I have been struggling with an idle problem on my car for a year now and I don't want to take it to a mechanic, i'd rather figure out the problem myself. Well i might have found the vacuum leak that was causing the wierd idle but not sure. I found a small sensor looking thing under the ignition coil and there is a spot for a vacuum line to hook into but no line is connected or lying loose in the area. Any of you guys know what that sensor is and where the vaccuum line runs? Any help would be great, thanks.

 

That is the EGR solenoid, one line runs to it from the EGR on the manifold and another line runs to it from a small fitting at the base of the throttle body on the left side.

 

Thanks for the help, there are three lines though. One two go in one side and one goes out the other side. Mine is missing the one that goes out the other side.

 

There are only two open connections on the EGR solenoid. The third opening is a vent.

 

thanks a ton. Any idea why the electrical terminal wasn't pluged into it and what problems may i notice with it unplugged?

 

That could be your idle problem. With the electrical connection for the EGR solenoid not plugged in your EGR wasn't working at all. Hopefully the valve is not all carboned up and stuck now....

 

what valve would get carboned up and stuck? Anything i can do to fix it? thanks for the help so far

 

It would be the EGR valve and once they get carboned up enough, the only recourse is to replace it. It is item #4 in the picture I posted above. It is located on the intake manifold below the plenum chamber if it is installed. The reason the solenoid was unplugged and no vacuum lines running to it may be because some one has removed the EGR valve and put a blanking plate over its port.

 

The EGR valve. Located under the plenum on a TPI motor. Unfortunately the plenum has to be removed to get to it. Maybe trickster can come up with how to test it without having to tear things down....

I'm surprised you weren't getting an SES light and code if iti was unplugged.

 

Hey, Trickster - can you tell me which port goes to the valve or TB on the EGR solenoid? My new solenoid has one plastic and one metal nipple. I'm assuming the metal one is for the EGR valve?

 

Hey Vernw,

Something like this maybe?

 

no ses light just the idling problem. It seemed more like a vacuum line though. The idle would be right around 800 and then jump to 2000 and usually stays right at 1500-2000. I just replaced the EGR valve last fall but i never touch the solenoid. Probly the reason that the EGR went bad on me in the first place though. Any ideas on the idling issue? I've checked and replaced vaccum lines cleaned the throttle body and IAC, and replaced TPS, Thinking of putting new IAC in but don't know for sure thats the problem. How about testing the EGR how do i do that?

 

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thanks for the attempt to help me but that diagram and instructions made no sense to me maybe some could explain in lymans terms. thanks guys i appreciate all teh help.

 

trueburton --- Did you connect the solenoid back up? If you replaced the EGR valve, we know you have one. Maybe the vacuum lines are not all connected, or connected the wrong way? That could be your vacuum leak...... (or a bad solenoid staying open all the time?)

Trickster - Thanks, but that doesn't show me or tell me which port on the EGR solenoid goes to the EGR valve and which one goes to the TB. Maybe I'm just a slow old Phat Phart, but I don't see it.....


- Vern

 

Hey Vernw,

Look at the picture in my first post at the solenoid in it. The EGR valve plugs into the bottom nipple and the throttle body goes into the top one.

 

yes i plugged the solenoid back in and The lines are all connected properly. what next?

 

Okay trueburton,

In layman's terms, take a vacuum gauge and connect it to the nipple on the EGR valve and apply vacuum to it. While doing this, use a small mirror to observe the diaphram. It should move freely and hold pressure for at least 20 seconds.

 

Now that's the info I was looking for - THANKS TRICKSTER!!!

:hail:

Do you mind if I ask where you found that info at? I sure don't see it in my Service manual......



- Vern

 

don't think i have a vacuum guage where can i get one? and how much are they?

 

trueburton - what you want is a vacuum pump with a guage on it. Should be $20 or so at your local Autozone parts house or its equivalent.

 

how much pressure should i apply?

 

To Vern,

The information is located in the driveability & emission section of the service manual for each engine type. For the EGR, it would be section C7 of each engine type.

 

About 10 PSI

 

Thanks again, Trickster. I'll look again, but I didn't see anything that told me the correct vacuum line connections. I just got lucky on my connecting it up. Again, THANKS!

:hail:

 

Vern,

It doesn't exactly tell you that in so many words. If you look at that picture of the solenoid and EGR valve. You will see a broken line coming out of the bottom nipple and a broken line coming off the EGR valve. This broken line signifies that the two components are physically connected in that manner.

 

OK, I see what you're saying now. I guess ya just have to know how to "read" the manuals, huh? I found that out about 20 years ago with UNIX manuals when I first started dealing with that beastie...

Again, THANKS!!! You da Man!!!

:yourock: :hail: :yourock: :hail: :yourock: :hail: