EVAP purge valve replacement cost: shop vs. mobile mechanic
EVAP purge valve (purge solenoid) replacement: estimated U.S. average labor cost at a repair shop and with a mobile mechanic. Labor only; parts not included. Estimates, not quotes.
Average shop cost
$60
Range $30–$210 (labor)
0.3–1.5 h × $100–$139/h estimated shop labor rate
Parts not included.
Average mobile mechanic cost
$90
Range $45–$315 (labor)
Shop labor × 1.5 (mobile convenience premium)
Parts not included.
Estimate for your state or city →
What the estimate covers
Labor to replace the EVAP canister purge valve (purge solenoid) once testing shows it has failed. On most engines it sits on top of the engine near the intake manifold and is a short job; units mounted low, behind the intake or near the charcoal canister take longer. The valve, any brittle hoses or connectors, and the diagnosis that pinpointed it are extra. A purge valve stuck open can cause hard starting right after refueling, a rough idle and lean or EVAP codes.
Labor hours used: 0.3–1.5 h (typical 0.5 h), our own editorial estimate (not taken from a licensed labor guide).
How these estimates work
- Labor hours (Mechanic Notes estimate): each job has our own editorial "typical labor hours" range. Real times depend on the vehicle, engine and condition, and are not taken from any licensed labor guide.
- Shop labor rate (assumption): $100–$139/hour, the band where about half of surveyed U.S. general repair shops put their average labor rate (PartsTech / OEC U.S. General Auto Repair Shop Survey (about 700 shops, Sept 2025), as reported by Ratchet+Wrench), scaled by your area's mean wage for automotive service technicians divided by the U.S. mean ($27.13/h; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 49-3023; verify on bls.gov). States and metros without wage data use the next-wider area.
- Average shop cost = typical hours × estimated shop rate. The headline number uses the middle of both ranges (or a job’s stated typical hours, where the usual job sits near the low end); the range uses low hours × low rate to high hours × high rate. Rounded to $5.
- Average mobile mechanic cost = shop labor × 1.5 (mobile convenience premium: travel and convenience are built in). This is a default assumption, not a survey result.
- Parts are not included. Parts prices vary too much by vehicle and brand to estimate honestly here; price parts separately.
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