Troubleshooting codes P0497?

Tiny
SOLRACOTOS
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 HONDA CIVIC
  • 1.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 104,000 MILES
Hello

2 days ago, my car's check engine light came up. I went to AutoZone and got my car scanned. The code that came up was P0497

After doing a search I found a post on this website and a solution by @SQM (https://www.2carpros.com/questions/2005-honda-civic-engine-code-p0497#last) with the troubleshooting steps to diagnose the source of the problem. The steps are very detailed, and I appreciate SQM input. The only doubt I have is related to the steps that require you to measure voltage or jump a connector terminal to body ground. For example, if you look at the post linked above and the image containing step 1 (image #3) or step 5 (image #5); Is that action done while the connector is plugged into the ECM/PCM or should I pull the plug out and then do the required action.

The car listed above is an EX SP.
Thursday, June 1st, 2023 AT 10:33 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,787 POSTS
You should remove the connector for the control unit before testing. Here is more information on the problem:

P0497 is a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) that indicates a low purge flow in the evaporative emission (EVAP) system. This code is set when the EVAP purge valve does not allow enough fuel vapors to flow into the engine.

The EVAP system is designed to prevent fuel vapors from escaping into the atmosphere. The system works by collecting fuel vapors from the fuel tank and sending them back to the engine to be burned.

There are a few things that can cause P0497 to be set, including:

A clogged or restricted EVAP hose
A faulty EVAP purge valve
A faulty EVAP canister
A leak in the EVAP system
To diagnose P0497, a mechanic will typically perform the following steps:

Visually inspect the EVAP system for leaks
Check the EVAP hoses for signs of damage or clogging
Test the EVAP purge valve for proper operation
Test the EVAP canister for proper operation
If the mechanic cannot find any obvious problems with the EVAP system, they may need to use a smoke machine to test for leaks. A smoke machine is a device that creates a thick white smoke that can be used to visualize leaks in the EVAP system.

If a leak is found, the mechanic will need to repair the leak before the code can be cleared. If no leak is found, the mechanic may need to replace the EVAP purge valve, EVAP canister, or other components in the EVAP system.

If P0497 is not fixed, it can cause the following problems:

Reduced fuel economy
Engine stalling
Check Engine Light
It is important to have P0497 fixed as soon as possible to prevent these problems from occurring.

Here are some tips for troubleshooting P0497:

Check the EVAP hoses for signs of damage or clogging.
Test the EVAP purge valve for proper operation.
Test the EVAP canister for proper operation.
Use a smoke machine to test for leaks in the EVAP system.
If a leak is found, repair the leak before clearing the code.
If no leak is found, replace the EVAP purge valve, EVAP canister, or other components in the EVAP system.

Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem so we can see what's going on.
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Friday, June 2nd, 2023 AT 7:43 AM
Tiny
SOLRACOTOS
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I followed all the troubleshooting steps listed on the linked on my original post. All electrical components were fully functional (purge valve, solenoids, etc, ). I even took out the EVAP purge valve to double check it and its ohm readings were within specs and when necessary, held vacuum. I inspected most of the visible hoses for obvious cracks or tears but couldn't find any. I did also inspect the fuel cap and found no issues with it.

At the end, I reassembled the purge valve back into the vehicle and shortly after the check engine light went off and has stayed off. I took the car back to be scanned and the car has no active fault codes? I'm confounded by this as I really didn't do anything to "repair " the car but the code still went out. I'll keep monitoring the issue and post back if I have any updates.

Thanks for your very detailed post.
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Monday, June 12th, 2023 AT 10:42 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,787 POSTS
No problem, no may have had a bad connection and reassembling the components fixed the issue. Use 2CarPros anytime, we are here to help. Please tell a friend.
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Tuesday, June 13th, 2023 AT 6:09 PM

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