Rough Idle/Misfire/EGR?

You need to clean the ports that feed the EGR valve. It is common for them
to carbon up over time. You may also have to clean the throttle body and
pintle since you also have that code. They also tend to build up sludge on
port injected cars because no fuel goes over it to clean it....


wrote in message

> >should I replace the EGR Valve
>
> You might try cleaning the valve and making sure it's getting a good
> signal. Clear all the codes before restarting. If replacing, either
> write down the part number or bring your valve to insure an exact
> application match.
>
> Hope this helps.....
>
> Dave S(Texas)
>
 >> Stay informed about: Rough Idle/Misfire/EGR? 

Friends,

I tried cleaning things up as best I could and cleared the codes.
The car may be starting easier but it is still very rough at idle while
in gear like at a stop light (car visibly shakes) . Woody I'm not 100%
sure what you mean by the 'ports that feed the EGR valve'. Although
the 'Check Engine' hasn't come back on yet I had the scanner read codes
anyway and at this point it lists the P0404 and P1404.

I asked about it at an Auto Parts store and the guy said it could
be the EGR, Catl Convert, or OX sensor (although the OX sensor usually
will give a code indicating that). He suggested I go to a Service
Station and have them hook up with one of their better scanners to more
localize the problem before I spend $160.00 on an EGR. I then went to
a service station and made an appointment for Friday. They suggested I
change the plugs and wires first since that's what they'll do first
anyway. He said raw fuel may be getting to the catl convrt. I really
don't think it could be that just based on how quickly the idle changed
but I'm certainly no mechanic.

In order to change the plugs and wires I have to ROTATE the
engine. The Haynes manual kind of tells you how but I have never even
seen this done let alone tried it. Is it relatively straight forward?
Would it be reasonable to try to get a used EGR from a junk yard to see
if that helps? Sorry for all the questions but appriciate the help so
far.

Steve

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<
<
<
<

We have a 1998 Lumina 3.1. About a week ago we would occasionally
noticed a slight rotten egg/sulfur smell (Catl Convert). Yesterday
when the car was started after work it was real hard to start. After
that it was a real rough idle but smoothed out when the gas was put on
her until she went back down to idle. The check engine light came on.
I pulled the codes and they were two P1404's (extended pintle stuck
open); P0404 (EGR Flow CKT Range/Perf); and P0300 Random/Multiple





Woody wrote:
> You need to clean the ports that feed the EGR valve. It is common for them
> to carbon up over time. You may also have to clean the throttle body and
> pintle since you also have that code. They also tend to build up sludge on
> port injected cars because no fuel goes over it to clean it....
>
>
> wrote in message
>
> > >should I replace the EGR Valve
> >
> > You might try cleaning the valve and making sure it's getting a good
> > signal. Clear all the codes before restarting. If replacing, either
> > write down the part number or bring your valve to insure an exact
> > application match.
> >
> > Hope this helps.....
> >
> > Dave S(Texas)
> >
 >> Stay informed about: Rough Idle/Misfire/EGR? 

There is a special tool that rotates the engine after disconnecting the
dog-bone shaped engine mounts at the top center of the engine. BTW I had a
rough idle (like a misfire) on a 92 Lumina 3.1 that would turn on check
engine if it idled for a long period but the car ran ok above idle. My
problem required a set of injectors (definitely not cheap).
Roy
wrote in message

> Friends,
>
> I tried cleaning things up as best I could and cleared the codes.
> The car may be starting easier but it is still very rough at idle while
> in gear like at a stop light (car visibly shakes) . Woody I'm not 100%
> sure what you mean by the 'ports that feed the EGR valve'. Although
> the 'Check Engine' hasn't come back on yet I had the scanner read codes
> anyway and at this point it lists the P0404 and P1404.
>
> I asked about it at an Auto Parts store and the guy said it could
> be the EGR, Catl Convert, or OX sensor (although the OX sensor usually
> will give a code indicating that). He suggested I go to a Service
> Station and have them hook up with one of their better scanners to more
> localize the problem before I spend $160.00 on an EGR. I then went to
> a service station and made an appointment for Friday. They suggested I
> change the plugs and wires first since that's what they'll do first
> anyway. He said raw fuel may be getting to the catl convrt. I really
> don't think it could be that just based on how quickly the idle changed
> but I'm certainly no mechanic.
>
> In order to change the plugs and wires I have to ROTATE the
> engine. The Haynes manual kind of tells you how but I have never even
> seen this done let alone tried it. Is it relatively straight forward?
> Would it be reasonable to try to get a used EGR from a junk yard to see
> if that helps? Sorry for all the questions but appriciate the help so
> far.
>
> Steve
>
> <
> <
> <
> <
> <
>
> We have a 1998 Lumina 3.1. About a week ago we would occasionally
> noticed a slight rotten egg/sulfur smell (Catl Convert). Yesterday
> when the car was started after work it was real hard to start. After
> that it was a real rough idle but smoothed out when the gas was put on
> her until she went back down to idle. The check engine light came on.
> I pulled the codes and they were two P1404's (extended pintle stuck
> open); P0404 (EGR Flow CKT Range/Perf); and P0300 Random/Multiple
>
>
>
>
>
> Woody wrote:
>> You need to clean the ports that feed the EGR valve. It is common for
>> them
>> to carbon up over time. You may also have to clean the throttle body and
>> pintle since you also have that code. They also tend to build up sludge
>> on
>> port injected cars because no fuel goes over it to clean it....
>>
>>
>> wrote in message
>>
>> > >should I replace the EGR Valve
>> >
>> > You might try cleaning the valve and making sure it's getting a good
>> > signal. Clear all the codes before restarting. If replacing, either
>> > write down the part number or bring your valve to insure an exact
>> > application match.
>> >
>> > Hope this helps.....
>> >
>> > Dave S(Texas)
>> >
>
 >> Stay informed about: Rough Idle/Misfire/EGR? 

"ROY BRAGG" wrote in message

> There is a special tool that rotates the engine after disconnecting the
> dog-bone shaped engine mounts at the top center of the engine.

Which tool ?? I always thought that you had to disconnect the bone, put the
tranny in neutral and rock the engine forward by hand or with some sort of
pry bar
 >> Stay informed about: Rough Idle/Misfire/EGR?