I'm new and need a lil help (Engine Light)

YuriyM · 01-30-2008, 05:14 PM

Hey everyone, i'm new here, this place looks good with knowledgable members.

My engine light came on yesterday. i ran the code with an OBDII code reader and got P0404. It's something to do with EGR flow. anyone know what the problem could be? Thanks!

My car is a 1996 Saturn SL with 132k miles

**Ssicarman** · 01-31-2008, 01:25 AM

Welcome to the Board.

Your EGR valve is likely getting sticky and not working like it should. You can try removing it and cleaning the carbon from it and the passages. Before you reinstall it make sure that the pintle valve is not sticking after the cleaning (move it down and see if it will move up to the closed position on its own). If it is then the EGR will need to be replaced.

YuriyM · 01-31-2008, 03:23 AM

Ok sweet. I did that and drove about thirty miles and nothing yet

. EGR valves are spendy.... i'd rather spend $150 on books er something lol.

Telyx · 01-31-2008, 02:36 PM

I pull mine (2002 SL1, 5-speed) every couple of months or so and clean it. Also, you can shoot some brake parts cleaner into the pipe the EGR valve bolts onto, then run the engine for a second or two with the valve off to blow some of the carbon out of the pipe. (It will be loud and the RPMs will go pretty high.) Just two bolts and an electrical connector to remove; the whole remove-clean-reinstall process might take about 15 minutes. My car threw the same code shortly after I bought it used with 96,000 miles on it, and I haven't seen the SES light since the first EGR valve cleaning.

YuriyM · 02-01-2008, 01:28 AM

brake parts cleaner eh? if the light comes back i'll give that a shot.

Telyx · 02-01-2008, 10:55 AM

Yep. I tried fuel injector cleaner, and while it worked, it made a lot more mess. Brake parts cleaner cleans about as well but it evaporates much more quickly.