I received code P1404 on my 1999 Saturn shortly after the idle went unstable. The car ran great for a couple of weeks, then the idle went unstable again. The idle would go up and down for a couple of miles, then stabilized, but I got code P1404 again. The EGR I installed is new. What else would trigger P1404?
This is probably a classic case of seeing “EGR” in a code meaning and assuming that EGR is a “part” (the valve itself).
The EGR is not a “part” - it is a system. I have found this to be a good basic article for thinking about & checking things out: http://www.engine-light-help.com/egr-valve.html
For future reference, its the same for virtually call codes. The computer cannot identify bad parts. Its just sending and receiving electrical signals. When its getting some out of spec signal it sets a code. This can be because the part that is involved in the system under question is bad. Or it might be something else entirely.
Take the EGR valve back off and start the car. The idle should be quite high from the massive vacuum leak and you should also hear a bit of an exhaust leak. If it’s not sucking a huge amount of air through the passage, it will need cleaned out. That’s what I’ve found to be the most common problem when there’s an EGR code.
The EGR is not a “part” - it is a system. I have found this to be a good basic article for thinking about & checking things out: http://www.engine-light-help.com/egr-valve.html
Thanks, this an article I wished I had read before I went ahead and spent 100 bucks on a new EGR. Much appreciated.
Take the EGR valve back off and start the car. ---- I did do this before installing the new EGR. Thanks