As some of you may recall, I made a post earlier in the year about self-servicing my Fabia for the first time. When I completed the oil and filter change, pollen filter and air filter change-I thought all went well. It all seemed OK, however within the week, my engine management light came on. Luckily I had an reader which threw up the P0441 code (incorrect purge flow in the evaporative emission). I checked the fuel cap and cleared the light. I read it could be fuel in the charcoal cannister after being overfilled and if it is this, it can go away over time. Over the coming weeks it came back every now and then (after approx 10 days driving) and I just kept clearing it each time.

When doing some reading, I read that when a air filter change has happened, if the seal isn't as it should be, this can throw up codes like the one I have.

When I reflect on the air filter change, one of the screws heads was damaged, as I over-tightened, and I was u sure if I properly sealed the hose closest to the windscreen, using the spring jubilee clip.

Something makes me feel I should take the air filter off and try again. Firstly, trying to take the damaged screw out and put in a replacement and then making sure that I fully reseal when placing the air filter back on.

It might just be a coincidence that this code has happened after my self-service-it might not! I could have accidentally knocked, clipped, nipped, damaged or not put something (hoses, plugs etc.) where it belongs.

Should the code appear after I try this, I will then look at replacing purge valves, and charcoal cannisters ect.

The car drives OK and I can't smell fuel. If anything, it i

might a little sluggish and I'm now just used to it. when I accelerate into the 3000 rev territory, this tends to be when the code throws up. If I drive conservatively, the engine management light tends to stay off.

Has anyone else had any dramas regarding this particular code with the 1.0 tsi mk3 Fabias?

7 hours ago, Sco22y said:

When I reflect on the air filter change, one of the screws heads was damaged, as I over-tightened, and I was u sure if I properly sealed the hose closest to the windscreen, using the spring jubilee clip.

Something makes me feel I should take the air filter off and try again. Firstly, trying to take the damaged screw out and put in a replacement and then making sure that I fully reseal when placing the air filter back on.

From this description, I suspect you've damaged threads in the plastic components of the air filter case.

Hopefully not. Although I damaged the head of one of the torque screws, I didn't think I tightened it up that much to break the housing. I will have a closer look when I manage to take it off again.

I don't believe this fault will be related to the airbox at all.

2 minutes ago, Breezy_Pete said:

I don't believe this fault will be related to the airbox at all.

As I mentioned. It could just be coincidental. However, as I done the service just before the EML first came on, it's making me wonder.

An imperfect seal would possibly let a very small amount of unfiltered air into the engine, which nothing would notice.

Try checking/changing the purge valve/solenoid.

1 hour ago, MAKAKI said:

Try checking/changing the purge valve/solenoid.

Yeah, this could be the problem.

First check it by yourself. Without power it shouldn't allow any air flow (blow test). With power applied, it should allow air to flow.

35 minutes ago, MAKAKI said:

First check it by yourself. Without power it shouldn't allow any air flow (blow test). With power applied, it should allow air to flow.

Thanks, will give this a try. Hopefully when I finish work.

4 hours ago, Breezy_Pete said:

An imperfect seal would possibly let a very small amount of unfiltered air into the engine, which nothing would notice.

My old octavia had damaged/stripped threads on the airfilter housing. It had a small few holes drilled and cable tied down. Never caused me any problems and was like that for years.

Not sure if its any help but my sons mk1 threw up similar code and it was the brake servo hose that was split in three places. The valve was ok. I found out on line that it could be the valve or linked to a vaccum problem. I taped the ends up and canceled fault codes and its been fine for months.

On 11/08/2025 at 09:06, MAKAKI said:

Try checking/changing the purge valve/solenoid.

Having real dramas finding it. I've Googled what it looks like but still can't see it. Looked on YouTube but can't see any related to purge valves and mk3 fabias. The search continues tomorrow when I have a day off from work. 😁

I don't suppose anyone knows if this is the purge valve?

No, that is a pressure sensor - or in this case a vacuum sensor on the brake servo line.

I think that the fuel tank purge valve/solenoid has changed shape/look dramatically in recent years, can you work out what the flattish rectangular box is at the RHS of the car, as that is roughly where this sort of device would be located.

The two pipes that appear at the area between the brake fluid reservoir and the coolant reservoir, one of them is the pipe that vents the tank or at least flushes the carbon canister - and probably the one that is cheap and nasty ribbed plastic and so has a rough inner bore, as opposed to being a more suitable and expensive pre formed smooth bored rubber pipe.

