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Post Info TOPIC: egr valve? do i need it?


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egr valve? do i need it?


building a 408 8.5.1 compression, t trim, throwing a lot of boost but was wondering staying with efi if i need to stay with an egr valve or can i block off it off or is it gonna make the car detonate and run like shit?

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  • 1988 LX Notch race car -4.6 dohc ,powerglide ,boost ,cage ,mini tubbed,chute..ect certified to 8.50s ,hoppin low 9s high 8s
  • 2008 GMC Sierra - Daily driver


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cant answer the question but could i delete the egr for my set up as well? runnin a 306 with an E cam e7 thumpers cobra upper and lower intake

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R.I.P. Specialist Matthew M. Pollini ....but it sure is fun 1992 Mustang GT-RIP GREEN HORNET


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i know on non boost applications that no egr is fine. but it will increase combustion chamber temps without it.

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which could result in a loss of HP?

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R.I.P. Specialist Matthew M. Pollini ....but it sure is fun 1992 Mustang GT-RIP GREEN HORNET


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Take it off. At WOT the EGR system is disabled anyways.

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89' TT Notch...... it's slow.


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uhhhh its my daily driver im not always at WOT lol

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R.I.P. Specialist Matthew M. Pollini ....but it sure is fun 1992 Mustang GT-RIP GREEN HORNET


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It's an ancillary emissions function, remove it and have it tuned out. You'll make more power without any drive ability concerns.

-- Edited by Turbo89 at 18:23, 2009-03-01

-- Edited by Turbo89 at 18:23, 2009-03-01

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89' TT Notch...... it's slow.


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any good places to get it tuned out? plus my computer is a stock 92 computer. any ideas on a computer as well.

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R.I.P. Specialist Matthew M. Pollini ....but it sure is fun 1992 Mustang GT-RIP GREEN HORNET


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almost all 94 95 with mods take the egr off

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You need to tune it out though otherwise it does cause some lean conditions in part throttle driving with it disabled without a tune.

It's nice to ditch it to clean up the bay, but does it give you HP to remove it? nope

In fact, removing it sometimes throws codes and causes drivablity probs in some instances.

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Mike


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Mustang5L5 wrote:

You need to tune it out though otherwise it does cause some lean conditions in part throttle driving with it disabled without a tune.

It's nice to ditch it to clean up the bay, but does it give you HP to remove it? nope

In fact, removing it sometimes throws codes and causes drivablity probs in some instances.






"It's nice to ditch it to clean up the bay, but does it give you HP to remove it? nope"

When I talk about removing the EGR I mean remove the whole system, including the smog smog pump. So to respond to your statement a few HP will be picked up via the reduced effort for the engine to spin. You should also pick up some hp by removing the stock restricted diameter EGR space/Valve at the TB.

But to be clear and get to what I think Mustang 5L5 meant, you probably won't pick up more than a few hp.

"You need to tune it out though otherwise it does cause some lean conditions in part throttle driving with it disabled without a tune."

All cars run "lean" at part throttle, this is to increase fuel mileage/emissions. Not to mention that all factory tunes are notoriously conservative for warranty reasons.

"In fact, removing it sometimes throws codes"

This statement is correct. I've had mine removed for almost 5 yrs and the check engine light was on from the very beginning.

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89' TT Notch...... it's slow.


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just get the egr delete spacer from upr youll be fine its like 30 bucks

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CRACK DAT ASS!!!hi ports tfs R box and novi 2000, yea bub


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EGR stands for... as you know ... Exhaust gas recirculation . What that means is ... it sends hot exaust gases back through the intake to burn any unburnt fuel to clean up the emissions . Removing it will help cool down your intake air temps and reduce the chance of detonation or pinging ...what ever you want to call it . Removing it on an OBD I computer should not require a tune ... other than wanting shut off the engine light . The right way to do this how ever is to remove the lower intake and block off the EGR port at the lower intake gasket . Because otherwise your still sending the hot gases out of the head and into the intake ... Even though you remove or block off the EGR ..
This would have a better effect on a power adder car than it will with a N/A car , but it would give the engine bay a cleaner look .

