How To: EGR Removal and Cleaning for Rough Idle Fix
- Thread starter 122 Vega
- Start date
poppingseagull
Member
- :
- 2001 Protege MP3
Info for anyone that cares...I was getting the P0401 code and tried cleaning the EGR valve with carbon cleaner. I let it soak and repeated like 5 times but the spring was very difficult to move even with pliers. I ended up buying a new EGR valve since the other one was irreparably stuck. It was $110 at the dealership but at least I have no more check engine light.
red95_240sx
Member
i need to know what exactly is going on when a leak pops up. i get a horrible smelling carbon? smoke, the car bogs down, and its annoying. i know its between the EGR and the MAF leaking somewhere. is this harmful in the long run to the engine?
I unplugged the EGR for a while and it still stumbled so its probly a leak elsewhere.
I unplugged the EGR for a while and it still stumbled so its probly a leak elsewhere.
red95_240sx
Member
need to no if this is good or not...
- :
- 2003.5 MP5 Laser Blue Automatic (SOLD)
Yes i think also that is the best way to go and not have amymore headaches. I did the same after i cleaned mine just to have it **** up 1200 miles later.
poppingseagull said:
- :
- 02' Protege ES (Gone)
16' Mazda 6 sport manual
Well just tried this. Couldnt get 2 of the screws off. So no clean egr for me
red95_240sx
Member
i think its best to keep the carbon dry, and scrub it comes off alot easier than while its wet.
find a nice 10mm socket a fat handle, and push up on ur tippie toes.
find a nice 10mm socket a fat handle, and push up on ur tippie toes.
kyle's protege5
Member
- :
- 2002 MP5-T
why clean yours when you can just buy mine with 5000 miles on it? 
red95_240sx
Member
why bother to clean...
EGR question before the attack
Hello everyone;
I am a newbie here posting but I do a lot of reading in this forum. I do enough to have 230,000kms on my 98 protege. I feel proud to keep it out of the dealerships hands or any other mechanic for that matter. I have had the random cylinder misfire code two over the past year. I want to go ahead and clean my EGR because it has never been done to date. I also am get some rough idling now and when I am at a stop light. Coincidently two weeks ago i passed my emissions just before i starting getting this rough idle.
I do have a couple of questions:
1) Is that my EGR in the first picture. I am pretty sure it is.
2) can I reuse the gasket after I pull it off?
3) I would rather not use a liquid cleaner but a simple wire brush bit. Is this ok?
4) Can i take the black plastic air intake pipe off of the aluminum casting (throttle body?) without any ramifications? This will give me much better access.I do know that anytime I do something I am scraping knuckles so i need the room.
I always want to be prepared first with knowledge before i touch the car. I learned how to change my thermostat thanks to this site and I think it would be similar in time and challenge. I would appreciate some input.
Thanks.
Hello everyone;
I am a newbie here posting but I do a lot of reading in this forum. I do enough to have 230,000kms on my 98 protege. I feel proud to keep it out of the dealerships hands or any other mechanic for that matter. I have had the random cylinder misfire code two over the past year. I want to go ahead and clean my EGR because it has never been done to date. I also am get some rough idling now and when I am at a stop light. Coincidently two weeks ago i passed my emissions just before i starting getting this rough idle.
I do have a couple of questions:
1) Is that my EGR in the first picture. I am pretty sure it is.
2) can I reuse the gasket after I pull it off?
3) I would rather not use a liquid cleaner but a simple wire brush bit. Is this ok?
4) Can i take the black plastic air intake pipe off of the aluminum casting (throttle body?) without any ramifications? This will give me much better access.I do know that anytime I do something I am scraping knuckles so i need the room.
I always want to be prepared first with knowledge before i touch the car. I learned how to change my thermostat thanks to this site and I think it would be similar in time and challenge. I would appreciate some input.
Thanks.
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Last edited:
- :
- 2003.5 MP5 Laser Blue Automatic (SOLD)
my newone has about 20k on it now and no problems. it really does pay for itself in the time and agrevation you have with cleaning the old one.
kc3635 said:
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- 2003.5 MP5 Laser Blue Automatic (SOLD)
it looks like you have a 2nd gen and i really dont know much about 2ndgen as i only had first gen and 3rd. but i can tell you that my first gen had 250k miles without doing egr valve so it may not be it for you. my first gen had some problem with carbon build up where i had to get top engine cleaner from mazda and have it slowly sucked up into the intake manifiold thru a vacuum hose to clean it. not sure if this is your problems but im giving you some ideas. wire brush should be fine as long as you dont grind off any extra metal on the egr piston shaft as that will only have more exhaust blow by the cracks. when i replaced my egr valve on 3rd gen i removed thestrut bar, intake hose and battery to have more room. removing the battery will also reset your ecu and check engine light so its recommended.
paperthin said:
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- 2003.5 MP5 Laser Blue Automatic (SOLD)
im not saying this to be an asshole but you should go into the user control panel and fill out some info about your car and make a signature so it will be easier for people to help you knowing what exactly is the car you have.
paperthin said:
red95_240sx
Member
SoonP5ismine said:
Yep resetting the ECU is basiclly the main thing.
easier said than done...I was taking my time since its a nice day...not in a hurry either....and I was trying to get to the EGR valve any which way I could
finally after convincing myself taking the battery out would be the best I got to the 12mm bolts....but guess what.....I couldn't get the one closest to the mount out!!!
after spending countless hours changing the oil, the plugs, the cables including the 2 extensions from the ignition coils and taking apart the intake, battery and IAC(cleaned the IAC)....
put it all back and NOTHING...still idles really rough
I'm driving a 2002 protege 5 with 230 k's on it.
The EGR has already been replaced...the 02 sensors were both replaced @ 50 k's under warranty...the ignition coils were also replaced at about 160 k's
Not sure what to do
Any suggestions?
finally after convincing myself taking the battery out would be the best I got to the 12mm bolts....but guess what.....I couldn't get the one closest to the mount out!!!
after spending countless hours changing the oil, the plugs, the cables including the 2 extensions from the ignition coils and taking apart the intake, battery and IAC(cleaned the IAC)....
put it all back and NOTHING...still idles really rough
I'm driving a 2002 protege 5 with 230 k's on it.
The EGR has already been replaced...the 02 sensors were both replaced @ 50 k's under warranty...the ignition coils were also replaced at about 160 k's
Not sure what to do
Any suggestions?
what plugs are u using? when replaced last? check the electrodes to see if they are pitted or corroded. tried using seafoam in the crankcase to clean out the engine and clean the lifters? also run seafoam through your gas and brake booster to clean the intake mani and the fuel injectors. um...other than that i'm not sure.
amsgator said:
I'm using NGK G-power plugs
The engine (i forgot to mention) doesn't even have 80 k's on it yet...it had 16 k's when it was installed.
Seafoam eh?
noobie time! where do I find the gas and brake booster?
Its a cold air intake and the filter is fine...I dumped a fuel injector cleaner and some high octane gas in the tank after the trouble started.
It doesn't always want to start on the first try...sometimes it takes a 2nd or 3rd. I have to give it gas to, or it wont start.
My guess is the actual ignition coils.
Other than that....I think I may have to retry my luck with the EGR cleaning again, just have the right keys this time!
anybody?
