Hi Guys,
New guy with a question here. I brought my truck to the ford dealership for diagnostics because the check engine light was on. They said I needed a new cannister purge valve. They also said $390 plus tax for them to do it. It sounded pretty steep to me, so I stopped by the local pep boys to see what they would say and they said it only takes 45 minutes to put in. I also called ford and they said the part was 96 dollars. That means they must charge about $300 per hour for labor. . Any how I know about motorcycles, but not so much about trucks. I wanted to know where the cannister purge valve is located and exactly how hard it would be to get at. Also can I go to any auto parts store and get a new for for less than 96 dollars?
Any help would be greatly appreciated...... I'm in the military and wouldn't mind saving a few pennies on my salary.

Thanks, Ben

 

Just me again! what manual is better Haynes or Clymer?

 

I'm looking at my Haynes and it doesn't show much. It looks like the valve is inline with the vacuum hoses that go from the canister to the intake manifold. Of course this is a V6 in the picture. Should be simple. Maybe look at the part at the store and see if you can locate it on the truck. If you can find the canister and follow the hoses back maybe you'd run into it.

OK.. I went out and looked under the hood of my 97.. DUH..

The canister is located just to the left and below the battery. If you follow the line, there is an electric valve(which is what I think you are talking about) just to the right of the power steering pump. It has about 4 wires going to it. It looks very simple to change!

 

Thanks a lot. You saved me a bunch in labor. All I have to do is spring for the part which is 96 dollars from ford. I'm trying for an after market part that would be considerably cheaper, but Auto Zone, and discount auto parts can't seem to cross reference it with the Ford part.
Thanks, Ben

 

If I remember right it's a Ford only part.