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Here is a quick article on how the egr really works. If you are giving advice you should probably check your sources first and make sure you know what you are talking about. There are settings in the computer to turn off the egr and smog pump. The correct way to do it would be to shut them off so the computer knows what is actually going on. I love how people on here say oh well i did this and didn't have any problems so it is correct. It might work fine, But that doesn't mean it is the correct way to do something. Same thing with Getting a MAF sensor for certain injectors. That should be done at the computer so it knows what is really happening, not by tricking it. Yes it works but is not the best way to do it.

This article was written about EEC-V but has info on EEC-IV also.
EGR - Exhaust Gas Recirculation



Why would anyone want to dump exhaust back into the intake of a perfectly good engine?

Unfortunately, the internal combustion engine is not `perfectly good.' The modern multi-valve, high compression engine can create NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) during the high temperature combustion process. NOx reacts with sunlight to create atmospheric problems such as smog and so comes into the category of 'not a good idea'.

EGR is considered a `metered intake leak' and was developed to reduce the combustion temperatures to below 2,500 degrees, the threshold where NOx is created. Not unlike putting a brick in your lavatory to lower the volume of water used, the EGR valve meters a readily available inert gas (actually exhaust gas which contains a lot of very inert Carbon Dioxide) into the combustion chamber to effectively reduce the volume. Smaller effective displacement means less fire, and less heat and thus lower temperatures, thereby controlling NOx emissions.

Obviously we don't want to `reduce' the volume of the combustion chambers (effectively reduced engine displacement) during hard acceleration, so EGR is turned off when you need full power (WOT (Wide Open throttle) conditions). At idle, the engine is very sensitive to air/fuel mixture ratios and swirl in the combustion chamber, so introducing EGR at idle is not on either. However at cruise the Fuel/Air mixture is set as lean as possible for maximum economy and this in turn generates the highest temperatures, and so the EEC-V uses these conditions to inject exhaust gas into the inlet manifolds to reduce emissions. Older vehicles used vacuum devices to control the EGR valve whereas the Scorpio uses the EEC-V and it's sensors to control it.

If EGR is on during idle, stumble and even stalling will likely result. If EGR is on during hard acceleration, low power (from reduced air/fuel volume) is the result. At part load, lean mixtures for economy create high combustion chamber temperatures and without EGR, these conditions not only create Nox, they also foster pre-ignition and pinking.

EGR systems are a lot more sophisticated than they used to be. With the EEC-V, they are not only monitored, but tested routinely during each `trip.' Faults are purposefully introduced to see if, and how, the system will react. If the EGR system performs outside of predetermined boundaries, a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) will be set and the FDS 2000 will be able to read it. Certain precise conditions have to be met before a trip takes place and the EEC-V starts a test sequence of the EGR system.

My vehicle suffered from a persistent misfire under very light throttle conditions and disconnecting the EGR at it's vacuum control input restored almost normal performance. The Ford Dealer diagnosed the problem to the EGR circuit and the FDS 2000 was used to identify the exact culprit. More news later on what was fixed.

When it comes to working on these systems, you must perform certain prescribed checks to figure out what's wrong. It can be left to the Ford Dealer with his FDS-2000 diagnostic computer and 'trouble trees' to determine systematically what would cause the indicated problem or faults, or an owner can use one of the many On Board Diagnostic readers now available to read the Trouble Codes himself.

If the engine stumbles or stalls at idle or lacks power under load, EGR may be staying on and not shutting off. On the other hand, if the engine is pinking at cruise, EGR may not be turning on to cool down combustion chamber temperatures.

Incorrect operation could be caused by a mechanical problem such as a clogged or coked EGR valve, a ruptured EGR valve diaphragm, split or improperly routed vacuum hoses, or other component failures. All sensors that control vacuum or tell the EEC-V about engine temp, throttle position, MAP, and EGR position contribute to correct EGR function, so any of these will cause problems if they go awry. On the output side, the EGR valve itself, plus associated system components such as vacuum solenoids, vacuum valves, delay valves, and associated wiring and plumbing should all be visually and functionally checked.

If you are comfortable performing some basic checks prior to resorting to the Ford Dealer then try pulling a vacuum on the EGR valve to make sure the pintle moves freely in both directions. While you're at it, make sure all vacuum hoses and system components hold a vacuum. Inspect the EGR valve visually for coking and contamination. Check EGR solenoids and the position sensor for electrical continuity. Further than that requires the WDS diagnostics at a Ford Main Dealer/well-equipped local garage, or access to an OBD Lead. to carry out the tests yourself.


