Cleaning EGR Valve (with Pictures)

[keithreed]

I son't know how to clean my EGR valve.. please help me thanks

[Guys2nv]

I love this forum, I signed up last year but I haven't had any problems with my 2000 sl1-until today when it started to sputter alil while driving between 2000-2500 rpms, Looks like I got some work ahead of me. I'll be doing a full tune up and replacing the coolant temp sensor and cleaning my egr.

[narfoner]

Thanks for the help! I combined cleaning my EGR with putting on a new valve cover and my engine runs a heck of a lot better.

[vincentj]

cleaned my egr, runs great, cute pictures btw. I suggest cleaning throttle body while you have your supplies out as well

[Moms Car]

Ain't the internet great. Searched for "Trouble code P1404 1999 Saturn" and zoomed right into to this forum and thread.

The instructions at the top page worked perfectly. I just thought I'd add a few details relating to the 1999 model.

The bolts holding the EGR valve are still 10mm, but there's no bracket on top of the rear bolt on mine. You'll still leave a deep socket to get the back bolt out since the extension to hold down the missing bracket is still there.

Removal is simple. Pull off the hose between the valve cover & the plastic air inlet pipe. Use pliers or channel lock to squeeze the bands holding the inlet pipe onto the filter housing and the mass air sensor then pull it off. Remove the plug & wire on the top of the EGR valve, then take off the bolts.

Once off the underside has what looks like a torx head in a hole. That's the solenoid. It should move in and out freely. Mine was stuck shut with carbon. I used carburetor cleaner, but something more suited to carbon rather than hydrocarbon gunk might be better. Some curved & straight tools with careful scraping did the heaving lifting for me. The carb cleaner kind of washed the debris out.

Cleaning and reassembly done the engine went from barely choking around to smooth and powerful.

[steveg4432]

Hello,

i have a 2000 sl1. the egr value is on the front left? is this correct?

thanks,
steve

[JohnBo]

Got a P1404 trouble code on my 1997 SL2 so Google took me here. Just cleaned the EGR with ease yesterday, thanks to the 1st post in this thread - well, and I kept looking a bit more and also found the RichPin YouTube that made it sooo simple. Thanks!

Some time after getting off the freeway this morning the idle (5 speed manual trans) was crazy high, about 2K. Luckily I was almost to work so I just got in and parked ASAP. Just started it to find out, idle was much more sane, 800 rpm or so.

Originally Posted by Critik

I just cleaned my throttle body and EGR valve today, as it was getting stuck open and throwing an SES light.

The pintle on mine became completely stuck the first time I depressed it, and spraying carb cleaner had no effect. I was horrified as I needed my car later that day for something. Finally I figured out that I could tap (hard but not too hard) the bottom of the valve (the one with the ports) with a screwdriver and it would pop back out again.

The engine idled real high and generally just acted funky after I did it (which may also be because of the throttle body being cleaned), but it eventually settled down after driving it some time. The SES light stayed on for awhile, but it eventually went off.

Very easy repair. Takes maybe 10 minutes if everything goes right. Thanks for the writeup!

So I guess this high idle is normal? I just read elsewhere that killing the engine and starting it back up should cure it, if not some other part is busted, so I'll check back later to say how this went.

Well, off to look for more info on cleaning up a SL2, throttle body sounds like a good idea. Plus I'll probably have to do more emissions improvements to get it to pass my next smog check... Then heater and AC are broken...

Anyway, just got here but looks like a great forum, thanks all!

[JohnBo]

Originally Posted by JohnBo

So I guess this high idle is normal? I just read elsewhere that killing the engine and starting it back up should cure it, if not some other part is busted, so I'll check back later to say how this went.

Well, off to look for more info on cleaning up a SL2, throttle body sounds like a good idea. Plus I'll probably have to do more emissions improvements to get it to pass my next smog check... Then heater and AC are broken...

Anyway, just got here but looks like a great forum, thanks all!

Idle hasn't gone that crazy high again, it still seems a little off now and then, but appears to be settling back down, so all is well there.

Also after posting that I clicked on the S series forum so saw that big thread on common maintenance and issues - it is giving me plenty more to look into.

Thanks again!

[pooty]

Sorry for posting on something so old, but thank you very much for this tutorial

[silverblackjoe]

Originally Posted by sunshn1972

1. Find the EGR valve. Since I had never heard of such a thing until about a month ago, this was an interesting task.

don't know if I'm responding in the right spot, but here goes.....just like to thank all associated with SaturnFans.com......just inherited a 1997 SW2 station wagon....ran like crap....... EGR Was virtually encrusted!!!!.....Removed at least an ounce of crud.......after affects were amazing.....other vehicle...F-350 4X4 Diesel.....500 + a month as daily driver....SW2 26 bucks to fill up....running like a champ at 312,000 miles....you guys are life savers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks a million...if I hit the lotto I'll remember all of you. LOL.

[Saver78]

I don't know if you want to list the name brands or what, but what Carb Cleaner would you guys recommend or did use for this job? May have to do this very soon and just want to make sure I get the right stuff...I have PB Blaster but not Carb Cleaner right now. Any help would be great. I too thank goodness for this forum and friends!