EGR valve bad?
 

Hi everyone, recently I was getting a code 32, egr failure. I took out my egr valve to inspect it. I can push up the diaphram thing but theres alot of resistance, almost need 2 hands to push it all the way up. In the book, it says if it doesnt move freely, its bad. Are the EGR valve diaphrams suppose to have resistance when pushing it up? Thanks.

Re: EGR valve bad?
 

If you have another running engine, you can steal some vacuum and test the valve.

Re: EGR valve bad?
 

It does have a spring in it, but it isn't that hard to press it. You should be able to do it with just one thumb. I used a can of carb and choke cleaner to clean mine, and it freed it right up. But... Theres always a but...
Once you press it up, put your finger over the nipple where the vacuum line connects to it. Now stop pressing up, and see if it drops back down. It shouldn't. If it comes right back down, or even drops back down slowly, it's a bad EGR, and needs to be replaced.

Re: EGR valve bad?
 

I did that and the thing didnt drop back down. I held it for like 5 mins and it didnt seem to fall, maybe alittle if anything. Definetly need more than one thumb to push it in. Ill try and clean it tomorrow. Thanks.

Re: EGR valve bad?
 

check your vacuum lines and make sure they are not cracked, broke in any way.

Re: EGR valve bad?
 

All the vacuum lines dealing with the EGR were fine, until i pulled out the one going to the egr valve and it cracked, lol. BTW, when i took off the EGR valve, i saw this little line with a block type connector with a hole into it hanging out. I think it went to the egr solenoid, it plugs in, but its very loose. That may be the problem. Im still not sure if my egr valve is bad or not.

Re: EGR valve bad?
 

The egr valve has three ways to die.
First is the control side. With the ecm controlling the vacuum valve.
Sec is the exhaust side. The mechanical part that opens and lets the intake and exhaust mix.
Third is the temp feedback to tell the ecm that the system worked.

I run with no egr and the code does not set till I am 10 miles up the road. It clears on restart, but stays in ecm history.

Any failure, in any part of this circuit, will make for a code.

Re: EGR valve bad?
 

Wait, when i take my finger off the nipple on top, the thing shouldnt drop down?



Also, does anyone know where i can purchase replacement vacuum lines for the EGR? Autozone was no help.

Re: EGR valve bad?
 

No, with no finger on the nipple, it should drop back down. Finger on nipple, it stays up, pull finger off, it drops down.

Autozone doesn't have vacuum line? Wow... I picked up a few assorted sizes at Napa to redo everything on the engine, cost like 15 bucks, and I have a ton left over. Advance has it too. You should take a piece in with you, to match the size.

Re: EGR valve bad?
 

Update!

I got replacement lines from a small auto parts store I always go to. They have everything! They make Autozone look like a joke.

Anyway, i cut the lines to size, replaced the boots, put them in. Drove for a few minutes, no code so far. Looking good.

One test I did was, when the motor was idling, i pushed up the diaphram in the valve and the motor stumbled. I let go, and it was fine. Any significance to this? Thanks again.

Re: EGR valve bad?
 

What you duplicated was the ecm opening the egr valve (i pushed up the diaphram in the valve), at the wrong time, but it reseated as expected.

Why the engine stumbled is, at idle, opening the egr, is the same as a vacuum leak. Egr is not used at idle.

This is step 2 in my explanation.