Carbon Buildup Causing Check Engine Light

[BUBBA0420]

I have 1998 Nissan Maxima with 130,000 Miles. The car runs
perfect and has been over maintained it's entire life. I recently
had a "Service Engine Soon" light come on and was told it was
a plugged EGR System and Knock Sensor. The only way to replace
the EGR and knock sensor is to remove the intake manifold.
This repair cost me $1,300 which I think is ridiculous that they
make it so labor intensive. Is there any way to clean the EGR
system without tearing half the motor apart ??
Did I get taken ???

Thank you in advance

 

[VK56VD]

Pull the code for free at Autozone. These cars have a habit of tearing apart oxygen sensors, knock sensors, coil packs...

I have a '99 Maxima myself. Do you use premium fuel?

 

[Donald]

The EGR is normally impossible to clean unless you can get it off the vehicle and clean it with TB cleaner and maybe a gun cleaning brush. Some might just replace the EGQ.

Normally you can pull a vacuum line from the EGR and see if the engine runs better (or maybe its worse, can't remember). There should be something in manual about how to test the EGR.

 

[mechtech2]

Yanking a manifold and cleaning it and the EGR [or replacing the actual valve] can be troublesome.
$1,300 sounds high, though.
A dealer will always charge a lot, and often a local shop makes you pay for learning on your car.

 

[Dave Hess]

Buy the shop manual and clean it yourself for a lot less.

You can clean up the carbon that has built up over the years.

Here is an example in a Honda:

http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/egr-fix/index.html

 

[astraelraen]

I would always clean the EGR on my wife's old 1995 Stratus "back in the day." It was always a pretty temporary fix though, it seemed to get clogged back up again in less than a month, 2 at most.

 

[Saturn_Fan]

Originally Posted By: Donald
The EGR is normally impossible to clean unless you can get it off the vehicle and clean it with TB cleaner and maybe a gun cleaning brush. Some might just replace the EGQ.

Normally you can pull a vacuum line from the EGR and see if the engine runs better (or maybe its worse, can't remember). There should be something in manual about how to test the EGR.


The EGR removal on my Saturn is a less than five minute job. I remove it, clean it with TB cleaner and pipe cleaners, and bolt it back on using the original gasket. A trick on the Saturn forum I learned was while it is removed run the engine for just a few seconds and shut it off.

Never had a problem with cleaning this EGR every 10K in 40K of driving it.

 

[VK56VD]

What does running the engine with it off do?

Originally Posted By: Saturn_Fan
Originally Posted By: Donald
The EGR is normally impossible to clean unless you can get it off the vehicle and clean it with TB cleaner and maybe a gun cleaning brush. Some might just replace the EGQ.

Normally you can pull a vacuum line from the EGR and see if the engine runs better (or maybe its worse, can't remember). There should be something in manual about how to test the EGR.


The EGR removal on my Saturn is a less than five minute job. I remove it, clean it with TB cleaner and pipe cleaners, and bolt it back on using the original gasket. A trick on the Saturn forum I learned was while it is removed run the engine for just a few seconds and shut it off.

Never had a problem with cleaning this EGR every 10K in 40K of driving it.

 

[BUBBA0420]

Hi Spartus: Yes I use premium fuel only
Shell V-Power and MMO Religously

 

[Vilan]

It may not be just the valve itself that's plugged, but the intake passages leading to it, which involves taking off the manifold and reaming out the passageways to clean out the carbon. If it's that bad, it's fairly labor intensive, plus the new EGR valve, knock sensor, manifold gasket... $1300 still sounds high but I don't know Maxima part prices.

 

[Saturn_Fan]

Originally Posted By: Spartuss
What does running the engine with it off do?

Originally Posted By: Saturn_Fan
Originally Posted By: Donald
The EGR is normally impossible to clean unless you can get it off the vehicle and clean it with TB cleaner and maybe a gun cleaning brush. Some might just replace the EGQ.

Normally you can pull a vacuum line from the EGR and see if the engine runs better (or maybe its worse, can't remember). There should be something in manual about how to test the EGR.


The EGR removal on my Saturn is a less than five minute job. I remove it, clean it with TB cleaner and pipe cleaners, and bolt it back on using the original gasket. A trick on the Saturn forum I learned was while it is removed run the engine for just a few seconds and shut it off.

Never had a problem with cleaning this EGR every 10K in 40K of driving it.


Blows a [censored] load of carbon from it before bolting it back on. Plug your ears though as it is friggin loud.

 

[VK56VD]

I hear it is easy to replace the knock sensor if you have small hands. Check out more info on Maxima.org, click on 4th gen.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Saturn_Fan
Originally Posted By: Donald
The EGR is normally impossible to clean unless you can get it off the vehicle and clean it with TB cleaner and maybe a gun cleaning brush. Some might just replace the EGQ.

Normally you can pull a vacuum line from the EGR and see if the engine runs better (or maybe its worse, can't remember). There should be something in manual about how to test the EGR.


The EGR removal on my Saturn is a less than five minute job. I remove it, clean it with TB cleaner and pipe cleaners, and bolt it back on using the original gasket. A trick on the Saturn forum I learned was while it is removed run the engine for just a few seconds and shut it off.

Never had a problem with cleaning this EGR every 10K in 40K of driving it.


I haven't cleaned mine before, and I have 119k!

What will I gain from a clean EGR? It just passed CA test-only smog (for Sacramento, to boot!) two weeks ago with no problems.

 

[demarpaint]

My 93 Aerostar is at 163,600 miles with the original EGR, it was never cleaned, it passed NYS inspection w/o issue. OTOH my E-150 with 66,000 miles needed an EGR because it was leaking vacuum.

It would probably be a good idea to pull the EGR on the Aerostar and have a look, but I don't want to mess a good thing up.

Frank D