When I hook up a vacuum pump to the inlet and block the outlet it leaks off almost as fast as I can pump it up. Is this correct or is the solenoid bad?

 

to check the solenoid use a ohm meter and test the resistance

 

kaupca

EGR Solenoid has two vacuum ports - just make sure the second port is caped with correct sized plug. Think of this solenoid as a electrically controlled vacuum switch. And yes, it should not leak vacuum.

//RF

 

waht if the voltage on both wires read the same voltage?? i got ground, but when i test put the lead to the cable while the cars ignition is on, they both read about 13volts... even when running, it reads 13.6 volts

 

The following refers to PWM controlled EGR's

When ECM is not activating EGR you'll see 13.8 Volts on both gray and pink-black wires going into EGR solenoid. However, when ECM begins to activate EGR it will pulse gray wire (ECM pin A4 being pulled to ground) with the pulse duty cycle corresponding to amount of exhaust gas required by EGR function. Depending on the DVM model you'll see slight voltage from 13.8 volts. As duty cycle increases observed voltage should drop. The only way to correctly verify EGR control voltage is with oscilloscope, but few have this test instrument available.

//RF

 

so what your saying is, i need that device to mention to see if its working? when i tested it with the car running, the voltage never dropped for a second. it was stuck at 13.6 or 8 i dont remember exactly..

could this mean my ecm is done??

 

Well not exactly.
Since we do not know your ECM calibration hence it is possible that EGR might be disabled while car is stationary. The way to see if ECM controls EGR solenoid is to hookup a vacuum T between EGR and EGR control solenoid. Connect third port to a vacuum gauge. You may need a long section of vacuum tubing to bring vacuum gauge into a convenient spot where it can be safely observed while car is in motion.

When everything is secured go for a test drive. When ECM controls EGR there should be variation in vacuum (other than 0). If there is no vacuum then either ECM is not controlling EGR solenoid or solenoid is bad. It is an indirect way to observe if ECM provides EGR control function without oscilloscope.

//RF