EVAP System Purge Control Valve "A" Circuit Shorted

What it means

The engine computer has detected a short in the purge valve circuit, either to ground, to a voltage source or inside the valve coil. The valve may stay open or closed all the time, upsetting how fuel vapor is drawn into the engine.

Related codes: P0443P0444P0441P0496

Symptoms4

• Check engine light on.
• Hard starting after refueling if the valve stays open.
• Occasional unstable idle.
• Often no other symptoms.

Possible causes5

• Internal short in the purge valve coil.
• Control wire chafed against the body and shorted to ground.
• Control wire shorted to a nearby power wire.
• Water inside the connector.
• Faulty driver circuit inside the engine computer (rare).

How to diagnose5

1. Measure the valve coil resistance; a very low reading means an internal short.
2. Unplug the valve and see if the code changes to an open-circuit code, which points to the valve.
3. Check the control wire for a short to ground or to voltage.
4. Visually inspect the wiring at chafe points and near heat.
5. Check the connector for moisture or corrosion.

How to fix5

1. Dry and clean the connector or replace it.
2. Repair the shorted wire and secure it away from chafe points.
3. Replace the purge valve if its coil is shorted.
4. Have the computer circuit checked if the fault returns after replacing the valve and wiring.
5. Clear the codes and confirm the valve works with a scan tool.

Repair cost

In Saudi riyals; the highlighted part is the expected range for this fault.

The cost is low when a shorted wire is to blame, and reaches the upper end when the valve is replaced along with diagnosis.

Prices are rough estimates for common cars at independent workshops and vary with the car and the source of the part.
Prices last updated: September 2026

Frequently asked questions