The Car:
2006 Mazda 3 GT - 4 Door - 2.3L
I took the car into the mazda dealership to figure out why the check engine light is on, it has trouble starting, and the engine is idling very rough (about 500 RPM)
When I am driving it drives just fine, its idling when it sounds like its going to stall out.
Mazda comes back and says that my EGR valve needs to be replaced at a cost of 279.71 CAN. And that is the cost just for the part. I also asked for the part number and Mazda told me that the part number for the EGR valve they would order is: LF0120300A. The only information I can find on that part is from russian sites. If I wanted to order the new valve I would want a part that is not going to get jammed up on me again.
Well a little research on the internet tells me that I can clean this part for a whole lot cheaper, and then the EGR valve will work fine again. So I went ahead and ordered just the EGR valve gasket. They said it will take 5 days to get here and I am just going to have to wait.
Well lo' and behold 2 days after I order the gasket, the car just starts running normally again. The RPMs are back at 800-900. No more rough idle. No more trouble starting. But I think the check engine light is back on.
If this were an episode of House, House would declare that it is not the EGR valve and continue to run tests till he finds out whats wrong. But I think that the EGR valve probably still has carbon buildup and was stuck for a short period.
What do you guys think? Still take out the EGR valve and clean it just to be sure? Or keep the EGR valve gasket in a safe place till the car acts up again, then go and take everything apart and fix it?
2006 Mazda 3 GT - 4 Door - 2.3L
I took the car into the mazda dealership to figure out why the check engine light is on, it has trouble starting, and the engine is idling very rough (about 500 RPM)
When I am driving it drives just fine, its idling when it sounds like its going to stall out.
Mazda comes back and says that my EGR valve needs to be replaced at a cost of 279.71 CAN. And that is the cost just for the part. I also asked for the part number and Mazda told me that the part number for the EGR valve they would order is: LF0120300A. The only information I can find on that part is from russian sites. If I wanted to order the new valve I would want a part that is not going to get jammed up on me again.
Well a little research on the internet tells me that I can clean this part for a whole lot cheaper, and then the EGR valve will work fine again. So I went ahead and ordered just the EGR valve gasket. They said it will take 5 days to get here and I am just going to have to wait.
Well lo' and behold 2 days after I order the gasket, the car just starts running normally again. The RPMs are back at 800-900. No more rough idle. No more trouble starting. But I think the check engine light is back on.
If this were an episode of House, House would declare that it is not the EGR valve and continue to run tests till he finds out whats wrong. But I think that the EGR valve probably still has carbon buildup and was stuck for a short period.
What do you guys think? Still take out the EGR valve and clean it just to be sure? Or keep the EGR valve gasket in a safe place till the car acts up again, then go and take everything apart and fix it?
