Egr valve

[Guest]

i have a 3100 with the digital egr valve.  i got a code 77 (solenoid #3) and was wondering how hard is it to replace the stupid thing.

[RebelGT]

not hard, should only take a few minutes.

[GTPrix]

Dammit Mike.............I'm trying to tell you......clean it out with carb cleaner first.
A million people have had that problem on the 3100 before, and most of the time it has gone away once it gets cleaned out.

Even if it doesnt fix it.....you're out what...the $1 carb cleaner costs at Walmart..?

[Guest]

If your going to clean it...
Try to stick something long into the plenum and try to clean in there.. Maybe some type of brush or something.. or a coat hanger..

[Guest]

it's pretty #### easy to see if the passage is stopped up- there's only two bolts holding the EGR on and it'd easy to get to- just take it off, and shine a flashlight in there... despite what SOME folks around here will tell you, just spaying carb cleaner in the throttle body while you run the engine won't do a #### thing for the EGR.

I'd say make sure the EGR is plugged in good, and if it is, just get another one at the junkyard and see if that takes care of the problem.

[Guest]

i have done the carb cleaner twice and to no avail.  In fact it seems to have gotten even more sensitive. now, no matter how lightly i tap on teh brake when i am above 55 the light comes on.

[Guest]

if it's setting a code, then the problem is an electrical one, not a clogged EGR passage.  If you're lucky, you can replace that EGR with one from a junkyard, and it'll take care of the code if one of the solenoids on your old one is bad, but the code can also be set by a wiring problem.

[feelgood7777]

Quote (iskerbibelforgod @ July 22 2002,11:25)if it's setting a code, then the problem is an electrical one, not a clogged EGR passage.  If you're lucky, you can replace that EGR with one from a junkyard, and it'll take care of the code if one of the solenoids on your old one is bad, but the code can also be set by a wiring problem.
Not exactly my car had a code for i think solenoid 2 and it was that the part of the EGR valve that opens and closes would get hung up and cause a code.  I cleaned mine and now its fine.  I still say try cleaning it before you blow $200 or so IIRC for a new one.

[Guest]

i have not taken it off to clean it, but 1) would i need a new gasket 2) which screws do i take off, 3) what would be a good cleaner 4)

[GTPrix]

Quote (feelgood7777 @ July 24 2002,10:58)Quote (iskerbibelforgod @ July 22 2002,11:25)if it's setting a code, then the problem is an electrical one, not a clogged EGR passage.  If you're lucky, you can replace that EGR with one from a junkyard, and it'll take care of the code if one of the solenoids on your old one is bad, but the code can also be set by a wiring problem.
Not exactly my car had a code for i think solenoid 2 and it was that the part of the EGR valve that opens and closes would get hung up and cause a code.  I cleaned mine and now its fine.  I still say try cleaning it before you blow $200 or so IIRC for a new one.
THANK YOU!

[Guest]

It's simple. ÂÂÂ Disconnect the electrical connector. ÂÂÂ Then, there are 3 bolts (10mm I think) take them off and pull off the egr valve. ÂÂÂ You are supposed to change the gasket when you take it off, but I never did and I don't think it really matters unless the gasket looks bad or is broken. ÂÂÂ Carb cleaners and throttle body cleaners will clean it. ÂÂÂ I used WD-40 and that worked great as well.  However the code you are getting is common on these 3100 engines and I still think it is carbon buildup somewhere between the throttle body and intake plenum.

[Guest]

theres an electricial connector on each cylinder on the top right?

[paintgod93]

Check that passage in the upper intake right aftert the throttle body.  Mine was filthy and choked with carbon, clean that up real good.(Take off the upper intake if you got time)  Just clean the #### out of it.  That fixed my ses light when I did it.  Oh yeah, always change the gasket whenever you have to remove an old one.  It won't come back to bite you in the ### later that way.

[Guest]

no way folks... I don't care how dirty the EGR is, it WILL NOT set an EGR code unless there's an electrical problem.

If you've cleaned it and the code went away, you probably had a bad connection that happened to make contact when you plugged the EGR back in... a code doesn't neccesarily mean the EGR solenoid(s) is(are) bad, but it DOES mean that there's something wrong in the ELECTRICAL circuit.

Oh, and it's really easy to remove- there's two bolts that hold it on and a wiring connector- you probably won't need a new gasket... mine didn't tear when I had it off.  Go ahead and clean it, and when that doesn't work, you can probably get one from a junkyard for less than $10, and it should take care of the problem unless it's a wiring problem... then you're on your own...

[Guest]

Oh yeah... you were asking which bolts to remove... If I remember right, there are three torx screws holding the solenoids to a little plate- those are NOT the screws you take out- that little plate is held on by 2 10mm head bolts- those are the ones you take out.