Where's the vapor canister on a 97 Dodge neon

96 dodge neon starter interchangeable with a 97 Alana, if same engine, yes it is interchangeable.

Usually, what you smell inside the car is coming thru the vent from the engine compartment.
So it could be a leak around the engine or the vapor canister. Its possible the canister gets overloaded from time to time when the computer vents the gas tank to the canister. A very small leak can be a very strong smell inside the car.

Sounds like you mean the problem could be a leak in the EVAP system. The computer vents the gas tank to the vapor canister several times while you are driving.
The engine produces vacuum when it is running.
Do you have the actual trouble code ?

The tank is vented to the intake manifold when the engine is running, and to a vapor canister when it is not. During hot weather the vapor canister can become overloaded with fumes.
Depending on where the smell is coming from, you could have a leaking vent hose or liquid fuel in the canister.

the purge valve canister collects fuel vapor during the time you are driving and releases them back to the intake manifold to burn with air and fuel as you are driving. during the time the car is setting still over night any fuel vapor will go back to purge canister to start again when you drive. location of canister is in front of fuel tank on driverside. hope this will help you!!!!

they are for evaperative emmisions leaks.usually its a loose gas cap that causes these codes they are small leak codes.check gas cap, give it a couple of turns more to be sure its tight.
the car has to make 3 consecutive trips that detect no leaks before light will turn off.each trip has to start with a cold engine gas level between 15% to 85% of full.
or clear codes with code reader and drive car as usuall. if a leak is detected twice then the light will come on again.if it does then you will need to look for cracked vapor hoses,leaking canister etc

I have a 2002 Dodge Caravan which had a code 455. The following is a description of this van. The problem was caused by a 12 inch hose located under the van on the drivers side close to and in front of the liquid/vapor separator canisters. The 5/8 inch ID hose was connected between the front (engine side) of the LDP vent valve and the leak detection pump. Oil from the engine had leaked onto the end of hose connected to the pump. The plastic clamp was broken and the hose had swollen until it was very loose. Replacing the hose and clamps fixed the problem. The LDP vent valve is connected to the largest liquid/vapor canister by a 2 inch long hose. You may need to buy the hose from the Chrysler since it is a shaped hose. Any broken or missing clamps should be replaced with the band type sold by auto parts stores. Any other hose which is split should be replaced.

Here is what I could find for your code error as potential causes:
After market parts and accessories nonconforming to the EVAP system specifications.
Damaged, missing or improperly installed fuel filler cap.
Blockage in fuel vapor hoses/tubes (EVAP canister tube, EVAP canister purge outlet tube or EVAP return tube) in EVAP system.
Disconnected or cracked fuel vapor hoses/tubes in EVAP system.
EVAP canister purge valve stuck closed.
Canister vent (CV) solenoid stuck open.
Fuel tank pressure (FTP) sensor malfunction.
EVAP canister leaking.
Fuel vapor control valve tube assembly blocked.
Fuel vapor vent valve assembly blocked.

Obviously the gas cap would be the easiest and cheapest thing to fix.  Just make sure it is put on correctly and tight.  If it is not that, I would have to suggest to take it to a mechanic because the other problems on that list are not really DIY material.  Hopefully it is the gas cap and you can take care of it yourself.  Good luck.

p1494 isnt for the purge solenoid it is for a mechanical switch failure detected in the leak detection pump. as long as the pump has vacuum going to it the likely cause is the pump itself. it is attached to the vapor canister

I believe it on the right fender well just above the motor mount. you will see the vacuum line going to it and you will see the lines from the canister going to it.