How clean Taurus EGR?

I'm getting check engine light on "insufficient EGR flow" on 1999 Taurus

3.0 engine. Anyone know the procedure for cleaning EGR and associated parts?
Reply to
Awelch
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It's much more likely to be a defective DPFE (the flow sensor) than a clogged EGR. The DPFE can be tested with a vacuum pump and voltmeter, or, if you like taking risks, just replaced. But first make sure that everything is properly connected and the tubes leading to the DPFE are not clogged.

Reply to
Happy Traveler

I'll have to agree with Happy Traveller.... the DPFE is, by far, the most common cuase of this particular code (I'm guessing P0401....). Please, folks, try to realize that OBD2 is NOT cut and dried. All codes require some form of diagnostics to ensure that we aren't going to replace parts needlessly....

In your case, the PCM is seeing "low or insufficient EGR flow". You are expecting the PCM to be telling the truth. While the PCM thinks it's telling the truth, it is more likely that the DPFE sensor is lying to the PCM and the PCM will, in it's own turn, lie to you.

HTH

Reply to
Jim Warman

Thanks, I'll try getting a DPFE sensor then. I don't have a vacuum pump for testing.

Happy Traveler wrote:

Reply to
Awelch

Like others have said, the most common cause is a defective DPFE sensor. You can do a "down and dirty" test of the EGR. Pull the cap and foam filter off of the EVR (EGR vacuum solenoid), put your finger over the nipple with the car idling. This applies vacuum to the valve and the engine should stumble or stall. This tells you the valve is at least working.

Reply to
Tom Adkins

What he said. Hence the phrase GIGO - "garbage in, garbage out".

I've replaced the DPFE twice already on our 2000 Taurus wagon. The 2nd one went the same day it passed inspection in 2004, after it passed and on the way home. Wondering if the state equipment had anything to do with it failing.

Reply to
sleepdog

Could be the sensor. Start engine and take hose off going to egr valve apply vacuum to valve (opens valve) and engine should run rough or stall. If it does then the sensor is bad. If there is no difference, then the valve or the passage way is plugged. Take the egr valve off and you can see if it works with vacuum. Plug the hole in the intake manifold and start engine, there should be LOTS of vacuum at the hole and you should get some exhaust at the tube the goes into the bottom of the valve. If not, the passage is plugged. I use a drill and a length of speedometer cable to run through the intake manifold. All this is not hard to do if you want to save a few bucks. The sensor is about $100 good luck! Skyhawk

Reply to
Skyhawk

FYI - The DPFE sensor I got at the dealer parts counter was only $30.

Reply to
sleepdog

Wow, thats quite a drop fron $75 5 years ago. And that was with my employee discount.

Reply to
Tom Adkins

It was last winter when I got it. Probably simple economics at work, given the recall, number of vehicles affected, number that failed, etc., the huge boost in production numbers for this component probably drove the price down significantly. Who knows.

Reply to
sleepdog

Exactly. I just hadn't bought one for quite a while. IIRC they were about $110 retail then.

Reply to
Tom Adkins

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