What The Evap System Pressure Sensor Low Input Warning Means


This article discusses the significance of the warning signal indicating evap system pressure sensor low input for the evaporative vehicle emission control system that is designed to minimize the pollution. Evaporative emissions are caused by gasoline vapors that have found their way out of the car’s fuel system. Since 1971, all vehicles in the U.S. have been designed to have fuel systems that are completely sealed and the fuel evaporative control system traps the gasoline fumes from the fuel tank and carburetor bowl and leads them to activated carbon in containers. The fumes are absorbed into the activated carbon and during a number of engine operations; air is sucked into the carbon container to bring the vapor into the engine where it is burned. The evap system pressure sensor low input status means that the differential pressure sensor has an abnormally low input and is not functioning properly.

The evap system pressure sensor low input indication is an important part of the warning system for vehicle emissions control. When the vapor pressure sensor, such as one of the Keller pressure sensors, produces a voltage that is lower than a certain threshold, the emission control computer considers this to be a malfunction in the pressure sensor or switch. Thus, when this happens, the computer activates the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL).

It should be noted that about 20 percent of the total hydrocarbon emissions of a car come from evaporation. The evaporative emission control system that has the purpose of storing and getting rid of gasoline fumes in a normal way to prevent the release of the hydrocarbon fumes into the atmosphere. The vehicle emission control system makes use of the volume of air intake, engine speed, oxygen sensor data, and coolant temperature to ensure that the evaporative control system is functioning properly.

If your vehicle’s MIL has lighted up and you have received an evap system pressure sensor input low warning, it is time to diagnose the emissions control system. It may be advisable to let an expert performing the checks, especially if a leak is suspected. If the leak is as small as a pin, this would be very difficult to detect. A type of smoke machine is therefore used to pinpoint where the leak is located. The primary components of the evap emission control system include the fuel tank, liquid-vapor separator, gas cap, and evaporative system canister. The vehicle computer checks that there is no fuel leak by using a purge flow sensor and that air can freely flow from the evaporative system to the engine. What you can do if there is an indication that there is a significant leakage of fuel vapor is to remove the gas cap and examine the bottom of the gas cap to see if there are any scratches, damage or debris. You may also need to examine the seal of the inlet for the filler tank. After you have repaired the gas cap and the seal, the malfunction indicator lamp should turn off the next time you run the engine.