P0444

EVAP System Purge Control Valve A Circuit Open

Emissions / EVAP Generic OBD-II Low

What it means

P0444 means the ECM detected an open electrical circuit to the evaporative-emissions (EVAP) purge control valve — the valve that lets stored fuel vapor be drawn from the charcoal canister into the intake. "Open" points to a broken wire, bad connector, or a failed solenoid winding rather than a problem with how the engine runs. The car drives normally, but it will trip the check-engine light and fail an emissions test until repaired.

Low

Can I keep driving? Safe to drive — this is an emissions-circuit fault with usually no change in how the car runs; fix it to pass an emissions test.

Real-world scan data

Seen in

1,505

scans in the past year

Found in

0.2%

of scans

0.4%

of scans that found faults

Appears alongside · share of P0444 scans

P0300in 24.2% of scans

P0302in 22.9% of scans

P0301in 21.3% of scans

Figures reflect only diagnostic scans recorded through our own apps and tools. Cars are typically scanned because a symptom or warning light prompted it, so these counts describe our scan records — not the incidence of faults in any model, and not the quality, reliability, or safety of any vehicle. No comparison between manufacturers or models is implied. All trademarks belong to their respective owners; no affiliation or endorsement is implied.

Common symptoms

What you'll notice

Check-engine light on (often the only sign)
Failed emissions/readiness test
Rarely, a faint fuel-vapor smell
Generally no noticeable change in how the car drives

Common causes

Most likely first

Open circuit in the purge valve wiring or connector — most common for this codeLikely
Failed purge control valve/solenoid (open winding)Common
Corroded or disconnected purge valve connectorCommon
Failed purge-valve driver in the ECM (rare)Less often

How to diagnose & fix

Work through it in order

Inspect the purge valve connector and wiring for a break, corrosion, or a loose pin — the typical cause of an open circuit.
Measure the purge solenoid's resistance; an open reading means a failed valve.
Confirm the ECM is providing power/ground to the circuit.
Replace the purge valve if its winding is open, then clear and re-run the EVAP monitor.

FAQ

Quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0444?+

Yes. It's an evaporative-emissions circuit fault that doesn't affect how the engine runs. The main consequence is a check-engine light and a failed emissions test until it's repaired.

Can I just clear P0444?+

It will return once the EVAP monitor runs again if the circuit is still open. Repairing the wiring or replacing the purge valve is what keeps it off.

Read & clear P0444 yourself

Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.

▶ Get it on Google Play

✓ Verified name — SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6Guidance reviewed by OBD DashX