Subaru. WTF! is this???

[pits]

Did a quick clean on mates scooby today(55 2.0 non turbo) under rear bumper, attached to the towing eye was this box, looks like it has been there all the time with some what seem to be vacuum pipes

[deviant]

LOL...I was cleaning my car yesterday (06 2.5 WRX) and thought EXACTLY the same thing as you!

I was tempted to take it out and see if it comes to pieces but knowing my luck a handfull of springs will shoot off across the garage and a circuit board will fall out

Actually I suspect it might be a carbon canister on the fuel tank breather? I did not get far in investigating where the hoses go to.

[GravelBen]

deviant said:

Actually I suspect it might be a carbon canister on the fuel tank breather? I did not get far in investigating where the hoses go to.

That would be my guess too, but who knows?

[pits]

but its on the wrong side, exhaust is t'other side...Seriously wtf is it?

[deviant]

Nothing to do with the exhaust system.

The fuel tank will have a breather hose in it somewhere. This allows air to be drawn in or pushed out of the tank as the fuel level changes and as the vapoour expands and contracts in a hot or cold day.

In the old days these breathers would just be a hose hanging down somewhere and venting to air. In this modern age of strict emissions controls you are not allowed to vent anything directly to air so breathers are plumbed in to a canister filled with charcoal pellets or charcoal impregnated foam.

Of course out mystery box might not be one of those!

[Stu R]

pits said:

but its on the wrong side, exhaust is t'other side...Seriously wtf is it?

It's the charcoal canister. Nothing to do with the exhaust

[Evil.soup]

Iv wondered this my self many times. You learn something new every day as they say!