Check engine CODE P0497 Evaporative Emissions Purge Valve

[wrumbarger]

I was driving home last night and got the dreaded "Check Engine" light.
Scangauge said code was "P0497"
Internet search shows "Evaporative Emissions Purge Valve" is the cause.

Went to Tyson's smart service first thing this morning.
Back on the road in less than an hour, covered under warranty.

[nonuro]

I had the same thing happen.

[SmartAnita]

I just got the engine light again.... now at 7000 miles. It went on early when I just got the car. Anyone have a repeat issue????

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by wrumbarger

I was driving home last night and got the dreaded "Check Engine" light. ...

What was your build-date?

[SmartAnita]

I don't know the build date. I have one of the first ones in the states. It arrived in January 2008 and I adopted it 2/3/08. Talked to the dealer who told me the 2008's (I don't know if all of them) are recalled. Getting new programming, battery, owner's manual, gear shift lube on Monday besides the service for the light. That sure surprised me. ok - maybe not so much a surprise.

[Old smart]

The importance of the build-date is that M-B/smart recognized that the auxiliary air valve (fitted to N.A. smarts only) was faulty, and sometime around JUN/JUL 08 quietly replaced it with a more reliable iteration (same part number and appearance). My smart was a JUN 08 build, delivered in late JUL 08, and at delivery I bought one of the new valves to hold up my sleeve just in case ($37). My original valve has caused no problem.

[SmartAnita]

I will find out what the problem is Monday morning. They already replaced one of the valves last summer. So this could be a recurring issue or something completely different. What I don't see in the discussions is anything on a RECALL. When I called on Friday, my dealer's service manager told me they learned on Wednesday that the 08's are getting recalled, hence I am receiving a new battery, reprogramming for the trans, etc. Just so happens the engine light lit up on Friday. Maybe the '08 owners should call their service departments to check...

[RyanWPowers]

Hi all. Just wanted to share my experience regarding this..

My symptom has been the following:

Highway driving, 70+ MPH for extended period. (1+ hour or more). Stop at a rest stop (or my destination) and the next time I turn on the car, I'd have a check engine light. The light would stay on for about 3 or 4 days, and then go away. Didn't notice a big difference in drivabillity.. Took it to the dealer three times over the year of owning my Smart. First time they blamed the gas cap (of course..), second time they couldn't find anything wrong (different dealership), third time (back to the first dealership) they came up with code P0497. This is what they did:

541011 SHORT TEST PERFORM
001425 ACTIVATED CHARCOAL FILTER REPLACE

RAN DIAG FOUND CURRENT AND STORED CODES FOR LOW EVAP EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM P0497. PERF SMOKE TEST ACTUATED CHARCOAL CAN SHUTOFF VALVUE WOULD NOT CLOSE ALL THE WAY. REPLACED CHARCOAL CANISTER - ALL NORMAL.

We'll see if this actually solves the problem. But I figured I would share in the meantime..

Ryan

[RyanWPowers]

Turns out this repair didn't solve anything. A week later the check engine light came back on - my Smart has been in service for 4 business days now and they can't find the problem.

Lucky, lucky me..

-Ryan