i just bought this 97 Sunfire, and when i was putting the wheel well cover back on the passenger side i noticed this sensor that goes to the fuel charcoal canister is NOT connected, the rubber hose is, but the harness is not hooked up and i cant find it anywhere! is it important? will i fail my emission test without it.

The car was in a accident on that side from the previous owner so it must have been damaged and they probably cut the line???

That is the EVAP vent valve. It needs to be plugged in and functional to keep the EVAP system functioning as designed.

how can i trace down the wires for it? there is no plug or wire near it, since the computer is right there, is it probably directly connected to the computer and someone cut it?

I dont recall where its routed exactly but you should have a red colored connector with two wires in there somewhere.

well i found out that the previous owner cut the wire, i looked everywhere, then i looked at the harness at the computer and found a cut wire. i'll get a harness at the wreckers and replace it. just wondering though, what does this sensor do?

Its not a sensor. Its teh EVAP vent valve. The connector you need to replace plugs into the solenoid that controls the valve. it is part of the evaporative emissions system.

is that 1 red too i know the one on the engine is red plug



JBO since July 30, 2001

On my 98 and my 02 the connector for the EVAP vent solenoid is red. I never really paid attention when I had to work on them in teh dealer so it may be possibly that not every J uses the same color connector. GM has done some stupid things before.