I just bought an '89 rs with a 305 TBI. We have en=missions to worry about here in colo. after you drive it for about a half an hour the check engine light comes on. I ran the codes and came up with a code 32 which is the egr circuit. Anybody ever have this problem and what was the solution? I checked the vacuum lines to the control solenoid and to the egr valve on the intake and they are fine.

 

its a very common problem.
odds are your EGR vavle is bad.
here is something that will help you trouble shoot that code before you spend money on parts.

https://www.thirdgen.org/egrdiagnose

 

I'm not sure, but doesn't the code 32 check the EGR electronics? I'm not positive the ECM can test the valve itself. I ran a blocked off EGR some years ago but kept the solenoids connected to avoid check engine light. I think a bad valve would actually set one of the MAP codes. Hope this helps.

 

The ECM has no DIRECT way of knowing whether the EGR valve is functioning properly but it can INFER it from other sensors while running. You almost always get the EGR trouble code after running on the highway, fully warmed up, for several miles. It seems to take steady-state part throttle cruising for a while before the ECM can clue into a malfunctioning EGR system.

I had a very simiar EGR system on my 91 Chevy Blazer and it would do the same thing. You could unplug the valve and it was none the wiser driving around town with regularly changing throttle position- you could drive it for hours like that. But take it out on the highway and cruise at 65 MPH for a while and....... Oops, there's that check engine light again!

 

Same thing with my car. I just replaced the EGR valve and all was good.

 

if you dont want to buy a new one you could always take the old one off and clean it using a carburetor or brake cleaner and use a tiny bristle brush of some sort to scrape and get all the carbon out because most of the time the stick in a position.

 

Awsome thanks for the info guys, thats what I was looking for was simillar stories. It only comes on after highway cruising for a few miles. I'll get the egr changed.