webeeZ28

iTrader: (2)

38,000 miles on car (a complete tune up was done on the car 2,000 miles ago). Required to go to a “STAR” station and failed due to high nox. Bought a new EGR from Autozone and replaced the part myself. Re-smogged and again failed with almost no change in high nox numbers.

Took the car to a “STAR” certified smog test and tune shop. The shop found the new EGR from Autozone to be defective. The shop replaced with their part and the car passed with no problems. I took the part back to Autozone and got a refund.

Have any of you guys encountered a new EGR valve to be defective? I just didn’t think the new one would be bad. Are some EGR brands better than others? I usually buy my parts from O’Reilly, but they were out of stock (BWD brand).

kairles

iTrader: (2)

It happens. I got a defective EGR valve from Napa a couple years ago, and 2 TPS from Kragen.

webeeZ28

iTrader: (2)

Hey Mr. T. Did you find out the EGR was bad when you went to smog it? Because it was hard to see the EGR under the plenum, I held a mirror next to the EGR and it appeared to move up and down slightly. The shop said it would not open under load, hence no change in my nox numbers.

For my future experience, do you have any tips on how to verify the new valve will work prior to paying the smog shop? Thanks

kairles

iTrader: (2)

No mine was a drivability problem.

I think all you can do to test the valve is to see if it holds vacuum, and to make sure it moves when the vacuum in applied.

webeeZ28

iTrader: (2)

Thanks for the reply. You're always so helpful

Edwardgp

I guess every new part is going to need testing. They should start doing it when they pull it out of the box at the parts store.I hate that s### when it happens to me.

antoine

They have a positive and negative egr

Jersey89GTA

iTrader: (1)

Yep just happened to me, EGR from NAPA, what a POS.

So are their MAFs - burned out in 14 months (warranted for 12).

The one they gave me for the GTA was the kind you had to put a washer in the bottom ... peene it in. It references the OEM EGR # and tell you what washer to peene in, so I thought this was genuine .... but the one I pulled out had a plunger like thing on the bottom ... was getting a 32 code for a year or more ... new one was a AC Delco.

What a pain. Anyway - better for now.

webeeZ28

iTrader: (2)

Hi Antoine. All the EGR's were labeled with an "N". It is my understanding that a positive EGR can't be bench tested. IIRC, you are a mechanic and may have more knowledge on this than me. Thanks for the response.

webeeZ28

iTrader: (2)

Thanks Jersey89GTA. Would you please tell me how did you determine that the EGR was bad In your case?

I feel your pain when a product fails just out of warranty... especially by 2 months.

neagan

iTrader: (7)

Usually I would share with someone not to purchase particular items such as an EGR valve from a vending machine type of parts supplier; to instead buy that type of item from a reliable parts house such as: NAPA Auto. However, maybe I need to do some research to check if NAPA has been cutting corners in the past couple years.
I have experienced issues with our Camaro's that connect with our car's having been such early computer run systems that sometimes only AC Delco parts will seem to work.
What an awful thing for you to have to replace, given that it's buried; with all the TPI gaskets that need to reseal tightly once you put it all back together. Thanks for posting this! Nitro-Nicky

UnderCover89TBI

iTrader: (25)

i prefer to not install anything but OEM egr's but sometimes i have to. i'd bet the shop installed an OEM AC Delco egr.

Jersey89GTA

iTrader: (1)

The Failed EGR and MAF were both from NAPA.

Sometimes I get AC delco stuff from them. MAF was a Bosch remanufactured item. New EGR is a AC Delco....


Test EGR, squeeze the plunger up thru the bottom holes and put finger over vacuum hose hole, if the plunger drop w/finger over hole, then its no good, diaphraim failed. Here a utube vid ..

webeeZ28

iTrader: (2)

Hey Anthony. The EGR that I replaced was an AC DELCO (6 years on car). With no prior experience on replacing the part myself, I figured any brand would do.

The shop I went to didn't use AC DELCO, but he wouldn't tell me which brand he used. I think he felt like I wouldn't use him again if I knew where he got his parts from

James

webeeZ28

iTrader: (2)

Thanks for the video Jersey89GTA. I did exactly what the video shows prior to installing the EGR from Autozone. The unit failed under load. I don't have any idea how I would test this at home?

James

porkyzilla

iTrader: (1)

on egr valves ac delco or NOS is the only way to go. the aftermarket universal ones are junk they could be working and still not cause it to pass. if its an egr valve i go oe at the shop no aftermarket unless thats all thats available.

FreeSpirit

I had 2 out of 2 fuel pump / cooling fan relays go bad from Oreilly. The water pump I bought from Oreilly has a slow leak that appeared only a few months after installing it. Thermostat I bought from Oreilly's got stuck. Lesson learned.. I don't buy parts from Oreilly or Autozone or any big box store. I get only AC Delco and go straight to a real parts store if I need it that day. If I can wait, I get it from rockauto.com since the prices are so good. In general, it seems anywhere online is much cheaper than in a store.