1993Saturn
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- November 21, 2008
- Messages
- 160
- Reaction score
- 5
- City, State
- Redmond, OR
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 94 4x4
93, 99 Bauer 4x4
Replacing the charcoal in a vapor canister is a project that no one seems to have written about. I thought I would throw my experience out there. So, if you get adventurous and sick of getting junkyard charcoal vacuum canisters that soon throw piles of smelly fumes into the air right when you have the windows down, or at a drive-up, this is it.
I didn't want to have to get a new canister, 'cause it costs $89.00. It cost $10 for the Activated Charcoal pellets from Petco and $5.00 for the epoxy.
Here is the top of the Vapor Charcoal Canister with the caps off. Ain't it all 'purty' after it went and got ready for it's photo shoot!
The bottom of the canister is where the 2 parts were put together. I used my pocket knife and rocked the blade into the seam and just keep rocking it around the rim. These 2 pictures are after I separated the 2 parts.
Watch the ends where old glue squeezed out in the seem. It can throw your blade off course.
It doesn't take long. When I opened mine up, there was a pile of charcoal waiting to fall out. The factory filled it wrong, as seen in this photo. There is supposed to be only a few strays that worked their way through the screen. (WHY! did they use pellets that were about the same size as the screen so they could plug up the holes and restrict the air flow!)
There is a foam plug filter in the riser for the in/out tubes over on the right of this photo. Mine had migrated all the way to the top, because it was deteriorated, so I had to use a pick to fetch it. I took another one from a second canister and used a dab of 'shoe goo' to keep it in place at the bottom of the tube, where it is supposed to reside.
I used a 1/4" wood chisel to bend up the tab on the screen retainer spring, before I could get it off. Re-squish it so it will stay on after re-installation.
Use a pick to work out the screen.
At last! The stuff can now be dumped. Mine came with some prehistoric spiders.
There are 2 filters that sit in the top of the canister. A thin layer of foam sponge glued to the perforated plastic.
If they fall out, as mine did, or are loose, use a little 'shoe goo' or something, to stick them back where they belong.
I grabbed a 23 oz. jar of ACTIVATED CARBON (same as charcoal) from Petco. It must be pellets and NOT chunks and NOT coconut hull charcoal. Pellets give a maximum surface area and better air flow through the media, (pellets).
The new pellets are bigger than the original pellets, but they will still do the job. At least they won't all fall through the metal screen because Ford made them too small.
Fill the canister back up with the new media to within 1' of the top. (Yes, I know it is actually the bottom, but we're dealing with gravity). It will take around 3-1/4 cups by volume, with about 1/4 cup left over in the jar. Tap the canister on the bench a few times to settle the media and level it. Re-install the screen. Push on the spring retainer to firmly hold the screen in place. Whip up a blob of epoxy to place all around the bottom plate and then tape the plate into place.
An hour later, it is ready to put back in the vehicle.
DONE!
I didn't want to have to get a new canister, 'cause it costs $89.00. It cost $10 for the Activated Charcoal pellets from Petco and $5.00 for the epoxy.
Here is the top of the Vapor Charcoal Canister with the caps off. Ain't it all 'purty' after it went and got ready for it's photo shoot!
The bottom of the canister is where the 2 parts were put together. I used my pocket knife and rocked the blade into the seam and just keep rocking it around the rim. These 2 pictures are after I separated the 2 parts.
Watch the ends where old glue squeezed out in the seem. It can throw your blade off course.
It doesn't take long. When I opened mine up, there was a pile of charcoal waiting to fall out. The factory filled it wrong, as seen in this photo. There is supposed to be only a few strays that worked their way through the screen. (WHY! did they use pellets that were about the same size as the screen so they could plug up the holes and restrict the air flow!)
There is a foam plug filter in the riser for the in/out tubes over on the right of this photo. Mine had migrated all the way to the top, because it was deteriorated, so I had to use a pick to fetch it. I took another one from a second canister and used a dab of 'shoe goo' to keep it in place at the bottom of the tube, where it is supposed to reside.
I used a 1/4" wood chisel to bend up the tab on the screen retainer spring, before I could get it off. Re-squish it so it will stay on after re-installation.
Use a pick to work out the screen.
At last! The stuff can now be dumped. Mine came with some prehistoric spiders.
There are 2 filters that sit in the top of the canister. A thin layer of foam sponge glued to the perforated plastic.
If they fall out, as mine did, or are loose, use a little 'shoe goo' or something, to stick them back where they belong.
I grabbed a 23 oz. jar of ACTIVATED CARBON (same as charcoal) from Petco. It must be pellets and NOT chunks and NOT coconut hull charcoal. Pellets give a maximum surface area and better air flow through the media, (pellets).
The new pellets are bigger than the original pellets, but they will still do the job. At least they won't all fall through the metal screen because Ford made them too small.
Fill the canister back up with the new media to within 1' of the top. (Yes, I know it is actually the bottom, but we're dealing with gravity). It will take around 3-1/4 cups by volume, with about 1/4 cup left over in the jar. Tap the canister on the bench a few times to settle the media and level it. Re-install the screen. Push on the spring retainer to firmly hold the screen in place. Whip up a blob of epoxy to place all around the bottom plate and then tape the plate into place.
An hour later, it is ready to put back in the vehicle.
DONE!
