How Can I Tell If My Hyundai Tucson’s Engine Hesitation Is Due to a Bad Purge Control Valve?

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How Can I Tell If My Hyundai Tucson’s Engine Hesitation Is Due to a Bad Purge Control Valve?

Sometimes my Tucson hesitates during acceleration o r feels like it’s choking when driving in city traffic. Could a stuck-open purge control valve cause this issue? How do I test it o r confirm that’s the problem?

Gari Specialist asked on 14 Jun 2025 12:27:30 pm

1 Answer

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Gari Master - on 14 Jun 2025 12:29:09 pm

A stuck-open purge valve allows fuel vapors into the engine at the wrong time, causing a rich air-fuel mixture. This can result in:

Engine hesitation o r jerking, especially during low-speed driving.

Difficulty starting after refueling.

Stalling at idle, particularly in stop-and-go traffic.

To check if the purge valve is the cause:

Disconnect the purge valve hose while idling and block it — if the idle stabilizes, the valve may be stuck open.

Use a multimeter to check for voltage and a vacuum test to see if it opens and closes properly.

If your Tucson has a check engine light, read the codes — a faulty purge valve often triggers EVAP-related codes.

If confirmed, replace the purge valve with a compatible part and clear the codes.