EGR Flow Fault?

Hey, I have a 1996 Mazda 626 automatic. Sunday night the check engine light popped on. Today I had the mechanic check it and he said that the error was an EGR Flow Fault- I didn't think to ask for the code sequence. He said that either a piece of carbon was stuck inside the EGR or the entire EGR needed to get replaced which would cost $598 plus $75/hr of labor. Needless to say there's no way I want to pay for that.

Can someone tell me what the code sequence is for EGR Flow Fault or how I could possibly find the EGR and check for pieces of debris? My boyfriends father is a mechanic so if I could tell him what to look for and what to do, I'm sure he could figure it out.

Once the valve gets cleaned out, would the light disappear or does it need to get reset?

Thanks a lot!