So my car has had the check engine light on for a small amount of time and the code is P0401 (EGR Insufficent Flow Detected). I figured this out when I brought my car for inspection which failed. While doing some detective work online I noticed that there was some sort of recall and the dealership would replace it for free (which wasn't the case). My question is.....

is there anyway to reset the light and pass emissions without fixing the problem right this second? Or does it not really matter whether the light is on or off?

I do plan on getting this fixed but at this moment I can't spare the money.

I also looked on how to fix it yourself but I'm horrible with cars and have little tools to work with.

All suggestions are welcome......

 

See the thread on cleaning the EGR and then run Seafoam see thread Seafoamed the ol TL for instructions

No you cant reset the light and pass smog- needs repair first and will make your car run way better

 

one other question.....

almost 2 years ago I had a new EGR Valve Kit installed after getting a code of P1491.

Is this the same thing as the question I asked above? If so isn't it a little too soon for this to crap the bed once again?

 

that was done at 85k...my car now has 111k

 

It depends if its just a parts failure- things like that happen,
or a different problem. Maybe the passages are dirty/clogged
Codes are not diagnosis- just hints to a problem you have to de-code to fix
Pull a few spark plugs- they are the best indicator of trouble

 

when you say "pull a few spark plugs" what exactly do you mean? Like I said in my first post I'm not all that good with cars but can figure out where things are.

 

You dont need to pull any plugs. This is a common problem on the TL.

Do a search for EGR cleaning. There are instructions for the 99 and for the 2000-2003 models here. Its a Very simple fix, with baisic hand tools and a can of carb cleaner you can fix yourself. As for resetting the light if its clogged it will come back on rather quickly. You can reset the light by pulling the clock back up fuse on the passenger side dash fuse panel

 

https://acurazine.com/forums/showpos...39&postcount=8

99

http://www.in.honda.com/Rjanisis/pubs/SB/B00-004.PDF

 

I'm having the same code being thrown, as well as another one....I'll have to look at my print out to find it. I actually replaced my EGR valve two weeks ago and I thought it had fixed the problem.....but it didn't. I don't know what else to do. I could take the IM off and clean it again, but I just did that back over the summer, and it was a very good cleaning. Any suggestions, guys?

 

My reasoning for pulling and inspecting a few plugs was to have the OP determine if they have been replaced before- with 111k miles could be due

Fsttyms to the rescue once again!!!

 

Just an FYI, clearing the CEL will not allow you to pass inspection, regardless of whether the light is on or not when you actually get the inspection. The diagnostic tool they plug into your car can detect that the CEL was reset and they will tell you to come back in a few weeks (happened to me).

 

Bump.