98 Camry EO401

[af226]

So I have the dreaded egr error 401. I did a quick search and read a few other posts......WOW.....anybody able to dumb it down. I checked it with a friends scan tool. Thinking of taking it apart and giving it a good cleaning with carb cleaner and look for vacum line cracks. Will the code reset its self or do I have to clear it again after the clean. History is the car runs fine....once warmed up the car stumbles and idles ruff when you sit at a light or stop to reverse.....spits and sputters.....the 401 code has been on for a few months....time to get it gone....egr maintanence for dummies I don't have a vacume tester or other fancy tools.

Ideas and guidance appreicated.

[fenixus]

check the Camry FAQ sticky section for a DIY on removing and cleaning the EGR valve.

other than that borrow a vacuum hand pump from autozone and get some tubing so you can test the valve on car and check all vacuum hoses too (for both clogs and vacuum leaks). you can also replace them with metric silicone vacuum hoses off ebay (3mm ID I think it was).

if valve and hoses are OK, then the last 2 important things in this system are VSV for EGR on back of 4cyl engine (hard access) which stops "clicking" with age and may need be replaced, other thing is the modulator which may have a clogged diaphragm in bottom (usually unrepairable and needs to be replaced too).