Here is another article explaining them.
Understanding Exhaust Gas Recirculation Systems

Posted 11/5/1997
By Henry Guzman
Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems were introduced in the early '70s to reduce an exhaust emission that was not being cleaned by the other smog controls. Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) are formed when temperatures in the combustion chamber get too hot. At 2500 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter, the nitrogen and oxygen in the combustion chamber can chemically combine to form nitrous oxides, which, when combined with hydrocarbons (HCs) and the presence of sunlight, produces an ugly haze in our skies known commonly as smog.

How to reduce NOx NOx formation can be reduced by:

Enriching the air fuel (A/F) mixture to reduce combustion temperatures. However, this increases HC and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions.
Lowering the compression ratio and retarding ignition timing; but this leads to reduced performance and fuel economy.
Recirculating some exhaust gases.
How EGR systems work The EGR valve recirculates exhaust into the intake stream. Exhaust gases have already combusted, so they do not burn again when they are recirculated. These gases displace some of the normal intake charge. This chemically slows and cools the combustion process by several hundred degrees, thus reducing NOx formation.

The design challenge The EGR system of today must precisely control the flow of recirculated exhaust. Too much flow will retard engine performance and cause a hesitation on acceleration. Too little flow will increase NOx and cause engine ping. A well-designed system will actually increase engine performance and economy. Why? As the combustion chamber temperature is reduced, engine detonation potential is also reduced. This factor enabled the software engineers to write a more aggressive timing advance curve into the spark timing program. If the EGR valve is not flowing, onboard diagnostics (OBD) systems will set a code and the power control module (PCM) will use a backup timing curve that has less advance to prevent engine ping. Less timing advance means less performance and economy. Do your customer a favor and fix those EGR codes that you may have previously deemed as unimportant.

Evolution of the EGR systems The first EGR valves appeared in 1973 on GM cars. Bolted to the intake manifold next to the carburetor, it has ports to the intake and exhaust manifolds. It has a diaphragm that pulls open a valve stem, which allows exhaust to enter the intake manifold when ported vacuum is applied to it. Ported vacuum increases with throttle opening. A thermal vacuum switch prevents vacuum from reaching the EGR during cold engine starts. This system had many problems. It would often open too soon or too much, which caused a hesitation on acceleration as massive amounts of recirculated exhaust hit the combustion chamber. Many people simply disconnected it when it began to cause problems because they did not understand its importance or design. By 1975, if you unplugged an EGR valve, you'd have a driveability complaint of engine ping. Manufacturers and technicians of that era experimented with vacuum orifice restrictors and vacuum delay valves to try to find a happy medium between clean air and performance.

Closed loop systems By 1981, closed loop computer controls were in place. EGR flow was now more carefully controlled with dual diaphragm and back-pressure EGR valves. Modulating the vacuum to the EGR valve's pull, open diaphragm controlled the flow of recirculated ex- haust. Called by various names such as amplifiers, transducers and modulators, both remote and integral vacuum modulated devices were used. The flow of vacuum was further controlled by solenoids that blocked the vacuum ports until certain criteria were met such as engine temperature, rpm and manifold absolute pressure (MAP).

As the manufacturers began to use these complex schemes with vacuum amplifiers, delay valves and solenoids, they added a lot of "spaghetti" to the engine compartment. Plastic vacuum connections would break and rot with age and were not very reliable. Vacuum diagrams were invented and became essential to the smog driveability technicians of the day. As these systems evolved, they had fewer parts and less vacuum tubing. This was achieved by the use of pulse width modulated EGR solenoids. The PCM controlled EGR flow through the use of these solenoids to modulate vacuum to the EGR valve instead of just turning it on or off periodically.

What is pulse width modulation? Let's take a moment to discuss how computers think so we can better understand this common form of PCM control. Computers are binary. The machine language they operate in consists of only two variables: on or off, true or false, high or low. That's the only way a PCM can think. As a result, computer controlled outputs are always on or off, high (system voltage) or low (ground). Therefore, a computer output is always a square wave, or an on-off step when viewed on a lab scope. The high portion of the waveform will usually be battery voltage or PCM voltage of approximately 5 volts, with a few exceptions where the PCM operates at a different voltage.

