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97 Camry LE EGR P401 Emission test WOES
Well when I bought the car in the summer the car had no CE light. The next day, I get the CE light. So much for honest used car dealers. Anyway, I know my way around cars sort of. Enough to where I never go to a shop to get things fixed unless I need to.
When i reset the ecu via battery disconnect, the code comes back when after the car is warmed up, I drive at highway speeds. Then, when I'm cruising, when I let off the throttle and go into vacuum, the CE light comes on like clockwork. I'm guessing that theres a vacuum hose that goes from the Intake manifold to the EGR and that when theres negative pressure in the intake, its suppose to do something to the egr, which isn't happening.
The steps i took to try to fix the code are as follows.
1. Cleaned out egr and the modulator. Resent the ecu (via batter disconnect) and the code came back as always, the same way.
2. I replaced the VSV (that was a real pain to get to) and reset the ecu. Code came back.
Now being poor and a student, I ran out of money to keep buying new parts and I really didn't mind too much riding around with a CE light as it didnt really effect driveability or mpg.
However, I finally got an emissions tet notice and I went last week to get it done. Now if i have a CE light on they automatically flunk ya untill you get it fixed. So I cleared the code and reset the ECU to turn the light off and went to get tested. They hooked my car up to the OBDII scanner and the ECU told the scanner that it wasn't ready to get tested. I assume this is because the car hadent been through a proper full warm up and warm down where enough data had been gathered to report to the emission checking computer.
So my dilemma is, I have about a month to come back and get my emissions done. The light will come back on before then so I NEED to get this damn P0401 code resolved. What I would love to know is:
1. How do I check whether the problem is either the EGR or the modulator? I know it involves using a vacuum guage, but I can't find any guide to where to apply vaccum/presure and what this is suppose to mean.
Like I said already, im a poor student and I really need this car to last me at least a few more years. I already had to replace a starter last week so Im hoping after this she'll last! Thank for your help all.
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