97 voltage irregularity

I recently purchased a 97 trooper that has wierd voltage patterns. Here is what happens:

Headlights off - at idle i have 14.4 volts, but when i press the accelerator it drops to 12volts.

Headlights on - at idle i have around 12volts, press accelerator i get 14.4 volts

Any ideas? i know it is not the volt meter...but thats about all i know.

ONE more question. Check engine light on....says bad EGR valve. WHERE is the EGR valve?


Any help would be great. thanks

Don't worry about what the "voltage" gauge reads unless you are getting performace/driveability issues from it. If you are really getting less than 14v with the truck running, the tranny wont shift properly & you will get all kinds of strange electrical issues. It typically is a bad alternator. I'm not familiar with the 1997 3.2L, but I believe the EGR valve is @ the rear left corner of the engine. You'll see a feed tube tapped into one of the exhaust manifolds. Follow where that tube leads to- that will be the EGR valve. Your intake/ throttle plate area, EGR system, PCV & breather system need a good cleaning every 25Kmi. A couple cans of carb cleaner & a few minutes work is all it takes!
G/luck
Joel

first concern NORMAL
second there is no code that says the EGR valve is bad what is the code?