Da** FI

Alrighty, I have 98 base model. Driving home from girlfriends Saturday night and on the middle of the road, my SES light came on. Car is running beautifully, cranks for maybe a half-second before starting up, idles beautifully and smoothly, shifts perfect, can't ask anything more out of it. I tried disconnecting the battery, but some smart MF decided to put the windshield wiper fluid right on top of it (why water is above and electrical component is beyond me) hence i will be relocating the reservoir to the other side of the hood. Not too difficult. I was hopin to reset the ECM and clear the light. I will not be able to pull the code til thursday, but will be takign a trip to Autozone. Any help or ideas anyone could have before i pull the code would be great. Otherwise, se yall thursday. I wish we could go back to carbs and simplicity. :biggrin:

Alrighty, I have 98 base model. Driving home from girlfriends Saturday night and on the middle of the road, my SES light came on. Car is running beautifully, cranks for maybe a half-second before starting up, idles beautifully and smoothly, shifts perfect, can't ask anything more out of it. I tried disconnecting the battery, but some smart MF decided to put the windshield wiper fluid right on top of it (why water is above and electrical component is beyond me) hence i will be relocating the reservoir to the other side of the hood. Not too difficult. I was hopin to reset the ECM and clear the light. I will not be able to pull the code til thursday, but will be takign a trip to Autozone. Any help or ideas anyone could have before i pull the code would be great. Otherwise, se yall thursday. I wish we could go back to carbs and simplicity. :biggrin:

Didja leave the gas cap off? That'll do it (really). Mine comes on every couple of months. I take it out and do 90 mph for a few miles, and it goes back off. If you get stopped by the cops, tell 'em I said it's OK.:iceslolan

I didn't think of something as simple as putting it on the other side of the engine bay. I went all out and took the bumper off to install a Grand Am/Prix washer bottle and pump. Those sit in the bumper, under the battery, and have a fill neck coming up to the top. Oh well, more room I guess.

Well, got the code. P0401, insufficient EGR flow. So, cleaned it out REALLY good with bout near a whole can of brake cleaner, cleaned the passageway leadin to it and the pretty much the whole thing. Was simple, but the light still remains on, even after disconnecting the battery and lettin it do a reset. EGR was the only code that came up, any ideas of how to turn that light off? or what should be done next?

Did you check the EGR itself for a stuck valve due to carbon deposits, or the MAP sensor to ensure its connected as well? Another thing to ensure is that you disconnected the battery long enough, a quick pull and replace won't do it. If all these check out, you might be looking at a new $180 EGR valve. That's all I can think of, unless someone else has an idea.

Oh, and one more note, about relocating the washer bottle to the other end of the hood: That's where your PCM is. I would advise against there.

I disconnected the battery first off, and left it disconnected the whole time i was cleaning the EGR. I didn't take the EGR itself apart, just sprayed into the unit. The MAP sensor and everything else is connected great, no issues there. As far as the windshield fluid, I am definitely looking into relocating it, I'll see if i can find an ideal location. And I will definitely be getting a battery with traditional posts, that bolt-in cable thing it's got goin on ain't impressin me.

Quick note, would it be advisable to take the EGR apart VERY CAREFULLY and clean it that way?

I disconnected the battery first off, and left it disconnected the whole time i was cleaning the EGR. I didn't take the EGR itself apart, just sprayed into the unit. The MAP sensor and everything else is connected great, no issues there. As far as the windshield fluid, I am definitely looking into relocating it, I'll see if i can find an ideal location. And I will definitely be getting a battery with traditional posts, that bolt-in cable thing it's got goin on ain't impressin me.

Quick note, would it be advisable to take the EGR apart VERY CAREFULLY and clean it that way?

You cant spray into the business end of the EGR with it on the motor. The passage is usually pretty cruddy too. I keep a shop vac right there running, you don't want to let hard carbon crud to go directly into your cylinders. Scratchy!

I had the EGR off the motor, I must not be followin your train of thought here. I unplugged that connector goin into it, sprayed down where into where the exhaust manifold was, and carefully cleaned the intake passage. I also had the entire EGR off, wasn't difficult with only two bolts holdin it down. Unless by some retard mistake i cleaned the wrong part, but i went by the diagram i had and common knowledge of how an EGR is set up on engines. jeff, if you could clarify what you're tryin to tell me and get me on the same wavelength, it would be greatly appreciated. thanx yall for your help

I had the EGR off the motor, I must not be followin your train of thought here. I unplugged that connector goin into it, sprayed down where into where the exhaust manifold was, and carefully cleaned the intake passage. I also had the entire EGR off, wasn't difficult with only two bolts holdin it down. Unless by some retard mistake i cleaned the wrong part, but i went by the diagram i had and common knowledge of how an EGR is set up on engines. jeff, if you could clarify what you're tryin to tell me and get me on the same wavelength, it would be greatly appreciated. thanx yall for your help

My bad. I misread part of the other post to mean that you didn't take it off. I'm loosin' it.

You can spray carb cleaner or WD-40 into the end with the plunger, if it doesn't leak past it, it's sealing fine. Open the valve and close it several times and recheck for seal each time. If it doesn't hang and leak, it should be fine.

Oh crap. These have the motor controlled EGR, don't they? You can't do that. I am sometimes stuck in the good old days, too.

Yeah, they got the wire harness leadin into the top of it. Trust me, I know what you mean. I may be only 19, but i've seen enough cars to wish we could go back to points and carbs. Good old muscle days. I will probably take a look at it saturday and see what else i can do with it. It runs awesome, no effect on performance or gas mileage, so we'll see what can be done.