The Check Engine light is illuminated on my 1990 XJ6. I checked the fault code per the Haynes manual and it says that there is a problem in the Fuel Purge Valve circuit. This is not covered in the manual. Can anyone tell me what the fuel purge valve is and where it is located?

 

Normally, drivers side, behind headlight, above charcoal canister.

Try downloading the XJ40 Book from the FAQ at the top, or here.

It should give you a good read.

 

It is a valve that purges the charcoal canister. On modern engines, fuel vapour in the fuel tank is not allowed to vent to atmosphere, but is collected in the charcoal filter and then periodically purged into the inlet manifold via the Fuel Purge Valve. My Rover 75 (previous car) had one of these and when it started up it sounded a bit like tappet rattle and always got people in a panic that their engine was knackered

 

Thank you for the comments. I found a troubleshooting procedure online for determining the fault in the fuel purge valve and will check it out. Can someone tell me, is this located behind the liner in the fender? Also, the procedures say there is a vacuum line connected to the intake manifold. Can anyone tell me about where it connects?

 

Okay. So I found a troubleshooting procedure online, but it doesn't say how to access the fuel purge valve. I'm pretty sure it is under the left front fender, but it appears to be enclosed by fender liners. To get to it, I think I need to remove those fender liners. Am I correct in my assumption?

 

Yes, you are correct. Get the car up on a stand and remove the LF wheel (index the wheel/stud so you put it back on the same way it came off.) Remove the plastic liner from the fender. There are 3 bolts with 10mm heads bolting the canister up to the underside of the well. Remove these and allow the canister to drop and you will be staring right at the purge valve. The other end of the purge valve vacuum hose goes to the under-side of the air plenum of the intake manifold. (just behind the throttle body). Good hunting!

 

Thanks, fbbt. I'll work on it this weekend.

Robert

 

Well, bummer! I found the charcoal cannister and in the fender and the first thing I saw was a broken vacuum hose. Thinking that I had found the problem, I replaced the hose and hooked everything back up. But the fault code won't cancel, so I guess the problem still exists. Back to troubleshooting.

 

I had the same fault code - disconnected the battery- reconnected and never saw that fault again........

 

I gave it a try, but although the CHECK ENGINE light went off initially, it came back on after about 10 minutes of driving.

 

The fault code 89 is history. The rubber connector between the purge valve and charcoal cannister was deteriorated. Once it was replaced, the fault code went away.
Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

What a beautiful thing, spent an hour searching for the purge valve...10 minutes on here and 1 problem solved! can't wait for daylight to tackle!

 

Thank you Robert. I had a 89 code for months and could never get around to it. And I followed this thread. Tonight I got at it. Same exact thing as yours. The rubber connector was deteriorated, cracked and broken. I had to get real creative to replace that piece. I did, fault code gone.

 

Glad to hear your problem is fixed.

 

I spoke to soon. Fuel Fail 39 back up. I think the contraption I used to replace the damaged rubber hose connector is either leaking or came off. I have a picture because I need that hose, I will start a new thread.

 

Robert, are you certain that was an 89 and not a 39 fault code i.e Fuel Fail 39? Because mine is a 39 with the same issue as you had. I am just curious

 

It was 89.