2008, 11:11 AM

Thanks for your help, I'll see if I can fix her up, and from now on I'll get out and look behind my car before I back up. At least my ride didn't get as messed up as his did

SuBeast · 05-10-2008, 11:43 PM

nice.... That's why we wait until we grow out of our cool-car phase before we have kids.... Or at least i will.... SIKE! I'll never grow out of this "phase" baby!!!

BC_Girl · 05-11-2008, 03:24 PM

I didn't grow into my "phase" until AFTER I had kids. It's something I'm happy to pass onto my kids.
OK, update. It couldn't be fixed, the whole wiring harness was broken away from the box, and the best part is it's only available from the dealership and I don't have any idea how much that's gonna cost.

I'll look into it and let you all know.