Posted on 9/26/2025
Older hybrid vehicles are known for their reliability and fuel efficiency, but as they age, many begin to experience issues related to the evaporative emissions system. These problems often show up as check engine lights, trouble codes, or a failed smog inspection. While the symptoms might seem minor, the root cause is often a leak or failure in a system designed to trap and control fuel vapors. The challenge with evap system problems in hybrids is that they can be harder to detect, and the repairs are not always straightforward. What the Evaporative Emissions System Does Every modern car, including hybrids, is equipped with an evaporative emissions system. Its purpose is to prevent gasoline vapors from escaping into the atmosphere. Instead of letting fuel vapors vent freely from the tank, the system captures them and stores them in a charcoal canister. When conditions are right, those vapors are sent back into the engine to be burned during normal operation. This ... read more