QuestionQUESTION: Shop1 diagnosis "egr valve excessive flow", "wiring/hoses ok".They installed 2 new sensors ($285). Light still on. Rechkd, "egr valve ok". Couldn't solve said go Ford dealer. Ford dealer diagnostic test $100. Insisted "egr valve no good". Ford installed new egr valve ($160).Light still on. Ford now says need replace computer (cost will be $500) cause computer is "spiking" (?) at the egr valve", we have a pcm concern". They said wiring/hoses are ok. Seems they are only guessing about need to install new computer. Already spent $545 and light still on. Afraid spend another $500 for new computer, especially since they don't guarantee their work. What should I do? (also never had tune up 2-3 yrs, would a tune-up turn off light? Is there a definite test/way to know computer is no good? Thank you very much for whatever you can tell me.
ANSWER: john
you don't say what kind of ford you have-egr valves don't give a whole lot of trouble on fords but if you give a little info on your particular vehicle you may come closer to getting a response like
year make model engine miles this may help to give you an educated answer.
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QUESTION: Sorry.1997 Ford t-Bird 4.6l 8cyl. 70,000 miles. Has been very good car, no trouble till this "service engine soon" light. Ford Dealer just installed a new egr valve and light came back on again with same code for excessive flow now recommends new computer-$500, they will not guarantee their work either!
Thank you
ANSWER: john
thanks for the info-your egr is new so pull the vacuum hose off of the valve and connect a hose to the egr and use a handheld vacuum pump to pull a vacuum on the valve with the engine running and your rpm should have a noticeable drop if not you have a restriction in the system-first pull the throttle bore off and look for three openings in a passageway see if they are clogged with carbon if so clean them out-if not find the dpfe sensor i hope that is one of the first two that was replaced in the 285 price.-once you find the dpfe there will be two hoses connected to it and run down to a metal tube-pull the hoses off and make sure they are not clogged-i think the new dpfe will be black plastic which is normal if you still have a silver metal sensor look in the ports where the hoses connect see if they are corroded is so rpelace the valve-the tube that runs from exhaust to egr valve that has the two hoses connected to it has a smaller orifice inside the tube
that orifice can become clogged you might try blowing compressed air through the ports the hoses connect two or pull off tube and clean out they will get clogged with carbon. good luck.
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QUESTION: Thank you kindly for your reply.Unfortunately I am a complete dummy to repair any car. I only know how to drive them. I don't even know what a vacuum pump/throttle bore/compressed air etc. are/where they are. I assume both shop 1 who worked hard on the car and Ford dealer's tech performed all those checks that you mentioned. Ford tech did say code reads "excessive flow" so it's not a problem of carbon clogging.
(1)Is there any test to know for sure that a computer is no good and is definitely THE problem/the CAUSE for the "service engine soon" light? I called another Ford dealer who said that newer cars can be checked w/just a laptop, but for older 1997 car need tech who is experienced and that in his experience only 1 in every 100 cars w/that problem will need a new computer.
(2)Maybe I will have to pay another $100 for this other Ford dealer to run their examination with what they claim is their highly experienced tech?
(3)Any suggestions?
Thanks/John
Answeryes clogging tube will give excessive flow code believe me-and yes the computor can be checked but you are going to have to find someone reliable to do it that i can't help you with-but even cars that can be checked with laptop still have to have experianced techs but the odds of having a bad computer for that particular code are very,very slim
and i doubt very seriously the tube was checked as it is not a common problem someone needs to spend a little more time checking that particular system. which consists of several components.
