Hi All:
Fault code P0444 (Purge Control Valve OPEN CIRCUIT): Lots of popping sounds that increase with more throttle then amber Engine Light then starts about 8 times more (with no popping sounds) then will not start at all at ninth attempt.
Can this Fault code cause a non-start condition...
Thanks in advance:
Non Start 307 1,6 petrol
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ozvtr
- Posts: 825
- Joined: 13 Oct 2020, 01:11
- x 230
Re: Non Start 307 1,6 petrol
The purge valve only vents petrol vapor, indirectly, from the fuel tank.
If the valve is stuck open it may make starting difficult and idle a bit "lumpy". And you may get a lean or a fuel trim out of range code.
HOWEVER, that is unlikely. The valve is normally closed and if its power circuit were to go open circuit, for whatever reason, the valve would tend to remain closed. This would not affect the performance of the engine. The valve is the brown cylindrical device a little bigger than a pill bottle on the top rear of the engine. You could remove it and blow through it. It should be closed and not let air through.
Fueling problems do not tend to bring up Diagnostic Trouble Codes. Where as spark problems can.
So if the engine runs poorly but you get no codes, I would suspect a problem with fueling.
Generally speaking, A lack of fuel I.E. an injector does not "fire", will bring up a "misfire" code. But if an injector is over fueling I.E. "sticking" this will cause over fueling and a "backfire" but typically no code. If left running for an extended period this may bring up an "aging catalyst" fault.
Do you get the smell of petrol from the exhaust pipe?
You could try pulling the fuel pump fuse in the BSM and run the engine on aerostart or brake clean and see if the engine runs "better" (it wont run perfectly). Remove the engine air filter and squirt a small amount down the inlet.
It's possible the fuel pressure is high but you would need to check the pressure at the schrader valve at the end of the fuel rail. You would need a gauge for that.
Sorry but it could also be a mechanical problem like a valve or piston damage but that's a lot harder to diagnose and you really don't want to hear that.
If the valve is stuck open it may make starting difficult and idle a bit "lumpy". And you may get a lean or a fuel trim out of range code.
HOWEVER, that is unlikely. The valve is normally closed and if its power circuit were to go open circuit, for whatever reason, the valve would tend to remain closed. This would not affect the performance of the engine. The valve is the brown cylindrical device a little bigger than a pill bottle on the top rear of the engine. You could remove it and blow through it. It should be closed and not let air through.
Fueling problems do not tend to bring up Diagnostic Trouble Codes. Where as spark problems can.
So if the engine runs poorly but you get no codes, I would suspect a problem with fueling.
Generally speaking, A lack of fuel I.E. an injector does not "fire", will bring up a "misfire" code. But if an injector is over fueling I.E. "sticking" this will cause over fueling and a "backfire" but typically no code. If left running for an extended period this may bring up an "aging catalyst" fault.
Do you get the smell of petrol from the exhaust pipe?
You could try pulling the fuel pump fuse in the BSM and run the engine on aerostart or brake clean and see if the engine runs "better" (it wont run perfectly). Remove the engine air filter and squirt a small amount down the inlet.
It's possible the fuel pressure is high but you would need to check the pressure at the schrader valve at the end of the fuel rail. You would need a gauge for that.
Sorry but it could also be a mechanical problem like a valve or piston damage but that's a lot harder to diagnose and you really don't want to hear that.
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PaulC5
- Donor 2024
- Posts: 2279
- Joined: 06 Jun 2023, 15:26
- x 567
Re: Non Start 307 1,6 petrol
We had a purge valve fail open on an Astra, I can not remember what fault code it gave but the engine ran ok with the fault. A new valve fixed it. I checked the old one and I could blow through it when it should have been closed so knew it was faulty.