Thanks Neil.  I have it connected to the engine and disconnected at the bottom
of the canister, so I'll try your suggestion with a helper. The problem came and
went away six months ago.  At that time, I removed the canister and as I recall
I shook it and I could blow through it.  Maybe the valve is the culprit. I missed
finding that available at Van Cafe's site.  I will report back if I get it solved.
Thanks again.  - Rick

--------------------------------------------
On Tue, 6/3/14, Neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:

 Subject: Re: Need Charcoal Canister
 To: "Richard Duvernay" <richard.duvernay@sbcglobal.net>
 Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
 Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2014, 3:51 PM

 I noticed that the charcoal canister
 I removed from a '94 Jetta and
 the one on my 1981 Vanagon were similar. (I swapped a Jetta
 engine
 into my '81 Vanagon)

 Can you blow air through the canister? My Bentley manual
 isn't handy
 right now but I believe the bottom port is a vent.
 Regardless, I'm
 pretty sure one should be able to blow air through the top
 inlet and
 outlet.

 With the canister purge valve disconnected, I'm about
 certain you
 shouldn't be able to suck air through it. If it were me, I'd
 connect
 it to the engine only, run engine, raise idle, then feel and
 listen if
 air is being drawn through the valve.

 van-cafe has the valve it seems:

 http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/smartlist_734/fuel-evaporative-parts-c734

 maybe Busdepot.com has the charcoal canister?