OBD-II Code · Emissions
P0444
EVAP Purge Control Valve Open
Severity
low
Lowest on our scale. Fix it when convenient.
Can you drive it
Only if running normally
A short trip to a shop may be reasonable if the light is steady and the car runs normally. Stop safely for a flashing light, severe shaking, overheating, loss of power, or another urgent warning. The code alone cannot confirm safety.
Indicative cost (USD)
$100–$300
Varies by vehicle, diagnosis, parts, and local labor. This is not a repair quote.
Purge valve circuit open.
How a shop works this
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed.
Note every code that is set, not just this one.
Codes that appear together usually narrow the cause faster than any one of them read alone.
Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under.
Cold or warm, idle or load, road speed and engine speed. A fault that only appears cold is a different fault from one that only appears under load, even with the same code on the scanner.
Confirm the fault is current rather than history.
Clear the code and see whether it returns under those same conditions. A code that does not come back may have been logged during a repair, a flat battery, or a bad connection that has since been disturbed.
Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
That order is what a shop checks first for this code — wiring and connections before the component they run to, because a connector costs nothing to inspect and is a common answer.
If the code comes back after a repair, the underlying fault is still there. That is the point to bring in a scanner with live data and freeze-frame, or a shop that has one.
Common symptoms
- Check engine light
Likely causes
- Disconnected valveMost common
- Broken wire
Read the full diagnostic procedureP0444 is a more specific variant of P0443 indicating the EVAP purge valve circuit is showing an open condition, meaning the PCM driver pulled the con…
P0444 is a more specific variant of P0443 indicating the EVAP purge valve circuit is showing an open condition, meaning the PCM driver pulled the control line low but did not see the expected current draw, signaling an open coil or broken wire.
Cheapest checks
disconnect the purge valve and measure resistance across its terminals; the coil should read 22 to 30 ohms on virtually all modern domestic and Asian purge solenoids. Infinite resistance confirms an open coil and a failed valve. If the valve reads in spec, the open is in the harness or PCM driver: back-probe both pins at the valve connector with the connector unplugged and the key on, verify battery voltage on the feed wire (typically through the EVAP fuse), then reconnect and use a scan tool to command the valve while measuring the control-side voltage. With the valve commanded on, the voltage should drop near 0V; if it stays at battery voltage, the PCM is not pulling low (driver fault) or the wire is open between PCM and valve. Wiggle-test the harness with the valve commanded continuously and watch for intermittent code re-set. Caveat: a P0444 set in cold weather only often points to a hairline crack in the solenoid coil that opens when contracted, so warm-engine resistance tests can read fine; test cold if the code is weather-specific.
Vehicle-specific patterns2000 to 2007 Chevrolet/GMC full-size trucks set P0444 from open purge valve coils, GM TSB 04-06-04-038 documents the part-number supersession.
- 2000to 2007 Chevrolet/GMC full-size trucks set P0444 from open purge valve coils, GM TSB 04-06-04-038 documents the part-number supersession.
- 2004to 2009 Ford Focus/Escape with the 2.0/2.3 Duratec trips P0444 from purge valve harness chafing on the valve cover, breaking the control wire.
- 2003to 2007 Honda Accord V6 sets P0444 from open winding in the canister purge valve, often after 80k+ miles.
- 2005to 2010 Toyota Tacoma/4Runner sets the equivalent VSV open code from the EVAP VSV coil failing, Toyota TSB EG024-08 covers the updated VSV.
Estimated repair$80 to $260.
Look up another code
P0444 — frequently asked
What does a P0444 code mean?
Purge valve circuit open.
What causes a P0444 code?
Common causes: Disconnected valve; Broken wire.
What are the symptoms of a P0444 code?
Typical symptoms: Check engine light.
Is it safe to drive with a P0444 code?
Only if running normally. A short trip to a shop may be reasonable if the light is steady and the car runs normally. Stop safely for a flashing light, severe shaking, overheating, loss of power, or another urgent warning. The code alone cannot confirm safety. Estimated repair: $100-$300.
How do I diagnose a P0444 code?
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed. 1. Note every code that is set, not just this one. 2. Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under. 3. Confirm the fault is current rather than history. 4. Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
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