How would i know if 1999 chevroelt lumina have the fuel vapor recovery?

I could be wrong but I've never heard of an "on board refueling vapor recovery system" on any car. In states where it's required like California, the gas pumps have accordion hoses that slip over your filler tube that suck away gas fumes as you fill your tank. All American cars since about 1973 have a vapor recovery system that contains and stores gas tank evaporation and feeds it back into the engine upon starting but I've never heard of a refueling vapor recovery system on a car. If you are referring to the latter vapor recovery system that I've mentioned. It is a small black plastic canister about the size of a large soup can that can be behind your passenger side headlight or buried in the right side fender. This is where it is buried in my son's 2012 Impala. You may get an error code from this if the filter on the bottom of the canister gets clogged. It has this filter because this canister is loaded with activated charcoal and needs to have air vented INTO it to purge the stored gas vapors from it into the engine every time the car is started. In older cars with lots of miles on them, the charcoal granules can grind against each other turning them into powder and clogging the canister's air intake simulating a clogged filter. If this is the case, it has to be replaced or you can build higher than normal pressure in the gas tank while driving, on hot days or both. In some cars, this can over run fuel injectors flooding the engine or cause a high fuel pressure condition causing a fault condition in the computer causing it to take some action to remediate the problem like killing the engine for example.Good luck.

One is for the fuel delivery, one is for the return and the other one goes to the vapor cannister.

Although I have never personally removed the fuel tank from a 1999 Chevy Lumina, on most sedans you must first RELEASE THE FUEL PRESSURE FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM (follow standard safety precautions in doing so)*, hoist the vehicle on a lift, position a support under the tank, then undo the two fuel tank straps to free the tank. Once the tank is free, CAREFULLY maneuver the tank out of place, and disconnect the pressure line, return line, gauge lines, and vapor line from the top of the tank, before lowering the tank fully from the vehicle. It is also recommended that you siphon as much fuel out of the tank before proceeding to reduce the weight of the tank.

* A good way to relieve the fuel pressure in the system is to either remove the fuse for the fuel pump or disconnect the inertial switch in the trunk so that the fuel pump cannot engage. Once you have disabled the fuel pump, start the vehicle. Once it stalls and cannot be restarted, the pressure has been relieved from the fuel system. NOTE: You will need to cycle the ignition key several times after you have finished your work, in order to restore fuel system pressure, prior to being able to restart the vehicle.

Normally that would be classic vapor lock. But I don't know how that could happen since fuel injection recirculates so much? I try to think of how gas tank vent valve could do this and also draw a blank. Leaving the fan. It is electric and possibly not working? It is mechanical and have a bad clutch?

carborated or injected? could be vapor lock. could also be intake manifold gasket going bad, but unlikely. could aslo be cracked fuel lines allowing air into the lines.

Are you one of those people who TOP OFF the tank when filling up?

When the EVAP recovery system soak with few ounce of gasoline......the trap vapor will take few days escape.

EVAP system is design to handle fuel vapor. Few ounce of gasoline can damage the fuel vapor recovery relay and decrease the service live of the recovery lines.

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You can accelerate the process by locating the charcoal canister (near the nose of the car and same side as your gas filler door)

MOVE the car to outdoor.

Disconnect the EVAP line and let it air out by itself.

DO NOT introduce any heat source or fan to speed up the process.

Reconnect this EVAP hose and use a small amount of starting fluid at the intake manifold.


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It may be the fuel tank vapor recovery tube. Does it go to the fuel tank and the vapor recovery canister?

It may need to have the fuel injectors cleaned, try a good brand, like lucas. Could be water in the fuel, try a gas line dryer.

Sounds as if your vapor recovery system is plugged, although you should have a trouble code if you have this problem. Go to an Autozone and have them pull your codes for you.

sounds like its vapor locking,try leaving the fuel cap lose if this works then replace the fuel cap