[Jeff Chambers]

Originally Posted by The_Methodist

The black canister is a charcoal box used for emissions. I am assuming that air would be directed to the charcoal box and filtered in order to lower the emissions on the vehicle.

I may be wrong though.

In any event, if you have to have the car emmisions tested, that hose being crimped would definately show some negative result.

Gas fumes from the fuel tank are directed (hence the reason for a pressurized fuel tank cap) to the charcoal cannister via that small diameter harder plastic line popping up in to the engine bay near the passenger side shock tower. As others have mentioned, occassionally a purge solenoid opens allowing the excess fumes to be sucked in to the intake and burned to reduce harmful emissions. When that solenoid fails (or is missing), you've got one huge vacuum leak.