Chrysler Repair: 96 Voyager dies at idle, exhaust gas recirculation valve, exhaust gas recirculation

Question
Hi
I stumbled on this site through a question you partially answered ( http://en.allexperts.com/q/Chrysler-Repair-807/2009/8/1999-Voyager-dies-idle.htm ). I had the same problem so I followed your advice & got fault codes using the ignition key trick. The codes are 12424255. I checked 3 times
Earlier today the car was running fine. I let it idle for about 20 minutes. I turned it off, 10 minutes later it started right up then died when I let off the gas. It runs if I stay on the peddle. I went under the hood and saw a spring attached to the throttle cable holder which led to a lever which seemed to go down to the exhaust manifold. I jiggled it & the car is idling smoothly but slower.
Thanks for your time,
Mike

Answer
Hi Michael,
The codes are
12  battery power to engine controller disconnected recently (not sigificant unless that hasn't been done in the past 100 key on-off cycles)
42 (two times) says an issue with the circuitry involving the autoshutdown relay which if that occurs causes the engine to die, but would not be involved with the failure to idle which you can prevent by using the pedal. So that too is probably not relevant to your current problem
55 means 'end of code readout' confirming all the codes have been released

I am not clear about the spring/lever you describe. Please look again and see for sure about what is attached to what. Also tell me which engine you have (L).

One item that may be causing your poor idle situation is the exhaust gas recirculation valve, which may be gummed up and sticking slightly ajar, rather than being firmly closed at idle.
There is a small pipe that branches off the exhaust manifold and routes back to the throttle body area and in that pipe you will find the valve. Between its round vacuum-line operated top and the body of the valve in the pipe proper there is flange. If you look carefully at the flange you will see a rod which is the valve stem. Notice a slot in the stem into which you can insert a screwdriver tip and use that to move the stem back and forth. Spring-action should close the valve firmly to a dead stop. If not, then spray some WD-40 on the stem where it enters the body of the valve and lever it some more to loosen the action. See if that improves the idle.

Roland
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