EGR Fault Code

[mylo]

My check engine light came on today. I checked the diagnostics, and it says it is an EGR fault. We are leaving for a weekend trip tomorrow. Is this serious enough to cancel our trip? The coach seems to run fine. Can I do any damage by ignoring it in the short term? What possible effects could there be, if any?

Thanks.


Mylo

 

[Born2Travel]

The EGR is pretty simple to remove and normally it can be cleaned, put back on and no more code.

 

[mylo]

I assume you are talking about the EGR valve (wherever that is....) and not the canister. I won't have a chance to track it down before the first leg of our trip, but maybe I can locate and clean it at the campsite.

What are the effects (besides the darn idiot light) of a faulty EGR system? More emissions? Less fuel economy?


Thanks.

Mylo

 

[Born2Travel]

You may or may not notice anything. It depends on if it is stuck open or closed. You may notice pinging (the old octane rattle) or you may not. The answers are all over the board on the signs and symptoms. Some may notice decreased gas mileage some won't. I wouldn't drive across country but a weekend trip should be no problem. The defensive medicine answer would be replace it before you go any where. The common sense answer is drive it, I would.  The worst thing that will happen is cleaning it won't help and you'll have to get a new one.

The easiest way to fix that light is just take it out of the dash display. ;D ;D ;D

If memory serves me right it should be on the driver's side upper engine. This is what you are looking for http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/details/QQChevroletQQP30QQStandardQQEGR_ValveQQ19961999QQSIEGV589.html and they aren't cheap. But, I have had several EGR codes over the years and have never had to buy one just clean them. They build up carbon over the miles.

Let us know what happens.

 

[mylo]

You may or may not notice anything. It depends on if it is stuck open or closed. You may notice pinging (the old octane rattle) or you may not. The answers are all over the board on the signs and symptoms. Some may notice decreased gas mileage some won't. I wouldn't drive across country but a weekend trip should be no problem. The defensive medicine answer would be replace it before you go any where. The common sense answer is drive it, I would.  The worst thing that will happen is cleaning it won't help and you'll have to get a new one.

The easiest way to fix that light is just take it out of the dash display. ;D ;D ;D

If memory serves me right it should be on the driver's side upper engine. This is what you are looking for http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/details/QQChevroletQQP30QQStandardQQEGR_ValveQQ19961999QQSIEGV589.html and they aren't cheap. But, I have had several EGR codes over the years and have never had to buy one just clean them. They build up carbon over the miles.

Let us know what happens.

Wow. Thanks so much for your help! I'll let you know how it works out.


Mylo

 

[gwcowgill]

Sounds like a used car dealer solution to take out the light buklb. If the EGR is not opening you will not notice any affect. If it is stuck open, you will experience rough idle and possible stalling. The good news is you are not noticing any symptons so you can drive it with out fear of damage. If it is stuck closed or the passage way is clogghed with carbon you might find that a removal and cleaning is in order. It could be a bad EGR valve. I don't remember if 2003 is electronic or not.

 

[mylo]

I assume it could be a vacuum problem, too. The picture in the link that Born2Travel posted looks like it gets hooked up to a vacuum line. If that is leaky, I assume that it would be stuck closed.


Mylo

 

[gwcowgill]

If in fact it is vacuum controlled check to see if it is getting vacuum with the throttle plates open or better yet if you have a handheld vacuum pump see if it will open when you apply vacuum to it. You will notice a rough idl;e if it is opening when you apply vacuum.

 

[Charlie 5320]

If it's the electronic model, don't immerse the coil in solvent. It will destroy the coil. You can normally clean the passages in the valve and manifold. Put on a new gasket.

Just did a little search. It appears your egr is a 2 part system. The egr valve is located on the intake manifold, looks like a diaphram with a vacuum line attached to the top. Then you have a egr solenoid that controls the vacuum. The good part is, the parts are cheaper than the later model ones.

 

[Jim Godward]

I assume you are talking about the EGR valve (wherever that is....) and not the canister. I won't have a chance to track it down before the first leg of our trip, but maybe I can locate and clean it at the campsite.

Somewhere in the engine compartment, usually at the top of the radiator is a map of the vacuum lines.  Check that and it will show you where the EGR valve is located.  Pull it out, and spray some carburetor cleaner into it, shake it out and reinstall it.  That should solve your problem and will take about 10 minutes.

 

[John From Detroit]

There are two different EGR systems depending on the engine and age that I have come across.. One is a purely mechinical thing, weights, springs and one of the springs is temp sensiitive, it sometimes freezes up and can be worked free.. It can also size up from overheat (happned to me once) and work normally when cooled off.

The other kind, is electrically operated

IF they fail "closed" the effect is a slightly higher impurity content in the exhaust (more pollution) but the engine control comptuer should be able to compensate for the difference in combustion mix.

On the other side, if it fails open... I do not know if the ECC can compensate all the way or not.

I'd not cancel a trip, I've seen cars run several hundred miles (Several THOUSAND) with an ERG fault on the board.  Do pay attention to engine temp and sound.  Rattle, eipcally on acceleration (PING) is a bad sound.

 

[Born2Travel]

Sounds like a used car dealer solution to take out the light buklb.

What???????????????? Light bulb removal isn't an approved repair? Say it isn't so...

 

[gwcowgill]

On some of the newer cars when you remove the light bulb you can no longer get the codes.