Once the PCM receives its inputs, such as rpm, throttle angle, coolant temperature and MAP, it then calculates a response based on the software program that is embedded into it. Next, it makes its decision and sends a command in the form of a pulse width modulated signal to turn the EGR solenoid on and off rapidly. The EGR solenoid has two vacuum nipples. One side gets either manifold or ported engine vacuum. The other nipple goes to the EGR valve. Its default position is to block vacuum to the EGR valve. A vent is incorporated to bleed off vacuum when the solenoid is being pulsed. Vacuum flows to the EGR in rapid on-off pulses as the solenoid is commanded by the PCM.

OBD I systems With each succeeding year, the EGR designs became more refined. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) liked GM and Chrysler's onboard diagnostic systems. In 1988, CARB required that all cars sold in California be equipped with an onboard diagnostic system and a "check engine" light to notify the driver of emission system failure. By this time, all manufacturers had to have an EGR system that was capable of alerting the driver if it was not working. OBD I diagnostics and trouble codes were added in to flag opens, shorts and sticking solenoids.

OBD II EGR systems OBD II requires that the EGR system be monitored for abnormally low or high flow rate malfunctions. The EGR is considered malfunctioning when an EGR component fails or a fault in the flow rate results in the vehicle exceeding the Federal Test Procedure (FTP) by 1.5 times. FTP is the government-mandated drive cycle smog test that all new cars must pass and adhere to.

The diagnostic executive, also called the diagnostic task manager by Chrysler, controls the EGR monitor. The executive is an OBD II software agent given the task of managing all the onboard monitors and the scan tool interface. The executive coordinates the sequencing and actuation of all the monitor's test routines. There are eight main monitors whose sole function is to directly monitor and test the components assigned to them to ensure they meet FTP standards for life. These monitors are:

Catalyst monitor
EGR monitor
EVAP monitor
Fuel system monitor
Misfire monitor
Oxygen monitor
Oxygen heater monitor
Secondary air injection monitor
A closer look at the EGR monitor Monitor tests are both intrusive and non-intrusive. An example of an intrusive test is when the EGR monitor cycles the EGR valve during a condition when it normally would be closed. In some cases, the customer may feel an intrusive test as a slight miss.
The method of testing used by the EGR monitor varies according to the manufacturer, but there are three main types.

One method includes looking for a change in manifold pressure as the EGR valve is actuated on and off.

A second method involves cycling the EGR valve and looking for a change in short-term fuel trim. When the EGR valve is opened, it displaces some of the air fuel mixture. When the EGR valve is closed, more oxygen enters the combustion chamber, which then leans the mixture somewhat. The O2 sensor will respond with a lean signal to the PCM, which in turn increases pulse width. This is called short-term fuel trim compensation. The EGR monitor looks to see that all these things are occurring as they should. It repeats the tests and averages the results. Before the EGR monitor can begin its testing, it must first receive clearance from the diagnostic executive. The executive ensures that there are no conflicting conditions that would invalidate the EGR monitor's tests. For example, if the car had a lazy O2 sensor, fuel trim compensation to the EGR opening and closing would be inaccurate. Therefore, there are many safeguards built into OBD II to prevent this type of occurrence from happening. OBD II also has rationality checks. In other words, it uses deductive logic and constantly compares its inputs against each other to make sure all are in sync with one another. After the EGR monitor gets the OK to run its tests, it uses strict enabling criteria to ensure accurate testing such as:

Engine temperature more than 170 F.
Ambient air temperature more than 20 F.
Engine run time more than three minutes since 170 F.
Engine speed 2248-2688 (auto. trans.), 1952-2400 (manual trans.).
Manifold absolute pressure from 5-20 hg.
Short Term Adaptive Fuel Trim is adjusting pulse width by less than +7 percent and more than -8 percent.
TP sensor from 0.6 to 1.8 volts.
Vehicle speed sensor more than 40 mph.
The above is used for illustrative purposes only. Refer to your manual or CD-ROM information system for specifics to the car you are working on.

The third type of EGR monitoring design includes monitoring an EGR position sensor and a back-pressure sensor. Some Fords use a differential pressure feedback sensor that reads exhaust back-pressure upstream and downstream of the EGR valve to determine its flow rate and operation.

