Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting EGR - UIM Problem

I had a problem with P0401 and decided to clean the UIM and the throttle body. Took everything apart and found all 3 passages completely blocked with carbon. Used Berrymans to clean. However, when re-installing the EGR, I cross threaded the bolts back into the UIM and I have a vaccuum leak coming from the EGR gasket. One of the bolts is pretty loose and the other I can't quite tighten all the way.

Lucky for me, I was able to put it all back together again, drive around for a couple of hours and go to get my emmissions tested. It Passed . On the way home, the CEL came on again .

Any suggestions in trying to get the EGR fixed. I'm considering using a heli-coil, but am deathly afraid of cracking the UIM! I'm going to go see my mechanic on Monday to get a second opinion.

Just so you know, idle quality is poor, throttle response is great. I'll probably be getting a new car later this year or early next.

97 Contour GL, Duratec, ATX and 204000 miles.

Thanx.

Use a heli-coil or a keen sert to fix the damaged threads.

I do it all the time to fix screwed up threads on aluminum gearbox cases. A good keen sert kit will have the drill, tap and thread insert included in the kit. I like them better than heli-coils.

Thanx. I'll see what my local garage has to say. I'd rather not face the prospect of cracking an UIM!

Try looking at your local junkyard . i picked one up for 15$ even came with the tb.

The garage told me that he could use a heli-coil in the stripped out hole. Does anyone know if you can or have to use gasket sealer on the EGR gasket? If I can get a good enough seal, I might be able to fully tighten only one of the two EGR bolts.

Okay, I took both bolts out of the EGR and put in a new gasket and tightened them up as best as I could. Beforehand, I heard an air leak and even after I still hear the same sound, but the car idled better after I tightened them down.

However, while the car was idling, the O/D light began flashing to the tune of the door open chime (door was open). I have yet to drive it around today to see if the idle quality is better.

Any ideas as to why the O/D light would begin flashing? When I disconnected the negative, I used some seltzer on the connections to get rid of a little corrosion. Is there some type of sensor that might have gotten wet when I did this.

The whole problem happened when I drove thru a HUGE puddle 2 months ago and the O/D light came on when I accelerated up a medium sized hill. The CEL came on after about 30 minutes later.

I took aff the throttle body, cleaned that and cleaned out the 3 passages as they were closed solid with carbon.

Any help would be appreciated.

BTW, I think that I'll have to replace the IAC since anyway.

97 Contour ATX 204000 miles

I drive around with it. It's a dry day today. Hell, every day is a dry day in the desert!

Started it this morning and no rough idling. Even seems that the IAC was working fine. Drove a few miles and the dreaded CEL came on again. Went to AutoZone and had P0171 and P0174 come up. Car idles nicely since I tightened down the EGR bolt. Car idles rough for a moment when it is warm just after I start it. I had the O2 sensors replaced 73000 miles ago. Also the car pings at just about any speed with medium throttle.

Suggestions???