I had a problem my 2002 Ford Escort sedan about 3 years ago. I bought it with around 50k Mi. At about 75kMi the engine light came up and I got it checked. It read that the EGR valve needed to be replaced and so I did. Later on that day, it came back on. I took the car to a local shop and they read the same, but since the EGR valve was already replaced, they said that the sensor that connected the wiring (I don’t remember the name) neede to be changer and was causing that readin, and so I did. When it came back on, they suggested that I drove it for about 200 miles and erase the code,to give the computer time to get adjusted to the changes done. So I did. It was gone for about a week, but it came back once more. I had spent over $600 trying to fix the problem and didn’t see any result. Finally I gave up and decide to “fix it” when it brakes… Is there anything I could have done dofferent or is this a coomom problem in this type of cars?
P.S. Light is still on ever since, but I have not notice any real difference, and the car just hit 100k Mi
Well, maybe you just shouldn’t use that local shop anymore. There is no code that will tell you that your EGR is bad. When a code is triggered one has to find out why.
Take the car to a chain-type auto parts place (e.g. Autozone). Most will read the error codes for free. The format for an error code is “P1234” Write down the exact codes - not what anyone says about them - just the “P” and 4 digit number. Post those codes.
Your EGR system has 4 major parts - the valve, a sensor, a vacuum solenoid and a feeder pipe with tubes that run from the exhaust to the sensor and intake manifold. The problem can be in any one of those places. The codes won’t tell you what is wrong. Only where to start for figuring out what the problem is in the whole system of stuff. So get the codes and folks can tell you where to start.
By now you probably have other codes stored in there as well.
There is a valve connected to the crankcase breather hose. This valve is a “quasi PCV valve” in that it controls the breather. It is not called a PCV valve so don’t ask for it by that name. Anyhow, the control vacuum for that valve is the same as for the EGR. The diaphragm in the valve invariable breaks with age and effectively disables the EGR. Get a new “breather” valve and you should be all set.
BladeAxl - nothing about that description is accurate and you won’t do yourself any good by continuing to guess. Just get the code(s).