P0445: EVAP System Purge Control Valve A Circuit Shorted
A generic powertrain (engine and transmission) trouble code, same meaning on every brand.
Yes - watch for rough idle, especially after refuelling.
Symptoms
- Rough idle
- Stalling after refuelling
- Check engine light
Likely causes, most common first
- Purge valve control wire shorted
- Failed valve winding
- Connector damaged by engine heat
- Damaged harness near the intake manifold
Read P0445 yourself before paying for diagnosis
A basic Bluetooth OBD-II scanner ($20-40) plugs into the port under the dashboard and shows this code with live sensor data on your phone - useful both for confirming the fix and for talking to a shop from an informed position.
What is going on and how it gets diagnosed
P0445 reports a short in the purge valve circuit rather than an open one. The distinction matters when testing: a shorted circuit usually means the valve winding has failed internally or the control wire has found a path to ground or to power along its route.
Measuring the valve's resistance at the connector settles it quickly. A reading far below specification condemns the valve; a normal reading means the fault lies in the harness, and the section that runs across the top of the engine is where heat damage is most often found.
Repair options and cost
Typical US independent-shop ranges, parts and labor. Dealers run higher; regional labor rates vary.
Owner reports mentioning P0445
“Vehicle is under recall 23V652 for HECU short circuit issue. Vehicle was running fine, driven to local mechanic for routine oil change and inspection. MIL was on with P0445 indicating a short circuit on Purge control valve. Mechanic replaced Purge control valve which did not reset maintenance light. Mechanic investigated and found evidence of a thermal event (fire) within the wiring harness near the computer. Mechanic contacted me and I notified him of Interim Recall notice. Vehicle was towed to local Kia dealer where they will not honor recall as there is no current solution. They said they can not prove the incident was HECU without replacing wiring harness which I must pay for.”2012 Kia Optima · Dec 2023
“While driving the anti-lock and awd lite on and smell of gas from inside of cabin and sometimes from under the hood . Also when trying to accelerate the car bogs and the rpm fo high but the carvseama to lose power . Ob2 code is p0445”2004 Buick Rendezvous · Feb 2018 · 145,000 mi
“Update to complaint number 10692609 regarding the check engine light and codes p0441 and p0445. A new mopar gas cap has taken care of the problem. Two after market gas caps, purchased new, were faulty right out of the box. The new mopar gas cap has cleared the codes. Apparently not all gas caps are vehicle specific... *tr”2012 Jeep Wrangler · Mar 2015 · 11,430 mi
Cars that report P0445 most often
Based on mentions of this code in NHTSA owner complaints.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with P0445?
Yes - watch for rough idle, especially after refuelling.
How much does it cost to fix P0445?
Typical US repair costs range from $60 for the simplest fix (purge control valve) to $400 in the worst case. The right number depends on which cause your car has - see the causes list.
Related codes
The codes closest to P0445. They often appear together, and telling them apart is usually what narrows the diagnosis.
Definition per SAE J2012 standard nomenclature. Symptoms, causes and costs are editorial guidance - always confirm with a diagnosis of your specific vehicle.