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Leak Diagnostics (Certain Markets Only)

GLL1029640Courtesy of VOLVO CARS CORPORATION

All gases that evaporate from fuel in the fuel tank must be led to and stored in the evaporative emission system (EVAP) canister so that they can be directed into the engine for combustion. In order to detect leakages which cause evaporation of gases into the air, the fuel tank system is diagnosed for leakage. The fuel tank system consists of:

The fuel tank system has a leak diagnostic unit to diagnose any leakage. The leak diagnostic unit pressurizes the fuel tank system when the ignition is off, if the conditions for diagnosis have been met. The control module can detect faults in the function of the leak diagnostic unit and leakage that is 0.5 mm or greater. Minor leak; leakage greater than 0.5 mm but less than 1.0 mm. Major leak; leakage greater than 1.0 mm.

The leak diagnostic unit consists of a pump and a valve that controls the air flow in the unit. The fuel tank system tests for leaks by measuring the power consumption of the pump. The power consumption of the pump corresponds to a certain pressure in the fuel tank system. During diagnosis, the rate at which the pressure can build up is checked, taking into account the quantity of fuel in the tank. The quicker the pressurization the better the fuel tank system is sealed.

Conditions for diagnosis 

The diagnosis begins when all the following conditions are met:

Diagnostic phases 

The diagnostic is divided into the following phases and is carried out in sequence when all conditions for the diagnostic have been met.

GLL142169Courtesy of VOLVO CARS CORPORATION

Reference phase (1-2) 

The illustration is a diagram of a fault free fuel tank system.

Before the leak diagnostic begins, the control module runs reference phase for leakage. Reference phase (1-2) for leakage that is 0.5 mm is carried out by the pump in the leak diagnostic unit pumping ambient air through a 0.5 mm hole and back out to the ambient air. At the same time, the power consumption (A) of the pump is measured and stored in the control module. The stored value (A) for the power consumption of the pump corresponds to a leakage of 0.5 mm. This value is then compared by the engine control module (ECM) to determine the leak status of the fuel tank system.

Function test (1-3) 

If the value for the power consumption of the pump is too high or low during reference phase (1-2), or if the value for pump power consumption varies too much during reference phase (1-2), the diagnostic is cancelled and starts again the next time the conditions for the diagnostic are met. A diagnostic trouble code (DTC) is stored if the diagnostic is cancelled because the power consumption of the pump is varying excessively.

After reference phase the valve (2) in the leak diagnostic unit is activated and controls the air flow to the fuel tank to pressurize the fuel tank system. This change of air flow will cause the power consumption of the pump to fall briefly before the pressure builds up in the fuel tank system (3). A diagnostic trouble code is stored if the value for the power consumption of the pump drops too quickly, slowly or not at all.

GLL142172Courtesy of VOLVO CARS CORPORATION

Leak diagnostic, major leak (leakage greater than 1.0 mm) 

The diagnostic for "major leaks" is carried out each time when the conditions for the diagnostic are met. The leak diagnostic unit pressurizes the fuel tank system, measures the power consumption of the pump (4) and compares this with a calculated desired value (B). A diagnostic trouble code (DTC) for a major leak is stored if the measured value does not reach the calculated desired value within a certain time (the time is determined by the fuel level in the tank).

Leak diagnostic, minor leak (leakage greater than 0.5 mm but less than 1.0 mm) 

The diagnostic for minor leaks is run every other time that the conditions for the diagnostic are met. The diagnostic for major leaks is always run before the diagnostic for minor leaks. The leak diagnostic unit continues to pressurize the fuel tank system (5-6). After a certain amount of time (the time varies depending on the fuel level in the tank), the engine control module (ECM) checks the fuel tank system for leaks. This is determined from calculations based on:

A diagnostic trouble code (DTC) is stored if a minor leak is detected.



GLL1029640Courtesy of VOLVO CARS CORPORATION

All gases that evaporate from fuel in the fuel tank must be led to and stored in the evaporative emission system (EVAP) canister so that they can be directed into the engine for combustion. In order to detect leakages which cause evaporation of gases into the air, the fuel tank system is diagnosed for leakage. The fuel tank system consists of:

The tank system is equipped with a leakage diagnostic unit to diagnose any leakage. The leakage diagnostic unit pressurizes the tank system when the conditions for leakage diagnosis are fulfilled.

The control module can detect malfunctions of the leakage diagnostic unit's function as well as leakage which is 0.5 mm or bigger. Minor leakage; leakage bigger than 0.5 mm but smaller than 1.0 mm. Major leakage; leakage bigger than 1.0 mm.

The leakage diagnostic consists of a pump and a valve that control the flow in the unit. Engine control module (ECM) checks sealing in the tank system by measuring the relationship between obtained pressure and flow from the leakage diagnostic pump when pressurized.

If a certain pressure is not obtained with a pre-determined (with known mass) the Engine control module (ECM) interprets it as a leakage from the fuel tank system.

Leakage diagnostics start in normal operation when specific conditions have been fulfilled, see below. Diagnostics can also be started by command using VIDA when you disregard some of these conditions.

Conditions for diagnosis 

The diagnosis begins when all the following conditions are met.

Note: Slightly different conditions apply when diagnostics are started by command using VIDA. See relevant information about these, available together with Quick-test tank system.

Diagnostic phases 

The diagnostic is divided into the following phases and is carried out in sequence when all conditions for the diagnostic have been met.

Reference phase 

Before leakage diagnosis itself can be started, the control module performs a reference phase for leakage. Reference phase for leakage which is 0.5 mm is performed by the leakage diagnostic unit's pump pumping ambient air through a hole which is 0.5 mm and back out to the ambient air. During that time, the pump is monitored n the leakage diagnostic unit and reference values are stored away for later use in assessing the tank system's sealing.

