P0444: EVAP purge control valve circuit open
The ECU has detected an open circuit in the control of the valve that sends petrol vapour to the engine. Usually the connector, wiring or valve.
| Code | P0444 |
|---|---|
| System | Engine and transmission |
| Group | P04xx, Emissions control |
| Type | Generic: it means the same on every make |
| Can you keep driving? | Yes, no rush |
What P0444 means
The purge valve, switched electrically by the ECU, lets the vapour stored in the canister flow to the engine. When checking its circuit, the ECU has found an open circuit (no current flowing). This is an electrical fault, not a leak.
Most common causes
- Purge valve connector unplugged or with corroded pins
- Broken supply or control wire
- Open circuit in the valve coil
- Blown fuse in the circuit
- ECU fault (rare)
Symptoms
- Engine warning light on
- Slightly hard starting after refuelling
- Rough idle in some cases
- Often no symptoms
Can you drive with P0444?
Yes, no rush You can drive normally. Worth fixing without too much delay, before the next inspection.
Open the bonnetthe in-depth explanation
How to check it
The purge valve is usually in the engine bay, on the hose that goes to the intake. Check that the connector is fully seated and dry; a garage can measure its coil (typically a few tens of ohms) and operate it with their tool.
How to read and clear P0444 with Final OBD
Plug an OBD2 scanner in under the steering wheel, switch the ignition on and open Final OBD. Under Faults you’ll see P0444 with its description and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.
If the engine stores it over standard OBD, with FREE you read this code with its explanation for nothing and clear it. With PRO you also read the faults of every control unit and clear them in all of them.
Clearing the code only turns the light off: if the cause is still there, it comes back. Clear it once it’s fixed, and not right before an inspection. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in inspections and OBD.
Similar codes
- P0440 Evaporative emission (EVAP) system malfunction
- P0441 EVAP system incorrect purge flow
- P0442 EVAP system small leak detected
- P0443 EVAP purge control valve circuit malfunction
- P0445 EVAP purge control valve circuit shorted
- P0446 EVAP vent control circuit malfunction
- P0447 The evaporative emission system vent control has a broken or disconnected wire
- P0448 The evaporative emission system vent control has a short circuit
- P0400 Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow malfunction
- P0401 Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow insufficient
- P0402 Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow excessive
- P0403 EGR control circuit malfunction
What does code P0444 mean?
The purge valve, switched electrically by the ECU, lets the vapour stored in the canister flow to the engine. When checking its circuit, the ECU has found an open circuit (no current flowing). This is an electrical fault, not a leak.
Can you drive with P0444?
You can drive normally. Worth fixing without too much delay, before the next inspection.
How do you clear P0444?
With an OBD2 scanner and an app like Final OBD, which clears it for free if it’s stored by the engine control unit. But clearing it only turns the light off: if the cause isn’t fixed, P0444 comes back.
Read it on your car
Final OBD reads and clears engine faults through standard OBD for free, each one explained in plain English. With PRO it also reads the faults of every control unit, each make’s own codes included, and clears them in all of them.