While OBD I systems would usually flag an inoperative EGR system, OBD II systems are given the task of determining the correct amount of EGR flow to keep the car running clean.

Next month, we will get into diagnosis, testing and repair techniques for all the different types of EGR systems. I will also cover pattern failures of all types, including mechanical problems such as plugged EGR passages that can cause rpm specific misfire concerns.


Henry Guzman is an ASE master tech with L1 certification. He has 20 years of experience working as a technician on foreign and domestic cars.


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South Shore Stangs


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In case anyone was interested this was the following article he mentions at the end.
EGR Systems: Operation and Diagnosis

Posted 12/18/1997
By Henry Guzman
Last month, we covered the reasons why exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems were created, which is primarily to control and reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) formation, and secondarily to improve engine performance with ping control. We covered the evolution of EGR systems and ended with a look at how onboard diagnostic (OBD-II) EGR systems operate.

This month, we will detail the operation and testing of EGR systems. It's helpful to remember that if a hard trouble code has been set, the power control module (PCM) has determined that a gross emission failure has occurred. Gross failure is defined as excessive exhaust emissions more than 1 1/2 times what the car was designed to produce, according to the Federal Test Procedure (FTP). This can happen if too little or too much EGR is flowing. In the case of an EGR code, that would be 1 1/2 times the NOx that is allowable. Even if the car appears to run well, excess smog is being produced. An EGR failure will not only cause excess NOx, back up strategies will often entail enriching the mixture or retarding the timing. This in turn increases HC and CO emissions. Even if you don't see it on a 4-gas exhaust analysis test, the emissions are being created and the catalytic converter will not always cover them up.

EGR valves and components
To diagnose EGR systems properly, it's important to understand how they work and what kind of communication they have with PCMs. Knowing this will help you understand a flow chart and wiring diagram, and to come up with a test strategy that you are able to complete with your available tools and equipment.

Let's start with that golden oldie, the single diaphragm EGR valve. It consists of a spring-loaded diaphragm that is connected to a pintle and seat by a slender steel shaft. Normally closed by spring tension, as it receives ported vacuum, the diaphragm rises, which pulls the pintle off its seat and enables exhaust to flow into the valve's chamber and then on to the intake manifold. To test this component, use a hand-held vacuum pump connected to the vacuum nipple to raise and hold the diaphragm. About eight inches of vacuum should do the trick. The valve should hold vacuum and raise the pintle in a linear fashion. When the engine is idling, pumping it up should stall the engine. This type of valve may or may not have vacuum modulation. Remember, vacuum modulation to the EGR is a vital ingredient of good driveability and precise NOx control. This type of EGR valve is used with a thermal vacuum switch and maybe an inline vacuum delay valve.

The positive back pressure EGR valve can be identified by the letter "P" stamped next to the part number and date code. A back pressure valve is easy to spot because its pintle shaft is much thicker than the single diaphragm type. This is so because the shaft is hollow. The hollow design allows exhaust gases to flow into the shaft and push up on it. When positive back pressure in the exhaust system is sufficient, the shaft raises up and seals the built-in control valve. Once the control valve is closed, it allows applied vacuum to pull up on the diaphragm. Without back pressure to lift the hollow shaft and close the control valve opening, the EGR valve will not hold vacuum. It is bled off to the atmosphere. This design thus modulates EGR flow by modulating the applied vacuum. As engine load increases, so does engine back pressure, which causes the control valve inside the EGR to trap vacuum and open up. To test this valve, bring the engine up to 2,000 rpms to create back pressure, then apply vacuum. EGR should open and cause a 100 rpm drop or more. Exhaust leaks or a modified exhaust system can create havoc here. Adding dual exhaust or headers on a car designed for a single exhaust will reduce back pressure and set a Code 32 on GM cars. Positive back pressure EGR valves are used in simple vacuum controlled systems, as well as more complex pulse width modulated applications.

EGR solenoids are used with all types of EGR valves, especially back pressure type valves. The EGR solenoid will have two or more vacuum lines and an electrical connector. The solenoid also has an air bleed and sometimes an air filter. Vacuum is bled off through the filter vent. The PCM uses the solenoid to regulate vacuum to the EGR valve. The vacuum can be manifold or ported vacuum. The solenoid is a vacuum switch with inlet and outlet vacuum ports. The PCM calculates intended EGR flow from various other inputs and then sends a pulsed "on/off" signal to the solenoid. No vacuum flows until commanded by the PCM. This signal turns the vacuum on and off in rapid succession. This is called "pulse width modulation." If the filter becomes clogged, the vacuum cannot bleed off and too strong a signal will be sent to the valve. If that happens, the EGR valve will open too much and cause a driveability problem.