If any reference value for the pump is unreasonably high or low, or varies too much, then diagnosis is interrupted and a diagnostic trouble code is generated.

Function test 

After the reference phase, the leakage diagnostic unit's valve is activated and the air flow is controlled to the tank system to pressurize the tank system. This shift in air flow means that the pump load drops briefly before the pressure builds up in the tank system. If the load does not change within reasonable limits within reasonable time, then diagnosis is interrupted and a diagnostic trouble code is generated.

Checking tank system, major leakage (leakage bigger than 1.0 mm) 

Diagnosis are performed every time conditions for diagnosis are fulfilled.

The leakage diagnostic unit pressurizes the tank system and checks sealing by monitoring the pressure in the tank system. The pressure is a calculated pressure, calculated using measured power consumption on the pump. If the pressure stabilizes and/or does not go above 1500 Pa within 450 seconds, this is interpreted as a leakage from the fuel tank system. Diagnosis is interrupted and a diagnostic trouble code for major leakage is generated.

Checking tank system, minor leakage (leakage bigger than 0.5 mm but smaller than 1.0 mm) 

Diagnosis for minor leakage is performed every other time conditions for diagnosis are fulfilled. Otherwise, diagnosis finishes after checking for major leakage.

The leakage diagnosis unit continues pressurizing the tank system. Engine control module (ECM) checks sealing in the tank system by measuring the relationship between reached pressure and flow from the leakage diagnosis pump when pressurizing. In a sealed system the relationship between these shall be linear. Any deviations from the linear relationship is calculated and used to assess the tank system's sealing.

If the assessment, performed within 15 minutes, is that a minor leakage has been detected in the tank system, a diagnostic trouble code for minor leakage is generated.



GLL1029640Courtesy of VOLVO CARS CORPORATION

All gases that evaporate from fuel in the fuel tank must be led to and stored in the evaporative emission system (EVAP) canister so that they can be directed into the engine for combustion. In order to detect leakages which cause evaporation of gases into the air, the fuel tank system is diagnosed for leakage. The fuel tank system consists of:

The fuel tank system has a leak diagnostic unit to diagnose any leakage. The leak diagnostic unit pressurizes the fuel tank system when the ignition is off, if the conditions for diagnosis have been met. The control module can detect faults in the function of the leak diagnostic unit and leakage that is 0.5 mm or greater. Minor leak; leakage greater than 0.5 mm but less than 1.0 mm. Major leak; leakage greater than 1.0 mm.

The leak diagnostic unit consists of a pump and a valve that controls the air flow in the unit. The fuel tank system tests for leaks by measuring the power consumption of the pump. The power consumption of the pump corresponds to a certain pressure in the fuel tank system. During diagnosis, the rate at which the pressure can build up is checked, taking into account the quantity of fuel in the tank. The quicker the pressurization the better the fuel tank system is sealed.

Conditions for diagnosis 

The diagnosis begins when all the following conditions are met:

Diagnostic phases 

The diagnostic is divided into the following phases and is carried out in sequence when all conditions for the diagnostic have been met.

GLL142169Courtesy of VOLVO CARS CORPORATION

Reference phase (1-2) 

The illustration is a diagram of a fault free fuel tank system.

Before the leak diagnostic begins, the control module runs a reference phase for leakage. During the reference phase (1-2) for leakage that is 0.5 mm, the pump in the leak diagnostic unit pumps ambient air through a 0.5 mm hole and back out to the ambient air. At the same time, the power consumption (A) of the pump is measured and stored in the control module. The stored value (A) for the power consumption of the pump corresponds to a leakage of 0.5 mm. This value is then used by the engine control module (ECM) to determine the leak status of the fuel tank system.

Function test (1-3) 

If the value for the power consumption of the pump is too high or low during reference phase (1-2), or if the value for pump power consumption varies too much during reference phase (1-2), the diagnostic is cancelled and starts again the next time the conditions for the diagnostic are met. A diagnostic trouble code (DTC) is stored if the diagnostic is cancelled because the power consumption of the pump is varying excessively.

After the reference phase, the valve (2) in the leak diagnostic unit is activated and controls the air flow to the fuel tank to pressurize the fuel tank system. This change of air flow will cause the power consumption of the pump to fall briefly before the pressure builds up in the fuel tank system (3). A diagnostic trouble code is stored if the value for the power consumption of the pump drops too quickly, slowly or not at all.

GLL142172Courtesy of VOLVO CARS CORPORATION

Leak diagnostic, major leak (leakage greater than 1.0 mm) 

The diagnostic for "major leaks" is carried out each time when the conditions for the diagnostic are met. The leak diagnostic unit pressurizes the fuel tank system, measures the power consumption of the pump (4) and compares this with a calculated desired value (B). A diagnostic trouble code (DTC) for a major leak is stored if the measured value does not reach the calculated desired value within a certain time (the time is determined by atmospheric pressure and the fuel level in the tank).

Leak diagnostic, minor leak (leakage greater than 0.5 mm but less than 1.0 mm) 

The diagnostic for minor leaks is run every other time that the conditions for the diagnostic are met. The diagnostic for major leaks is always run before the diagnostic for minor leaks. The leak diagnostic unit continues to pressurize the fuel tank system (5-6). After a certain amount of time (the time varies depending on the fuel level in the tank), the engine control module (ECM) checks that the fuel tank system for leaks. This is determined based on:

A diagnostic trouble code (DTC) is stored if a minor leak is detected.