P0445: Evaporative Emission Control System Purge Control Valve Circuit Shorted

What Does The P0445 Code Mean?

On vehicles equipped with Evaporative emission control systems also known as EVAP, the engine draws in excessive fuel vapors from the gas tank that would otherwise be vented into the atmosphere.

The fuel vapor is routed through a vacuum line to the engine’s intake and the purge valve/solenoid meters the desired amount of fuel vapors, controlled by the vehicles powertrain control module (PCM) or engine control module (ECM). The PCM/ECM monitors the voltage to the purge control valve and has detected a lower voltage than expected.

Note: This code is similar to codes P0443 and P0444.

What Are The Symptoms Of The P0445 Code?

Symptoms of a P0445 trouble code may include:

• Check engine light on (Malfunction indicator lamp illuminated)
• Slightly diminished fuel economy, this will not affect engine performance

What Are The Potential Causes Of The P0445 Code?

Causes of this DTC may include:

• Engine wiring harness or connector short circuit
• Purge control solenoid short circuit
• PCM/ECM malfunction

How Can You Fix The P0445 Code?

Engine Wiring Harness

Inspect wiring harness connectors for damage, look for pinched wires, loose or bent pins or bare wiring with no insulation. Typically the purge control valve is energized by the the battery and triggered on and off with a duty cycle through the PCM/ECM.

Using the manufacturers wiring diagrams, identify which type of circuit being used and check for battery voltage presence with the key on/engine off at the power side of the control solenoid connector using a digital volt ohm meter (DVOM) set to the volts scale. If no battery voltage is present, trace the wiring back to determine the cause.

Check for a short to ground by disconnecting the harness at the control valve solenoid and the source of voltage. Using the DVOM set to the ohms scale, with the negative lead connected to a known good ground and the positive lead on either end that supplies power to the control valve solenoid.

If resistance is very low, suspect a short to ground and repair the wiring harness. Check for a short to ground on the control side of the harness by disconnecting the harness from the control valve solenoid and the PCM/ECM harness. Identify the correct wire and using the DVOM set to ohms scale, check for resistance with the negative lead connected to a known good ground and the positive lead on either wire harness for the control circuit.

If resistance is very low, suspect a short to ground and repair the wiring harness.

Purge Control Solenoid

Check for continuity at the purge control solenoid connector pins after removing the harness plug using the DVOM set to the ohms scale. Verify resistance is within manufacturers specifications. Check for a short to ground using the DVOM with the negative lead attached to a known good ground and the positive lead on each of the terminal pins to the control valve solenoid. Resistance should be very high or over limit (OL).

If there is a very low amount of resistance found, suspect the control valve solenoid is shorted to ground and replace with a known good unit.

PCM/ECM Malfunction

Since the EVAP is only turned on during certain driving conditions, it will be necessary to monitor the EVAP control operation using an advanced scan tool capable and performing a road test under the driving conditions required to activate the EVAP system.

Some advanced scan tools have an internal test to activate the EVAP system manually. Verify the PCM/ECM is commanding the EVAP system on.

If the system is functioning correctly, it will be necessary to back probe the PCM/ECM wiring harness connector using a graphing multimeter or oscilloscope with a duty cycle feature with the positive lead on the purge control valve pin and the negative lead connected to a known good ground.

The duty cycle should match what is commanded on by the PCM/ECM during EVAP operation. If there is no duty cycle present, the PCM/ECM may be at fault.

Other EVAP DTCs: P0440– P0441– P0442– P0443– P0444– P0446– P0447– P0448– P0449– P0452– P0453– P0455– P0456

Recommended Parts

Below are some recommended auto parts to help you address the trouble code affecting your vehicle and get it running smoothly again:

>>> WORKPRO 582-piece Crimp Terminals, Wire Connectors, Heat Shrink Tube, Electrical Repair Kit
>>> Autel Scanner MaxiCOM MK808S
>>> KAIWEETS Digital Multimeter
>>> ECU

Note: During the purchasing process, please check carefully whether the part you want to buy fits your car!

Check This Video For Reference

Reference Sources

ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM [GASOLINE ENGINE (V-6)] SERVICE MANUAL for P0445 – Pages 557-560.