EGR Valve Replacement ? what's involved ?

[Kinesthesia]

I failed my emissions test and had a mechanic look at my emissions report and suggested it was the EGR valve.

I've heard of it but don't know anything about it.

Mostly, I'd like to know if it's something that's easily changed.

But where it is and any other information would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Nismo1182]

Its on the back of the intake manifold. Look at your exhaust manifold and you will see a metal pipe going from the exhaust manifold, behind the motor and to the intake manifold. Cant miss it, its a big metal pipe.

[gumby]

might be able to get away with cleaning it out with carb cleaner

[gumby]

ok now i got a question on this but i didnt want to start a new thread.

I removed an egr of questionable condition from a wreck. the bpt was clogged shut and the vacuum hose burst. pipes fused to the egr so cany take that off. I started running carb cleaner through it and it came out black. after going through a quarter can and killing off a quarter of my brain cells with fumes i gave up. at this point it looked like coffee with grains in it. Diaphram moves but im wondering if its normal to be that dirty.

anyone know where to get good quality pipe cleaners that wont leave bristles behind. that would help imeasurably.

[180fan]

check summit or a hardware store for pipe cleaners. Basically the same stuff. If you've got a can carb cleaner dump the egr in there after getting as much of the buildup out with a toothbrush/pick thing and let it soak. the vac hose replace, and the bpt you might have to replace, dunno if those are user serviceable.

The pipe for the EGR is a bit hit or miss. The egr fitting for my own motor was seized like nothing else. The egr fittings for a few other motors i've torn down were easy. But it does help to have a large plumbers pipe to get some good leverage on the bugger (at that point you might want to hope that the pipe itself doesn't twist either).

[KFL]

Just becareful not to soak the diaphram itself as its just rubber and will weaken. Also if the egr wasn't working it would be filled with more carbon build up then normal as the diaphram wouldn't open up also mainly years on it.

[Meantime]

Did you try testing it yourself first? At idle, if you reach up and push on the diaphram underneath the EGR's metal hat, the car should stumble and almost stall out. If it doesn't, then something is definitely wrong with the EGR.

I'm guessing you failed for NOX, a bad EGR will definitely raise this value, but there are other factors that could also lead to high NOX...worth making sure EGR is busted first.

[KFL]

Did you try testing it yourself first? At idle, if you reach up and push on the diaphram underneath the EGR's metal hat, the car should stumble and almost stall out. If it doesn't, then something is definitely wrong with the EGR.

I'm guessing you failed for NOX, a bad EGR will definitely raise this value, but there are other factors that could also lead to high NOX...worth making sure EGR is busted first.

IIRC the actual test according to fsm is to put your hand under the diaphram and rev the car 2k and the diaphram contacts. If it doesn't move possibly vacuum leak/hose or bad egr or egr bpt.

[gumby]

i took the exhaust pipe off the valve today. it looked more like a sewage pipe. ultra thick rust cake. carb cleaner aint gonna remove that. had to dremel it. is that normal? also unscrewed the smaller vacuum pipe but it doesnt come out. is it not supposed to or is it just frozen in place with rust? dont want to force it if its a permanent fixture but i have a feeling its plugged up with rust.

[94_240sx]

I'll just bump this thread instead of creating a new one. When you replace EGR valve, which bolts I should remove? 2 bolts in red box or 3 bolts in black box? I guess it's a matter of which ones are easier to remove. I failed instection and I might have to replace EGR valve and a pipe.