P0445: Evaporative Emission System Purge Control Valve Circuit Shorted
Key takeaways
- P0445 means the engine computer detected a short in the circuit that controls the EVAP purge valve, usually inside the valve's coil or in its wiring.
- It's safe to drive for now; the car will fail an emissions or plug-in inspection until it's fixed.
- A failed purge valve is the most common fix, $120–$350 at a US independent shop; a chafed wire or corroded connector is $100–$250.
- A loose gas cap does not cause P0445; it's an electrical code.
What P0445 means
The engine computer sees an electrical short in the circuit that opens your fuel vapor purge valve.
Scanners call it “Evaporative Emission System Purge Control Valve Circuit Shorted” (some tools say “Circuit Closed”). Gasoline vapor from the tank is stored in a charcoal canister, and the purge valve opens while you drive to let the engine burn it. The computer switches that valve on and off and watches the circuit while it does. When it sees the current or voltage it would expect from a short, rather than from a healthy valve coil, it sets P0445. It’s a circuit code, not a flow code like P0441, so a leak or a loose cap doesn’t cause it.
Is it safe to drive?
Yes. On most cars you won’t feel anything. The car releases a little more vapor than it should and will fail an emissions or plug-in inspection, so don’t leave it for months.
The symptom that changes the answer: a rough idle, stalling or a long crank right after you fill up. That means the valve is stuck open as well, dumping vapor into the intake. It isn’t dangerous, but it can leave you stranded at the pump, so book it in within the week.
Causes, ranked
| Cause | How you confirm it | Typical cost (US independent shop, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Purge valve with a shorted coil | Unplug the valve and measure its coil resistance against spec; a reading far below spec means an internal short | $120–$350 |
| Chafed or pinched wire shorting to ground or another circuit | Inspect the harness near the valve and exhaust; check the circuit for a short with the valve unplugged | $100–$250 |
| Corroded or water-filled connector at the valve | Green corrosion or water in the plug; code comes and goes with rain or car washes | $100–$250 |
| Engine computer driver fault | Valve and wiring test good and the code returns; often after a shorted valve was left in place | $800–$1,800 plus programming |
What to check first
- Read all the codes, not just P0445. P0443 (purge valve circuit) or P0441 (purge flow) alongside it changes where to start.
- Look at the purge valve connector under the hood. A plug that’s loose, cracked or full of water is a cheap fix.
- Measure the valve’s resistance at its terminals. This quick test separates a bad valve from bad wiring.
- Trace the wiring from the valve back along the harness, especially where it runs near exhaust or brackets.
- Replace the valve if its coil is shorted, then clear the code and confirm it stays off.
NHTSA’s manufacturer communications files for 2015–2024 hold no bulletins naming P0445, so there’s no known software fix to look for. Clearing the code and driving is fine as a test after the repair: the circuit is checked every time the valve is switched, so a true short usually comes back within a drive or two.
What it costs
The cheap outcome is a connector or wiring repair, $100–$250. The common outcome is a new purge valve, $120–$350 installed. The expensive outcome is rare: an engine computer with a burned driver at $800–$1,800 plus programming, which is one reason to replace a shorted valve promptly. A resistance test at the plug tells you which one you have before you buy parts. If you want help sorting it out, describe the symptoms in the chat.
Related codes
P0445 often shows up with other EVAP codes: P0443 (purge valve circuit), P0441 (incorrect purge flow) and P0496 (flow when purge should be off, the stuck-open case). If you smell raw fuel as well, read car smells like gas. A light that goes off and on with this code fits a connector that gets wet; see check engine light comes on and off.
What owners report to NHTSA
8 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0445, 8 of them since 2015, across 6 different models. The component owners most often filed it under: fuel/propulsion system.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database and manufacturer communications file, snapshots September 2026. A complaint or bulletin that mentions a code is a report about that vehicle, not a statement that the code has one cause.
Frequently asked questions
Can a loose gas cap cause P0445?
No. P0445 is an electrical fault in the purge valve circuit, not a leak. Tightening the cap won't hurt, but it won't clear this code.
Can I drive with a P0445 code?
Yes, for now. Most cars run normally. If you get a rough idle, stalling or a long crank right after filling up, the valve may be stuck open as well; get it in within the week.
Is P0445 the purge valve or the wiring?
Usually the valve: its coil shorts internally and the computer sees too much current. A chafed wire touching ground or another circuit gives the same code. Measuring the valve's resistance at the plug tells you which one in a few minutes.
How much does it cost to fix P0445?
At a US independent shop, a purge valve runs $120–$350 installed and a wiring or connector repair $100–$250. An engine computer fault is rare.