P0496
Evaporative Emission System High Purge Flow
The ECU detected EVAP purge flow during a non-purge condition, or higher than commanded purge flow. Typical causes are a stuck-open purge valve or a damaged vent system that draws unmetered air.
- Check engine light: Yes
- Emissions related: Yes
- Repair difficulty: medium
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Possible smell of fuel near tank or engine bay
- Failed emissions inspection
- Loose-cap warning may appear
Common causes
Ordered by how often each turns out to be the cause.
- Purge valve stuck openCommon
- EVAP line cracked or disconnectedPossible
Parts involved
- EVAP Purge Valve
- EVAP Lines
P0496 is a generic OBD-II code defined by SAE J2012. Exact wording and diagnostic procedure vary by manufacturer and model. Code definitions are drawn from the public-domain OBDex dataset; the workshop notes are our own.