My 2001 CA-spec has the canister above the spare. I think I may have fixed my evap codes though without replacing it.
I had the other valves in the setup replaced waaaay back when I kicked these codes under extended warranty. Wouldn't you know that the codes came back when the warranty was up.
I just cleared the codes whenever they popped up for some 70,000 miles. I finally got sick of it and tried a hillbilly fix. I took the canister off the rig and sprayed half a can of non-chlorinated brake cleaner in the ports and valve openings. At first, the fluid came out brownish. Then I found a small tree leaf inside the canister (I have no idea how it got in there!) - which I naturally removed with needle nose pliers. Once the brake cleaner was coming out clear, I sat the canister on my driveway in the sun on a hot day (it was in the low 90s) for about 4 hours. I turned it upside down back and forth a few times to get out any residual cleaner and let it sit an additional hour in the sun.
I suspect this is enough to partially re-activate some of the carbon in the canister (cleaner then heat). Regardless, my MIL hasn't come back on yet (knock on wood) and my gas mileage is up by about 2mpg.
Good luck!