The emission system on your vehicle uses the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve to reduce emissions and lower combustion chamber temperature. The valve on your vehicle uses engine vacuum or voltage signals from the car's computer to let exhaust gases to enter the intake system under certain engine operating conditions. However, once valve components wear out and fail to function properly, your car may experience poor idle, overheating and increased emissions. To replace it, use this guide to install the new EGR valve on your car.
Locate the EGR valve on your vehicle. You will find the valve around the top and to one side of the engine. Most valves are cylindrical in shape, between 2 and 3 inches in length. Others may resemble a metallic mushroom between 2 and 3 inches in diameter. If it is vacuum operated, you will see a thin vacuum hose attached to the top of the valve. An electronic valve has an electrical plug on top.
Detach the vacuum hose by hand or unplug the electrical connector from the top of the valve, depending on your particular model.
Loosen the retaining nut between the bottom of the EGR valve and the pipe tube that extends to the exhaust manifold. Use a tube wrench. Some vehicles do not have this pipe connected to the valve.
Loosen the valve two mounting bolts using a ratchet, ratchet extension and socket.
Detach the valve from the pipe, remove the two mounting bolts and lift the valve off the engine compartment. Discard the EGR valve gasket if equipped.
Clean the engine-mounting surface from gasket material if necessary. Use a plastic scraper to avoid damaging the gasket-mating surface.
Set the new EGR valve and new gasket in place.
Start the two valve mounting bolts by hand and then connect the pipe to the bottom of the valve by starting the retaining nut by hand, if equipped.
Tighten the two mounting bolts with the ratchet, ratchet extension and socket and tighten the pipe-retaining nut with the tube wrench.
Attach the vacuum hose or plug the electrical connector to the top of the EGR valve.
