im looking at a fiero that had a bad Egr valve. can it still be driven with a bad one? if not, is there a quick fix that i can do? or is the EGR vale a cheep and easy replacement? all info would be great.

Thanks,
Steve

It definitely can be driven, but I would fix the problem.

Take the puppy off and rap it with a hammer. Perhaps carbon was making the pintle stick and you just fixed it. Don't forget new gaskets.

It is an easy replacement. Cheap? I can't remember, but think about $45. Or you could just block the whole system off and pull the EGR out of the chip. I have not seen a difference in mileage with or without.

If you want a good used one, it is yours (email only, please) for shipping.

ok, thanks. i wasnt sure if it was drivable because i know that on newer vehicles, if you have a bad EGR valve, the engine wont run. do you have a picture of where it is? i have never seen one and i dont know where it is located on a fiero. i dont have the car, but if i get it, ill email you about it.

Next question, how do you know it is the valve and not the solenoid, or something else? I'll take a pic of the valve and solenoid in the morning and email them to you.

The solenoid (spensive) is usually the first to go, though the valve can quit as well. With engine cold, reach under the valve and press up on the diaphram. If it goes up and comes back down--might be still good. Again, pics in the morning--I'm outta here.

im just taking the current owners word. he says that its the EGR valve.

Yeah you can drive it no problem. It may even squeek by emissions testing like mine did (I've since replaced the valve) if you are lucky.

cool. thanks Larry and 84Bill

Steven,

EGR problems could cause rough idle--especially till it warms up. But, it could also be a bunch of other stuff. Note: some Fieros never figure out where to idle.

I wouldn't tap the pintle with a hammer while EGR is still on the car. I'd be afraid I would break something else .

Would I drive it 180 miles? If you are otherwise happy with the way it feels, go for it. You do have a cell phone and a buddy in another car--right?

Mine is going ten times that far this weekend. But I have replaced just about everything on the 165-thousand mile Coupe+.

Guess I will have to withdraw my offer of a free valve. Looks like I gave it away to the big green trash bin.

Larry

[This message has been edited by Larry (edited 07-03-2003).]

dont worry about the valve, its no big deal. since im only 14, i would be going down with my dad, mom, and brother. all 3 can drive, so my dad and i would take the fiero, and my mom and bro would take the jeep or van, so i would definatly have a way of getting home if it breaks down. we also thought of getting a car carrier thing (put the car up on 2 wheels) for our jeep and we would just tow it home.

Steve

quote Originally posted by derangedsheep: im looking at a fiero that had a bad Egr valve. can it still be driven with a bad one? if not, is there a quick fix that i can do? or is the EGR vale a cheep and easy replacement? all info would be great. Thanks, Steve

To test the valve for yourself, first, with the engine off, disconnect the vacuum line from the valve. Reach your finger up into the valve from the underside and manually push the valve's diaphragm to open the valve. Put your finger over the metal nipple that the vacuum line connected to and block it off. Release the valve diaphragm and see if it stays up. If it does, remove the finger from the nipple and see if the valve closes. If it won't stay up, the diaphragm is bad and you need a new valve. Reconnect the vacuum line to the valve. Next test, start the engine and let it run for a minute or two. Manually open the valve by pushing up on the diaphragm like you did for the first test. Does the engine stumble and run rougher? Release the valve. Does the engine idle smooth back out? If so, then the valve pintle and seat are in good shape and are not blocked.

Ok, consequences of running with a faulty EGR valve. If the valve is allowing exhaust into your intake all the time, the idle will be rough and gas mileage may suffer a bit. It shouldn't have any long-term effects on the engine, but you want to get it fixed as soon as reasonable. If the valve fails to allow exhaust gas into the system you may get detonation (pinging or knocking) which is definitel a real bad thing. Do not drive the car if it is pinging, you will break the pistons and damage the rod bearings, as well as risk burning valves. If the car is pinging, try running 93 octane fuel, if it helps then you can drive it for a while like that, but you must fix the EGR system.

BTW, there are other problems that can occur with the EGR system, and they are also fairly easy to diagnose. Does the check engine light come on when you start the car? Also, it would be a good idea to pull the trouble codes before driving the car to see what else might need to be looked at. You only need a paper clip and a T-15 screw driver to pull the trouble codes.

JazzMan

i recently failed emmissions for mostly NOX (and HCs but that usually the converter). I unerstand that the EGR is usually the problem with too much NOX. Now i tried checking some things. I pulled the vaccume line of it and revved the engine up but there was no vaccume to the line. I conected a hand vaccume pump to the EGR and pumped it, it opened and ran rough then i reved the engine up and held it at about 3,500-4,000 and it smoother out, but i noticed comming from the EGR tube area or what ever there was some smoke coming up from it and up from between the plenum where it has that V to feed the air to different cylinders in the back side (front actually...) let the vaccume release to close the valve and it seemed to stop.

I dont have a high idle but the car seems to run a bit rough at idle, i really dont know how its suppose to run though because i dont have another V6 fiero to compare it too

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--Adam--
1987 Blue GT 5-speed
IM AOL: FieroGT5speed

ok, dumb question, but need to ask since i'm new at mechanical repairs

where is the egr located on an '84 2.5L??

i have all the problems Jazzman talks about, premium solves the problem and i would like to check the egr before taking the car to a mechanic. I'll also be checking the ecm codes tonight as well.

The Egr Valve is located between the valve cover and the throttle body. The aircleaner housing obscures it's location and will have to be removed. The bolts to remove the egr are hard to get at. My 84 has a bad egr valve and won't idle. To bypass it temporarly just unplug the hose from the top of the egr. The car idles fine now.

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Rick D

86GT
84COUP

http://fierodriver.zymdragon.com

"Power steering is for girls."

quote Originally posted by GTFiero1: i recently failed emmissions for mostly NOX (and HCs but that usually the converter). I unerstand that the EGR is usually the problem with too much NOX. Now i tried checking some things. I pulled the vaccume line of it and revved the engine up but there was no vaccume to the line. I conected a hand vaccume pump to the EGR and pumped it, it opened and ran rough then i reved the engine up and held it at about 3,500-4,000 and it smoother out, but i noticed comming from the EGR tube area or what ever there was some smoke coming up from it and up from between the plenum where it has that V to feed the air to different cylinders in the back side (front actually...) let the vaccume release to close the valve and it seemed to stop. I dont have a high idle but the car seems to run a bit rough at idle, i really dont know how its suppose to run though because i dont have another V6 fiero to compare it too

That sounds like you have a cracked EGR tube. This is the tube that lets the exhaust gases flow from the EGR valve to the intake manifold. If it is cracked, it will give you an intake vaccuum leak.