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EGR valve causing this much trouble?

I

iamthesweetness

CEG'er
Joined
Dec 6, 2010
Messages
38
Location
Memphis, TN
Okay, last month my check engine light came on, so I took it to AutoZone, and they told me that it was a problem with the EGR valve(I dont remember the code), they told me that since I dint have the $$ to get it fixed right away that I should use Lucas gas treatment to keep it from getting worse, I knew it wasn't necessarily going to solve the problem, but just something to keep her going until I had the funds. Lo-and-behold last night she scared the crap out of me! I'd driven earlier in the day, no problem, came home, rested, got ready for work, go to start her up, there is a rattle, knock, or noise I've NEVER heard before:shocked:! I figure, the temp has dropped, maybe she'll warm up a bit, and the noise will go away:drool:...I turn on the radio, hop on the e-way, and almost get to work when I 1st notice the lights dimming a bit, then the temp gauge has went from normal to hot in less than 5 minutes!:confused: So, I pull off of the e-way close to my moms house, it tries to die, but doesn't, lights get dim again, I can hear the fan, but no warning lights, the ONLY light on is the "Check Engine" light! So I make the 4 miles from the e-way to moms house, pull into the grass(then realize I can't park there), turn her off, pop the hood, and there is this bubbling noise::wtf:: I move my moms car, so I can drive it to work. Got in my baby, and she started right up like she had no problem, backed her into the space, and then she died! I don't know if I've completely killed my baby:cry: or if getting the EGR valve replaced immediately will remedy this, but can anyone here tell me if they've experienced anything like this? could it be the EGR valve or something more serious?

SPECS:
00' Contour SE Sport(2.5L DOHC){base :eek:}
188K miles
Name: Jellybean

 
sounds like more then a egr problem at the moment. could be that the waterpump failed. maybe an alternator issue also since the lights where dimming.

also the egr valve itself isn't normally an issue. chances are the dpfe sensor needed to be replaced or the egr passages behind the tb needed to be cleaned. But it depends on the code.

need to do some checking around to see what is going on now.
 
With 188,000 miles the over-heating strongly looks like your water pump failed. Its an easy fix...right around $65 for a new pump and say 2 hours of time. Its pretty accesible from the bottom.

As far as the lights dimming...that sounds alternator based. But first..inspect the idler pulley on the belt side of the engine. I had the bearing fail on that...which rendered the alternator useless...which lead to battery not being charged up = dying.

And like Brapple said...some easy fixes for the EGR...and one expensive fix (DPFE replacement). Always go cheap easy first...but only change one thing at a time in between seeing if it works.
 
Open hood and make sure your serpentine belt is still there. Sounds like you've lost it, or water pump or maybe a pulley locking up. The waterpump either broken or not turning then overheated the motor and belt not turning lost the alternator too.

With that kind of mileage and continued driving of the car you'd best hope that you haven't damaged the motor. Most unknowledgeable people drive them that last little bit and it costs them plenty.
 
since there was the possibility of overheating I would do a compression and leak down test to make sure the engine is ok before replacing the waterpump. Otherwise crack the pump open and see whats going on.
 
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