Remote vacuum transducers
All manufacturers use them, but they are very popular with Toyotas and other Asian cars. Shaped like a flying saucer with three or more vacuum ports, they modulate vacuum by using manifold and ported vacuum against each other along with an exhaust back pressure input. The result is a carefully controlled vacuum signal to the EGR valve that is mechanically modulated by engine load. Your best bet with these is to study the vacuum diagram on the underhood emissions label. Make sure the vacuum hoses are in good condition and properly routed. Many of these units have air filters also. You can clean them out to prevent too much EGR flow.

The negative back pressure EGR valve is identified by the letter "N" and looks similar to the positive back pressure EGR valve. The valve is opened by a combination of applied engine vacuum to the control valve and negative exhaust system pulses that happen as each exhaust valve closes. As soon as the pintle opens, back pressure is reduced slightly, which opens a control valve vacuum bleed and then the valve quickly closes. In this manner, EGR is modulated by negative exhaust system pulses. To test it, apply vacuum with a hand pump when the engine is off. The valve should open and hold vacuum.

Integrated electronic/mechanical EGR valves
This type of valve has different names with each manufacturer. It is easily identified because it has a single vacuum source inlet and a three-wire electrical connector. Mechanically, it operates like a single diaphragm EGR valve with a twist. It has a pintle position sensor riding atop the EGR diaphragm. This tells the PCM the amount of EGR valve opening as it is actuated. The PCM then commands a pulse width modulated solenoid to apply an appropriate amount of vacuum on-time. GM makes one of these units that has the integral pintle sensor and an integral solenoid with air filter. The only separately serviceable part is the air filter. Ford, Honda and Mazda all use a variation of this design with remotely mounted solenoids. The idea behind the pintle sensor is to give the PCM precise feedback as to exactly where the EGR valve is positioned. The PCM can then modulate the vacuum signal to it accordingly. The pintle position sensor is a potentiometer. Like a throttle position sensor, it is a variable resistor. The wiper arm within the sensor can wear and develop opens in the sensor return signal. A sweep test with a digital volt/ohm meter (DVOM) or scope can be used to test the sensor. The PCM has an internal "map" of where the pintle sensor should be at any given time. If the sensor's voltage reading is too high or low, a trouble code will be set. With Fords, it is the infamous Code 31. This code could be caused by several different factors.

If the pintle position sensor (Ford calls it the EVP sensor) is shorted or open, you could have a code set.
If the EGR valve becomes carboned up and does not seat fully, the EVP sensor gives a high reading and a code is set.
If the diaphragm of the EGR valve is bad, then it, too, is flagged.
The fix
On Fords and Mazdas, the only sure fix is to replace the sensor and valve as an assembly. Sometimes you can get temporary relief by filing down the pintle sensor stem to lower the sensor return voltage to specs. Or you could add a thicker gasket between the valve and sensor. You can spend a lot of time trying to capture the intermittent failure in the act. This is not recommended. The codes are rarely false. Note that there are two interchangeable sensors; one is gray and the other is black. Key-on-engine-off (KOEO) voltage for the gray sensor is 0.40 volt and for the black sensor is about 0.83 volt. Don't mix them up, or Code 31 won't go away.

On Hondas, the fix is sometimes achieved by cleaning out moisture and crud from the EGR vacuum lines with shop air pressure. Disassembly of the vacuum air box is required for access.

