Chrysler Repair: stumbles on acceleration: 2.5 V-6, powertrain control module, vacuum suction

Question
QUESTION: 1999 chrysler sebrine 2.5 V6.  Checked to see if the EGR valve was operating, by reving the engine and watching the valve stem.  It didn't seem to move.  Removed the vac. hose from the solinoid and hot gas pulsated from it but didn't seem to change the way the car ran.  Car seem to start problem after 2 miles.  If I shut it off and let it sit a while it will start and run fine the rest of the day.  Am I in the balll park?

ANSWER: Hi Tom,
Yes, but what you want to be sure is that the valve opens when you rev it and closes tight when you let the throttle go. I would spray some WD-40 on the stem where it enters the body of the valve, and then move the stem back and forth with the tip of a screwdriver inserted in the slot of the valve stem. Make sure the internal spring-action pushes the valve closed to a dead stop.
If the valve is hung up slightly ajar it will idle poorly, accelerate poorly, and if open wide enough ever prevent starting because the mixture is too lean. There should be no exhaust gas leaking from the valve or the valve stem, and of course the vacuum part of the valve should have no exhaust gas because all it does is move the valve stem. It will have vacuum suction because of its connection to the intake manifold however.
Roland

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QUESTION: I took the vac line too the solinoid and connected it directly to the ERG valve.  It worked perfectly.  There is no suction on the line from the solenoid to the valve at all rpm's.  Seems like the solenoid isn't working.  What makes the solenoid react?  Does this make sense?

Answer
There are three vacuum lines associated with this system so be sure to check each hose to make sure it is not cracked and that its fittings are tight at both ends. The pcm controls the electrical part of the solenoid so that is another possible cause of non-function. Its wires are connected to pins 6 and 20 of the powertrain control module (dark green/orange and gray/yellow respectively). It the hoses and wires check out then I would suspect the solenoid/transducer.
The pcm operates the solenoid, exhaust system back pressure controls the transducer. When the pcm energizes the solenoid, vacuum does not reach the transducer, rather vacuum flows to the transducer when the pcm de-energizes the solenoid. When exhaust gas pressure becomes high enough, it full closes a bleed valve in the transducer. When the pcm de-energizes the solenoid and back pressure closes the bleed valve, vacuum flow through the transducer to open the egr valve. Keeping the solenoid de-energized but not fully closing the bleed when the back pressure is reduced causes the egr to partially close because the vacuum to it is reduced. Thus you get varying amounts of egr depending upon exhaust back pressure. At idle the egr vacuum is cut off by the pcm energizing the solenoid which cuts the vacuum supply regardless of the back pressure.
Roland