Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Maintenance Check Engine Light and EGR valve

I'm sure everyone here has experienced at one time or another the check engine light going on without any noticeable change in performance or being able to troubleshoot it conclusively.

And you can't be running to Ford for a diagnostic everytime.

At 221,000 kms the check engine light came on again (V6) and since I had a lower ball joint to replace I took it into a local garage and had them read the code for the check engine light. It was inconclusive because the code read " Stuck or malfunctioning EGR valve" or another code which I don't remember right now. The garage owner who I trust implicitly, said he didn't want to tackle it with parts replacements because it could get pricey and Ford wouldn't take any of the parts back if they didn't eliminate the problem. So he cleared the codes and after a week the light came back on.

What I ended up doing was removing the vacuum tube from the EGR valve and sucking on it then releasing it and after 3-4 "exercises" it began to release immediately after releasing vacuum to it.

Buttoned everything back up, no check enegine lights since then and a 2mpg increase in fuel economy resulted.

You might also look into doing at least step 51 of the CEG How-to on the upper/lower intake rebuild.

51. Thoroughly clean the upper intake. Use intake cleaner and a brass brush if that is not available. Be especially careful to clean the EGR passages in the throttle body opening, which build up with carbon and can cause Check Engine Lights (CELâ??s) if sufficiently blocked.

it was probably carbon stuck on the EGR valve and not letting it release when it was suppose to... if it happens again i would just go to autozone and buy a new EGR valve for about $35.00 and be done with it.. if the light comes back on auto zone will check it for free and tell you what the code is and what is probably wrong with it, or what area is giving the trouble code.....