Digital EGR valves are unique in several ways. Only GM uses them. They are completely electronic, controlled solely by the PCM. They come in two or three solenoid models, depending on the application. Part of the valve is open to exhaust flow at all times. When the solenoid pulls the pintle open, exhaust leaves the EGR valve chamber and directly enters the intake manifold. This method is different from all other EGR valves. All other EGR valves open to allow exhaust to enter their chamber first, then circulate through the valve on to the intake passage. The benefit of the digital EGR valve is speed and accuracy. It meters EGR flow 10 times faster than a vacuum modulated system. The valve is actuated by an individual quad driver from the PCM for each solenoid the valve has. Battery power is fed through terminal D when the key is turned on through a 15-amp ignition fuse. When the PCM grounds a solenoid, a magnetic field is created that causes the armature to lift open the pintle. The PCM uses this system to actuate each solenoid in increments. The increments are displayed on a scan tool as percentages of total flow. With a bi-directional scan tool, the digital EGR valve can be commanded open in a variety of increments. Don't despair if you do not have a bi-directional scan tool. You can still work with this! It's easy. Simply unplug the four-wire connector. Run a fused 12-volt wire to terminal D and alternately touch each of the other terminals to ground with a test probe. This will cause each solenoid to pull open. You can do this test with the engine idling and check for an rpm drop as you ground each solenoid. If you don't get a good rpm drop on this or any other EGR valve, you may have plugged or restricted EGR passages, which can cause a code to be set.

The linear EGR valve is a high-tech system. It uses a closed loop method for the utmost in EGR control and driveability. All electronic, its built-in pintle-position sensor allows the PCM to continuously monitor "actual pintle position" and adjust it to the "desired pintle position" as a percentage. A generic scan tool will display these parameters just as it does "actual rpm" and "desired rpm." This feature is a boon to troubleshooting. For example, I had a '92 Chevy half-ton drive into our shop running terribly. The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) was on steady. My aftermarket scan tool pulled up a Code 32. A quick look at the data stream showed that actual and desired pintle position did not match - at idle, "desired pintle position" was zero; "actual" was about 40 percent. This told me the PCM was trying to close the EGR valve but could not. Twenty minutes later, I had the EGR valve out of the vehicle and found a large chunk of carbon stuck between the pintle and its seat. Spring tension was holding it tightly and, of course, the PCM was squeezing it as it tried to close the valve. I pried the carbon out, reinstalled the valve, and all was well.

Repeat failure
Repeat failure is a common problem. You can recommend a top engine clean to the customer and attempt to clean loose carbon from the upper intake. GM has noted the problem and come up with a software update for the PCM. Essentially, what the update does is periodically command the EGR to 100 percent opening to prevent or flush out carbon chunks. The new prom numbers were in a "special policy" procedure bulletin and not a regular TSB. The special policy number is 96067(A). It refers to '92-'94 S/T, M/L and C trucks with the 4.3 V6 engine and linear EGR valve. The bulletin number is 67-65-38. It refers to '95 C, S/T and M/L trucks with the 4.3 V6 engine and linear EGR valve.

EGR/PCM strategy
GM's Code 32 has been around a long time and can be caused by a variety of reasons. Every three to five years, the PCM strategy on this code changes. Make sure you review the proper flow chart any time you work on one on these. The strategy is slightly different depending on which engine, transmission, body type or year the car is. The most common strategy entails the PCM looking for fuel integrator counts to decrease momentarily when the EGR is commanded open. Why? There is no oxygen in the inert EGR gas, so the integrator subtracts fuel to compensate. For this to happen you must have a good working oxygen (O2) sensor. O2 sensor checks are usually not in the Code 32 flow chart, so be aware. Newer models and other makes look for a change in manifold absolute pressure (MAP) when EGR is flowing, which is a more reliable method.

Mechanical failures
In closing, I'll leave you with a pattern failure seen in '85-'92 Nissans, models 240 SX and Stanza, and some Hondas about the same vintage. They have individual EGR passages running to each cylinder. Eventually, some of these passages (one or two) will plug up with carbon while others stay open. The remaining passages receive 4-runner EGR volume, which is far too much and causes a misfire on the affected cylinders. It happens above idle and under load. Sometimes you can unscrew Allen head access plugs to clean out the passages, other times you must remove the upper intake plenum chamber to do the repair.


Henry Guzman is an ASE master tech with L1 certification. He has 20 years of experience working as a technician on foreign and domestic cars.


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South Shore Stangs


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thanks for great info i understand it better now

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  • 1988 LX Notch race car -4.6 dohc ,powerglide ,boost ,cage ,mini tubbed,chute..ect certified to 8.50s ,hoppin low 9s high 8s
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im still confused a lil bit. hate bein a umbass haha. thanx man

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R.I.P. Specialist Matthew M. Pollini ....but it sure is fun 1992 Mustang GT-RIP GREEN HORNET


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Mricci You do a great job copying other peoples articles . You must have alot of time on your hands ! I just tried to break it down into simpler terms . But next time I'll just plagerize somebody elses work , so I can look like I no what i'm talking about too .

