I just tried to disable my EGR system by blocking the EGR pipe at the header with the old nickel trick. I disconnected the fitting and put a nickel in the hole and then reinstalled the fitting, effectively blocking any and all flow to the EGR valve.
After this, I started my car and it was much louder than usual, seem to be running really rich, idled a little higher, and backfires upon deceleration. So my questions are:
1. Must I reset the ECU by disconnecting the batt.? 2. Should I also readjust the idle? 3. If those are not the problem, what is?:help
Help! Questions for those who've removed their EGR
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quiksilvia
- Posts: 3197
- Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2003 7:09 am
- Car: 95 s14 se
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Guess I didn't have my head on straight. I found the #4 spark plug wire unplugged then realized I did that in an attempt to get more wrench room. I repluggd it, reset ECU, and now it seems fine. I may have to readjust the idle after a while to compensate for the rich idle everyone seems to say I'll get from plugging the EGR, but I am going to let the ECU recalibrate for a couple of days before I do that.
I'll have an update after a few days on how it runs.
I'll have an update after a few days on how it runs.
Drove it around some yesterday and again today doing errands. Put the car through all conditions: Multiple shutdown and restarts, stop and go driving, highway speeds up to 100MPH, hard accel. and soft accel.
No ill effects were noticed at all. I have a A/F ratio gauge and it doesn't run rich either, just stayed where it was supposed to be (or where it used to be), right at the border of stoich. and rich while cruising. My guess is that the ECU is compensating for it.
As a side note: For a long time now I've had a screwy idle, and adding the Nismo R4 cam obviously didn't help the idle and it weakened the low RPM power. Nothing I've tried seem to work, and yes, I searched all over the place for info including this forum. My guess is that my EGR was acting up and putting exhaust in the intake all the time, because since I plugged it up, the idle became more steady and my low RPM torque noticably improved. I thought the cam robbed me of all that and now I finally got it back.
Finally, I would recommend that everyone try this that lives in a non-emissions controlled area. You never know if you have something to gain. I had no idea the EGR was malfunctioning. It could have happened so gradually that no one would have noticed it, or maybe it was like this when I bought the car.
California models beware: Messing with the EGR will trigger "check engine" light. Sorry, you guys will just have to fix it the right way.
No ill effects were noticed at all. I have a A/F ratio gauge and it doesn't run rich either, just stayed where it was supposed to be (or where it used to be), right at the border of stoich. and rich while cruising. My guess is that the ECU is compensating for it.
As a side note: For a long time now I've had a screwy idle, and adding the Nismo R4 cam obviously didn't help the idle and it weakened the low RPM power. Nothing I've tried seem to work, and yes, I searched all over the place for info including this forum. My guess is that my EGR was acting up and putting exhaust in the intake all the time, because since I plugged it up, the idle became more steady and my low RPM torque noticably improved. I thought the cam robbed me of all that and now I finally got it back.
Finally, I would recommend that everyone try this that lives in a non-emissions controlled area. You never know if you have something to gain. I had no idea the EGR was malfunctioning. It could have happened so gradually that no one would have noticed it, or maybe it was like this when I bought the car.
California models beware: Messing with the EGR will trigger "check engine" light. Sorry, you guys will just have to fix it the right way.
Why not just replace or clean out the passages and solenoid instead of blocking it completely? The only performance gain from removing an EGR system is going to be if its malfunctioning, in which case you will just return to stock performance. Minus some fuel mileage and plus some hotter combustion temps.
I dunno about Nissans specifically, but I know that sometimes a small chunk of carbon buildup can block the pintle in the solenoid open or closed. its should be on or near the intake manifold, just follow the tube from the exhaust manifold around the back of the engine, it will be on the end of that.