I am having the erratic idle and am hoping it is a bad/dirty EGR valve on my 2004 TL w/ 108K miles.

I read the DIY on how to remove and clean, but I can't for the love of me remove the bolts. I even let them soak over night after applying a liberal amount of WD40.

I am using a ratchet with an extension and it seems as if you can't quit grab the bolt straight on from the top, it is always just off center due to the plastic housing not letting you come straight down on the bolt exactly center.

Any suggestions or tools I should pick up to get these dang bolts off?

Thank You.

 

You should be able to get it, how long of an extention are you useing? Swivel sockets would come in handy if you have acces to those. Also pb blaster is far and away better then wd40.

 

you are using a 6 pt socket right?

 

Thanks. I have 3 different extensions approx. 3,6, 9 inches. I will grab some pb blaster and look into a swivel socket.

 

Iv never taken mine off but, you should be able to get at those 2 fastners without too much trouble. Maybe a bit of elbow greese. Like paperboy said don't use a 12pt.

 

I used a crowfoot flare nut wrench on the end of my ratchet & extension; a swivel-extension might work.

Are you really 91-years-old? You might be the oldest 3G TL driver in the world!

 

might explain why he cant take it off.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I ended up getting some PB blaster & purchasing a craftsman bolt exctrator..not sure which one actually did the trick since I used both...but I FINALLY got the bolts off! ..now the only thing is, my EGR valve looks fine...I sprayed it with carb cleaner and brushed it a bit..so maybe that is not even the issue.

 

^how about the intake manifold where the EGR feeds into?