P3445 — Cylinder 6 Exhaust Valve Control Circuit/Open

P3445 — Cylinder 6 Exhaust Valve Control Circuit/Open. A fault in the sensor and actuator circuits. The car is usually drivable while you plan the repair. Typical causes: control module driver fault, blown fuse feeding the circuit, faulty sensor or actuator of the affected circuit.

For Ford vehicles

cylinder 6 exhaust valve control circuit

powertrain (engine/transmission)

Is it safe to drive?

Short-term driving is OK In most cases the car remains drivable, possibly with reduced performance or a disabled auxiliary system. If symptoms include stalling, no-start or brake/steering warnings, treat it as urgent.

How to diagnose with an OBD scanner

  1. Read the code and freeze frame Connect an OBD2 scanner, confirm P3445 is stored, and save the freeze frame data — it shows engine conditions when the fault was detected.
  2. Check for companion codes and TSBs Related codes often reveal the real root cause. Also check manufacturer technical service bulletins (TSB) for your make and model — many P0xxx issues have factory fixes or software updates. Search by VIN on the manufacturer site or nhtsa.gov.
  3. Inspect wiring and connectors Visually inspect the wiring harness and connectors related to the cylinder 6 exhaust valve control circuit/open for damage, corrosion, chafing or poor contact.
  4. Subsystem check Measure reference voltage, ground and signal continuity at the component connector.
  5. Subsystem check Wiggle-test the harness while watching the signal in live data — dropouts reveal broken wires.
  6. Verify the repair Clear the code, complete a full drive cycle including the conditions from the freeze frame, and confirm P3445 does not return.

Approximate repair cost

Repair cost depends on which component actually failed. Typical scenarios for P3445 (parts and labor, USD, independent shop rates): Repair wiring or connectors: $80–$250; Control module repair: $300–$1,000; Replace the faulty sensor or actuator: $150–$500. Overall, fixing P3445 usually costs between $80 and $1,000. An accurate diagnosis before buying parts saves money — the most expensive scenario is rarely the first one to check.

Common questions

How much does it cost to fix P3445?

Repair wiring or connectors — $80–$250; Control module repair — $300–$1,000; Replace the faulty sensor or actuator — $150–$500. Exact cost depends on the root cause, your vehicle and local labor rates — a proper diagnosis is the cheapest first step.

Is it safe to drive with P3445?

In most cases the car remains drivable, possibly with reduced performance or a disabled auxiliary system. If symptoms include stalling, no-start or brake/steering warnings, treat it as urgent.

What does OBD2 code P3445 mean?

P3445 — Cylinder 6 Exhaust Valve Control Circuit/Open. A fault in the sensor and actuator circuits. The car is usually drivable while you plan the repair. Typical causes: control module driver fault, blown fuse feeding the circuit, faulty sensor or actuator of the affected circuit.

How do I diagnose P3445 myself?

Start with a scan: confirm P3445, save the freeze frame and note any companion codes. Then inspect the wiring and connectors related to the sensor and actuator circuits, and verify the suspect component against live data before buying parts.

Will P3445 clear itself?

Sometimes P3445 clears after a few drive cycles if the fault was intermittent — for example a loose connector or a tank of bad fuel. The underlying cause usually remains, so the code tends to return. Clear it once; if it comes back, diagnose rather than erase it repeatedly.

What does P3445 mean?

When P3445 appears on a scan, it means the control module has flagged a problem in the sensor and actuator circuits: cylinder 6 exhaust valve control circuit/open. The fault sits in the powertrain (engine/transmission) group of the OBD2 standard.

P3445 refers specifically to cylinder 6. On inline engines cylinders are counted from the front (belt end); on V-engines the numbering depends on the manufacturer, so check the firing-order diagram for your exact model. Location matters for the repair bill: some cylinders require intake manifold removal, which adds labor time.

This code does not appear from a single bad reading: the module must see the fault condition repeat under defined operating conditions before it turns on the warning light. The freeze frame captured with P3445 — engine load, rpm, temperature, speed — tells you exactly when the problem occurs, so reproduce those conditions when testing.

What causes P3445?

  • blown fuse feeding the circuit
  • faulty sensor or actuator of the affected circuit
  • corroded, loose or damaged connector
  • poor ground connection

Common symptoms of P3445

  • possible limp mode depending on the affected component
  • the affected system operates intermittently or not at all
  • Check Engine Light on
  • increased fuel consumption in some cases

How to diagnose P3445

  1. Connect an OBD2 scanner, confirm P3445 is stored, and save the freeze frame data — it shows engine conditions when the fault was detected.
  2. Related codes often reveal the real root cause. Also check manufacturer technical service bulletins (TSB) for your make and model — many P0xxx issues have factory fixes or software updates. Search by VIN on the manufacturer site or nhtsa.gov.
  3. Visually inspect the wiring harness and connectors related to the cylinder 6 exhaust valve control circuit/open for damage, corrosion, chafing or poor contact.
  4. Measure reference voltage, ground and signal continuity at the component connector.
  5. Wiggle-test the harness while watching the signal in live data — dropouts reveal broken wires.
  6. Clear the code, complete a full drive cycle including the conditions from the freeze frame, and confirm P3445 does not return.

How to fix P3445

Start with the cheapest and most common causes before replacing expensive parts:

  • Repair wiring or connectors — $80–$250
  • Control module repair — $300–$1,000
  • Replace the faulty sensor or actuator — $150–$500

How much does it cost to fix P3445?

Repair cost depends on which component actually failed. Typical scenarios for P3445 (parts and labor, USD, independent shop rates):

  • Repair wiring or connectors: $80–$250
  • Control module repair: $300–$1,000
  • Replace the faulty sensor or actuator: $150–$500

Overall, fixing P3445 usually costs between $80 and $1,000. An accurate diagnosis before buying parts saves money — the most expensive scenario is rarely the first one to check.

Can you drive with P3445?

In most cases the car remains drivable, possibly with reduced performance or a disabled auxiliary system. If symptoms include stalling, no-start or brake/steering warnings, treat it as urgent.

Related OBD2 codes