i started my car after work to get home. when i shifted into Drive, the check engine light comes on. i drove it over to the shop, since its on the way home and got it diagnost. on the screen it says that my EGR Valve is the problem. i know where it is on the engine... but what the heck does it do? and what kinds of problems will that give me if i keep driving on it?

 

exhaust gas recirculation I belive is what it stands for. it has something to do with the throttle body and air mixture...

 

The EGR stands for exhaust gas recirculation. This is simply an emissions device and it will not harm your car to continue driving it. What this valve does is let in exhaust gases back into the engine for more "burn off" before they are re-relased out into the environment. By burning up these excess gases, it helps the emissions on your car. These things can get clogged w/ gunk from time to time and can be cleaned simply with throttle body cleaner. If this is clogged your car will idle rough and it can cause the check engine light to come on. Not a big deal but have it checked out/cleaned out and have the light reset. Let me know if this helps and if you guys can clarify or correct anything on my post to make it easier to be understood, please do so.

 

it could be the port cleaning that you need. did you get a code #?
po401 by chance? odds are you have clogged ports in the intake manifold. its very easy to fix your self. if it is hollar at me. ill tell you how to clean it

 

man, i thought this EGR thing was terminated long ago...heh my '86 corolla sr5 with a carburated 1.6 SOHC junky engine has it (i just cleaned it too). Its basically a metal pipe that brings exhaust from into your intake manifold for a more efficient burn.

if cleanning is what you wanna do, remove it (unless fstty knows a better way) and spray the hell out of with with a carburator/throttle body cleaner untill the carbon deposits are gone (or as close to "gone" as possible) 1 bottle should do this.

 

man, i thought this EGR thing was terminated long ago...heh my '86 corolla sr5 with a carburated 1.6 SOHC junky engine has it (i just cleaned it too). Its basically a metal pipe that brings exhaust from into your intake manifold for a more efficient burn.

if cleanning is what you wanna do, remove it (unless fstty knows a better way) and spray the hell out of with with a carburator/throttle body cleaner untill the carbon deposits are gone (or as close to "gone" as possible) 1 4dolla bottle should do this.

 

its not the egr thats getting clogged, its the intake manifold passages. they are very small for the exhaust to flow thru, and over time the carbon build up cloggs them. im not sure what teh egr kit does, but im no longer under warranty and refused to pay 500 dollars to eliminate a problem that seems to be occuring around every 75k or so

 

i got it diagnost again after i saw this.. and yes it is the po401. how do i clean this out? i got my check engine light reset, but i need to know what im supposed to do now.

 

i'd like to know also, i might be able to apply it to my corolla

dud, hen i took off the egr along with the metal pipe (which was ok) the entire hole was clogged...it was like this for a good inch.5, i sprayed with carburator cleaner and its cool now...but the car still doesnt run right