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2002 GT " SOLD " !!!


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fuck it who gives a fuck you dont need smog you dont need ac you dont need egr you wanna make a little more power take all those out and the less shit the belt is runnin the more power your gonna make might not be much but its somthing fuck even take the powersteering out

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CRACK DAT ASS!!!hi ports tfs R box and novi 2000, yea bub


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but i like my p/s!!!

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R.I.P. Specialist Matthew M. Pollini ....but it sure is fun 1992 Mustang GT-RIP GREEN HORNET


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im running no p/s or ac or smog ect

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  • 1988 LX Notch race car -4.6 dohc ,powerglide ,boost ,cage ,mini tubbed,chute..ect certified to 8.50s ,hoppin low 9s high 8s
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just water, crank, alt, p/s

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R.I.P. Specialist Matthew M. Pollini ....but it sure is fun 1992 Mustang GT-RIP GREEN HORNET


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i didn't read all that but i ran no egr on a 93 5.0 for a complete summer of beating the crap out of it with no problems at all then i sold it

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1993 cobra #2354 ( 1 of 362) ...04 lariat f350 crew cab diesal dually full 09 conversion...79 bronco 6.0 diesel conversion..more to come


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exactly my point ^

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CRACK DAT ASS!!!hi ports tfs R box and novi 2000, yea bub


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Mricci You do a great job copying other peoples articles . You must have alot of time on your hands ! I just tried to break it down into simpler terms . But next time I'll just plagerize somebody elses work , so I can look like I no what i'm talking about too .

All I was doing was giving information about clarifying what you said. I did not know everything in those articles and that is why I had them because i was trying to learn how something actually worked. I also said that of course it will work just deleting everything, i know a ton of people who just do that all the time on these cars, just that it is not the best way to do things. And that what you said in your post was incorrect because the egr is there to decrease combustion temperatures.

-- Edited by MRicci at 20:13, 2009-03-02

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South Shore Stangs


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i dont think anything was incorrect. there is no need for perfection in these cars. i custom modified my wiring harness and sniped out everything that wasn't needed to run the engine, car ran mint with mild modification and i would drive it anywhere. But to some people what i did was not the proper procedure even tho there is no explanation on why it is improper.

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haha mike i always do the same thing with my fuel injected foxes which is "completely gut them" i take every thing i dont need out and snip all the wires off the harnness that arent needed, to be honest i have never had any problems and iv had 9 injected foxes...just my 2 cents

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thanx for everyones input minus all the b.s

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R.I.P. Specialist Matthew M. Pollini ....but it sure is fun 1992 Mustang GT-RIP GREEN HORNET


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my 90 was stumbling at idle with my EGR plugged in. I unplugged the electrical plug, unplugged the vacume line and threw a screw in it and was done with it. Cleared up the second I unplugged the vacume line. My buddy did the same in his 86 GT with no problems.

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brrraaaaaaaaaaap


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unplugged it and stuffed a screw in the vacuum line. seems be ok besides the check engine light. throttle response seems mehhh when i start from a complete stop. plugged it back in. gunna leave it alone for now

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R.I.P. Specialist Matthew M. Pollini ....but it sure is fun 1992 Mustang GT-RIP GREEN HORNET


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check engine light will give you a little more fuel (safe mode) if throttle responce is not right on i would say the egr may be stuck open a little

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1993 cobra #2354 ( 1 of 362) ...04 lariat f350 crew cab diesal dually full 09 conversion...79 bronco 6.0 diesel conversion..more to come


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I agree... My throttle response seems to be just fine with the unplug and screw in the vacume... I put a brand new EGR on before i decided to just unplug it. Check engine light sucks, but ill probably just pull the bulb haha

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brrraaaaaaaaaaap


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ok so i fabbed up a block off plate yesterday, throttle response is quick now. engine bay looks good too. cant really say i notice anything else besides she sounds deeper at idle

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R.I.P. Specialist Matthew M. Pollini ....but it sure is fun 1992 Mustang GT-RIP GREEN HORNET
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