P0445

EVAP System Purge Control Valve A Circuit Shorted

Q: Is it safe to drive with P0445?

Yes. At worst a stuck-open purge valve makes the idle a little rough or hot-starts harder. Fix it to pass emissions and keep purge working properly.

Q: Can I just clear P0445?

It returns once the circuit self-test runs again. A shorted purge valve or its wiring has to be repaired.

Evaporative emissions (EVAP) Generic OBD-II Low

What it means

P0445 means the ECM has detected a short in the EVAP purge control valve circuit. The purge valve meters stored fuel vapor from the charcoal canister into the engine to be burned; an electrical short means the ECM can't control it properly. The car still drives, though a valve stuck open can cause a slightly rough idle or harder hot-starts. It's usually a shorted purge solenoid or its wiring.

Low

Can I keep driving? Yes — the car drives normally; if the purge valve sticks open it may idle a little rough or be harder to hot-start, but it's not urgent.

Real-world scan data

Seen in

284

scans in the past year

Found in

<0.1%

of scans

0.1%

of scans that found faults

Appears alongside · share of P0445 scans

P0444in 78.2% of scans

P0171in 75.7% of scans

P0133in 74.7% 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
Usually no change in how the car drives
Occasional rough idle or harder hot-starting if the valve sticks open
Fails an emissions test

Common causes

Most likely first

Failed purge control valve/solenoid with an internal short — most commonLikely
Short to ground or voltage in the purge-valve wiringCommon
Corroded or loose connector at the valveCommon
Faulty ECM driver for the purge circuit (rare)Less often

How to diagnose & fix

Work through it in order

Read freeze-frame data and confirm the fault is on the purge (not vent) valve circuit.
Inspect the purge valve connector and wiring for a short, chafing, or corrosion.
Measure the purge solenoid's resistance against spec — a shorted coil reads out of range.
Check the ECM control wire for a short to ground or voltage.
Replace the purge valve if it's internally shorted; repair wiring otherwise. Clear and re-test.

FAQ

Quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0445?+

Yes. At worst a stuck-open purge valve makes the idle a little rough or hot-starts harder. Fix it to pass emissions and keep purge working properly.

Can I just clear P0445?+

It returns once the circuit self-test runs again. A shorted purge valve or its wiring has to be repaired.

Read & clear P0445 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