Edited 14 August, 202514 Aug by rum4mo

Does the grey thing have an electrical connector? Looks the right shape for a purge valve.

Is there a part number visible on it?

I seem to remember the purge valve on recentish models tends to come with a whole gubbins of pipework as an assembly with an overall part number. It looks rather like that grey one is 'plumbed into' various other bits without being easily separable.

Edited 14 August, 202514 Aug by Breezy_Pete
sp

Just one last thing(maybe), which brand of air filter did you fit, I'm only asking this as I remember a friend fitting what his local motor factor offered him, to his daughter's old 2004 VW Polo 1.2 during servicing it, and that car from that point on ran like a bag of nails, he re-fitted the old maybe VW or Mann equivalent air filter, and all was good, so he bought either a genuine VW Group air filter or a Mann equivalent(same item) and that worked like the original, money back on "not so good" air filter.

I've not heard of anyone else having a problem with a cheap air filter - but I'm just asking the question.

21 minutes ago, Breezy_Pete said:

Does the grey thing have an electrical connector? Looks the right shape for a purge valve.

Is there a part number visible on it?

I seem to remember the purge valve on recentish models tends to come with a whole gubbins of pipework as an assembly with an overall part number. It looks rather like that grey one is 'plumbed into' various other bits without being easily separable.

I took these photos of the part you are referring to, as I thought it could be it. I will check more thoroughly when I've got time to go to the car.

23 minutes ago, rum4mo said:

Just one last thing(maybe), which brand of air filter did you fit, I'm only asking this as I remember a friend fitting what his local motor factor offered him, to his daughter's old 2004 VW Polo 1.2 during servicing it, and that car from that point on ran like a bag of nails, he re-fitted the old maybe VW or Mann equivalent air filter, and all was good, so he bought either a genuine VW Group air filter or a Mann equivalent(same item) and that worked like the original, money back on "not so good" air filter.

I've not heard of anyone else having a problem with a cheap air filter - but I'm just asking the question.

I dint think the one I've got is that great. I suppose it could be this as well.

Can't see clearly enough from those pics, maybe one can just about see a connector and wire hanging down in the first pic, under the black pipe that's coming out of it going rightwards?

If you supply reg or VIN, I can look up part number for you.

1 hour ago, Breezy_Pete said:

Can't see clearly enough from those pics, maybe one can just about see a connector and wire hanging down in the first pic, under the black pipe that's coming out of it going rightwards?

If you supply reg or VIN, I can look up part number for you.

Thank you, much appreciated.

Vin number:

TMBFP6NJ7MZ045173

Yep, AKF valve is the German abbreviation for purge valve. Pretty sure the actual purge valve is the grey bit we identified above.

Bit of an expensive parts-cannon guess, by the looks of the pre-VAT prices.

Edited 14 August, 202514 Aug by Breezy_Pete

Wow, that's quite a difference from the £20 parts I've seen for other purge valves on other models. Taking this into consideration, I think it's unwise of me to try and change this myself. If I get a mechanic to change this over, I could get them to change the spark plugs at the same time-I should have done this when I done the other service jobs but this seemed more difficult. Thanks for taking the time to research mate.

Now that you've been given a part number, maybe just what the part numbering is on the black rectangular part that I was directing you to earlier - the one shown in your picture with the brake fluid reservoir and coolant reservoir in it - that rectangular part sits between them.

I could be completely wrong, but after you have checked that number against what is printed on it, I'll know for sure.

I do agree however that the grey cylindrical part does look like purge valves used to look like - but I was being swayed by the shape of the part in the parts listing - which is exactly what you have now been shown, though sometimes parts diagrams are just generic.

Air filter, fair enough, though not one area that I would have taken a chance with, Mann has always worked for me, and it seems VW Group.

Had exactly this fault on our fabia mk3 (2021 Monte Carlo) a few months ago - changed the charcoal canister and all been good since

It is possible to tell if it is the canister which gets contaminated with fuel if you overfill the tank by weighing it - a new one weighs 900grammes - if the one fitted weighs more than 1000g it will need replacing

It is situated behind the drivers side rear wheel arch liner and once you remove that ( and the wheel) the canister is clearly visible and is held on by just one bolt and 2 clip on pipes

New one was £88 from main dealer - they had 3 in stock so seems to be a common issue

Great info, especially the weighing thing. 🙂