EGR valve question

[naturallysmashed]

I made another post about how when my 2.3 93' gets warm it hesitates and comes to a rough idle when I put it in neutral.. especially after driving for a little while. I didn't get too many responses but I think the EGR valve could be clogged or shot. First thing I was going to do was clean it then put it back on and see if that helped. If that didn't work then I was going to block the EGR from the manifold with a piece of sheet metal. If the problem is the EGR.. would that even help? Thanks again for your ideas!

[Mike J.]

Could be that the EGR is opening as you think. Since it doesn't do it when cold, it's most likely the EGR vacuum regulator solenoid or EGR pressure feedback sensor. The EGR shouldn't open until two conditions are met: 1) The vehicle has warmed up 2) The vehicle is operating at driving speeds as determined by the TPS position. The ECU controls the vacuum regulator based upon coolant temp and TPS position. Check the EGR pressure feedback sensor first, as it's the most likely cause since it doesn't do it until the engine warms up.

You could block the EGR port like you suggested, but you'd probably get poor fuel economy and an EGR associated check engine light error.

[naturallysmashed]

really.. hmm.. this is an interesting post to me because i've read that it helps fuel economy.. but it makes sense to me that it might hurt it.. do you have any suggestions on how i could check the sensor? My CEL isn't coming on so I don't know if there will be any error codes.

I was thinking about using the EGR valve off of my first engine... but I'm not sure if I left that outside in the rain or not.

thanks for your post!

[Mike J.]

Remove and plug the vacuum line to the EGR valve. If it runs ok when hot, then it's probably the pressure feedback sensor.

[naturallysmashed]

okay I'm going to do that first, and then maybe a few other things tonight.. i'll let you know how it goes.. thanks again

[naturallysmashed]

okay so i took the egr off... and there was a TON of crap in it.. i scooped a lot out.. and then i soaked it in air intake cleaner.. re-installed it.. it seems like it helped.. but the problem is definitely still there.. just not as bad. i took a long enough drive to see the gas mileage improve a bit though.. thats a good thing.. any idea what else I should do/check to the truck?

[naturallysmashed]

I don't know if I had mentioned this but I cleaned the throttle body too. checked for vacuum leaks by hand inspection as well as spraying carb cleaner or wd-40 on the hoses.. changed plugs.. gunna do wires today probably for no reason at all.. air filters good.. what else could the problem be.. its weird.

[Mike J.]

Ok. Only use Throttle Body Cleaner to clean the intake. Carb Cleaner will remove the varnish from inside the intake manifold leading to corrosion.

If the EGR was super clogged, the port into the intake manifold and the tube down to the exhaust are probably clogged as well. You can spray some TBC into these as well. I actually had to run a wire coat hanger through the port and into the intake manifold on my Taurus to open it back up. Yeah, yeah, a lot of crap fell into the intake manifold and got sucked into the engine after puting it all back together and starting it up, but the Taurus was such piece of crap I didn't care and just wanted it to pass smog test. hehe.

[naturallysmashed]

yep, the port was clogged too.. i removed all that crap when i did the egr.. and sprayed it down with the tb cleaner.. i didn't realize that would damage it.. just thought it would help break up the clumps and help it run through the enigne.. maybe now's a good time to seafoam it.. who know's.. im really kinda stuck here.. i really don't feel like bringing it into the shop.. im 20, in college.. and renting.. i have no money for this lol

now that I think of it.. when you spray down the TB.. the cleaner gets into the manifold anyway.. i hope its not too much of a big deal.