So there are the outcomes of the installs for fixing the P0401 code I received for the past 3 years from this car, albeit, intermittently.
EGR VSV - I couldn't reach the VSV because I couldn't get up there and reach it or see it. I took it to a mechanic who had a lift and was able to get up there easily and get enough leverage on the bolt. It took him 30 minutes to replace the part and cost me $60 bucks. All in all not bad since I could have spent hours laying on my back trying to get it replaced. There are plenty on guides on this forum that show you how to do this.
EGR Vaccum Modulator - This was a fairly simple install. Remove it from the housing container, remove the tubes, and replace. Be sure to inspect the vacuum hoses for cracks and tears. I also sprayed some TB cleaner and let it sit for 30 minutes, before putting the new ones back on. Put the hoses back on, then put the Modulator back in the housing.
EGR Valve - I started off by actually spraying some PB Blaster on the nuts on the top mounted to the intake the day before when working on the Vac Mod. I wasn't sure how hard it would be to remove or if it was rusted.
I put the car on jack stands so I could get underneath the car to get to the union bolt. I don't have to long of arms so I hard to reach up there with a 6 inch adjustable wrench. I flipped the wrench to get enough play on the bolt to start twisting it with my hand. It's very tedious and it's wound on there a good bit.
After the removal of the union bolt, I removed the hoses going into the Valve (one on the side and another on top). The hose from the Vac Mod going to the EGR Valve was ridiculous to get off. I used some TB cleaner and plier's to wiggle it off. This took a while since it's a very snug fit. ***Be careful not to rip it*** I actually need to replace this piece since I did remove bits and pieces of the hose but not enough to warrant leaks.
I used, I believe a 12mm socket to on a 1/4 socket wrench to easily remove the nut. The nut was not that rusted and the PB blaster helped some I'm sure. I had no issues removing the nuts connected to the intake. I snaked out the EGR Valve and Pipe.
From there I sprayed cleaner in all the openings and let it sit for a bit. There wasn't as much carbon build up as I thought but I did see some around the openings. Once I let it sit for a bit, I removed the bolts (10mm) connecting the EGR pipe to the valve. Again, fairly easy to remove. I had bought spares just in case it broke off. Reminder to replace the metal gasket.
I soaked the pipe again along with the valve for about an hour. All and all, the EGR valve/pipe did not have too much carbon build up. I could easily see the the TB cleaner flow out of the openings easily.
On the intake, I needed a small flat head screwdriver to remove the paper valve gasket infused onto the intake. I did spray TB cleaner on it and in the intake during this time as well. I didn't see much carbon build up there but removed the little build up around the opening.
Once all of the valve and pipe got a good soaking, I put a new metal gasket on the pipe and used new bolts, put the valve back on the pipe. I put a new paper gasket on the intake where the valve goes. Snaking the valve back down through the opening, I had my brother in law hold the valve into place so I could easily wind the union bolt back in. When that was done, I went back up top and put the nuts back on the valve to the intake. Be sure you have a new Valve gasket on before you screw the nuts on.
***I think it would have been easier to put the vacuum hose from the Vac Mod on first before snaking it back down into place.***
Put the hoses back and started it up. Of course I had a decent amount of smoke coming from the exhaust since I sprayed a good amount of cleaner in every opening.
Let it run for a bit and took it for a decent ride from LA to Garden Grove. It ran great and didn't sputter, idle or die on me coming off the Hwy.
All and all, good experience to do this.
The next steps for me is to replace all the vacuum hoses, although everyone of them checked out. Just to give me piece of mind
PS...Big thanks goes to fenixus who has helped tremendously along the way. Thanks for answering questions and the guidance!
Engine rough idle/stalled when coming to a stop, finally got CODE - P0401!!!!
Cheers!
Linear Mode
