10 replies to this topic

[Way-aye-pete]

Hi all, I am on day one of my holiday in France and my car suddenly started idleing like a bag of spanners. I arrived at where I am due to stay but the car is running awful at idle and starts very badly: I checked the codes and I get the p0404, which I believe is an egr issue, I wanted to check with you guys what are my options: A few questions; 1) a French guy (with my best broken French) seems to think it could be heat related and once cooled could be ok?.... It happened at peage after 180miles of brisk driving in around 25deg.... 2)Can I drive on it, as is it still runs ok on autoroutes? (It will be Sunday tomorrow in France is I don't expect for anything to be open....) and i am the start of a road trip.... 3) I have tools so maybe able to take it off and clean it? 4) Are there any French members who may have a spare cheater or part near Rouen? Thanks in advance for your help! Pete

[pete-r]

Same thing happened to me a few years ago. I was coming home through France when it started and just spanked it back, ran ok when moving the worry was starting up at fuel stops and on the Chunnel train - there's a fine if you break down! I think it's because it's sitting at the same rpm and throttle position on the motorway the valve gets stuck in whatever position it's in. Maybe adjusting the cruising speed might help? You could remove and spray some carb cleaner through it, but if it's really bad that might not work. I soaked mine when I got home but no change so took it off. You can drive it no problem so get it started and give it some stick!

Edited by pete-r, 09 August 2014 - 04:07 PM.

[slindborg]

It occurs because the egr starts to do its thing at a certain temperature, thus looming like its heat related. Have a crack at cleaning it, but blanking and rotating the valve out of the way to skip the cheater.

[Benzola]

Firstly, be sure it's the EGR (1) If running like a "bag of spanners" in idle... Sharply "tap" the EGR (I used a tack hammer)... If tickover fluctuates / returns to norm RPM, EGR failure confirmed (2) There's little point in trying to clean it, if it's gonna fail it's gonna fail.... Cut open a coke can (or similar) so you have a nice, clean, flat and thin piece of foil / aluminium (3) Remove EGR (just 2x M8 nuts) insert flat piece of can / foil (so as a to form a blanking plate / barrier) replace EGR over top (holding the whole make-sift assembly together).... Voila! I had exact same problem on a road trip and this simple "fix" bought me a further 300 miles trouble free.... May WELL have lasted a lot longer, but proved enough to get home where I then (later) fitted a proper blanking plate and cheater (disposing or entire EGR). Good luck mate, trust me this works and you'll be back on the road, expense free and no worries!

Edited by Benzola, 09 August 2014 - 10:44 PM.

[Benzola]

Forgot to add (& so there's no misunderstanding), the foil / coke can plate needs to be bigger than the "footprint" of the EGR & you'll want to punch a hole either side so it secures with exiting bolts.

Edited by Benzola, 10 August 2014 - 01:36 AM.

[Way-aye-pete]

Cheers for the help.... It is definitely overheating and sticking today after 200miles it stuck again cooled it off and worked fine.... I think I may try and find a permanent solution as I have at least another 2000 miles, are the gm blanking plates a normal on shelf dealer part?... Worst case I can butcher it! Slinderborg when u mean rotate the valve does that mean rotate the whole part and put it on backwards, would I still need to blank the hole? Thanks again for your help

[pete-r]

The hole isn't in the centre if the part, so if you put it on backwards the hole in the EGR is no longer aligned to the hole in the engine block. Ideally needs a gasket (hence the coke can idea) but it'll do the job for a while I'm sure.

[p13]

Remove it.  It's evil, and shite at the same time.  Evil shite.

[Benzola]

Mate. Just do the coke can fix! It'll take you 10 mins max and DOES work. Trust the forum and enjoy your holiday, free of faffing about with you car. Cheers.

[smiley]

Some pixies to help you visualise.

 

Here's the egr with the valve open: (ie ready to recirculate gunk back into inlet manifold)

 

Blinding plate attached, and egr swiveled 90 degrees so eletronics still think it's working:

 

 

Or if you want to put the egr back with 2 bolts, just raise it so the valve from pixie nr 1 still has clearance to work.

[Way-aye-pete]

Cheers everyone.... Well today I ran the car with the egr unplugged but in the closed position (it had returned after cooling) and unplugged the connector.... Every time I start it I get an elm which I can clear with my code reader and so far so good.... Mr Bentley and lee will send out a blanking plate in a couple of days so hopefully all good.... Cheers for the help and advise everyone as usual! Pete