EGR Flow Insufficient Question

Good Morning Folks,
My neighbour has a 1991 Ford Taurus with 35K with the Volcun engine. The engine light is on with the code P0401 which is the subject of my post. Can this EGR valve be taken off and be cleaned or does he better get a new one.
Also, can my local mc-parts store carry this item or do I need to go to Ford to get it??
Thanks ( and my neighbor thanks you all!!) for any help anhone can give me.
Have a Great Day!!
Rob Roy

Are you sure the car is a 1991? That would be a bit early to use the OBD-II code format. I would expect the 1991 system to yield a 3-digit code.

If the code is indeed correct, then search this forum for the keyword "P0401" and you'll find quite a few hits with some good suggestions.

-Rod

Thanks Rod for the reply but accrding to Autozone, cars from 1996 to date have used the odb 2 program that is if the guy at AutoZone is corrrect???

Thanks again for the come reply Rod
Rob Roy

robroy, you said that your car is a 91. OBDII is for 96 and above.
You can clean your EGR valve using carb cleaner or better yet a carb solvent bath (gal can with basket). Don't submerge the electronic part of the valve. I can't remember if the valve is vacuum with an electronic solenoid or opens directly from the solenoid. If it's the latter, check for vacuum leaks. Make sure the manifold doesn't have carbon buildup where the egr pipe/valve connects.

Ford did start introducing OBD-II on some 1995 vehicles in the US, but it was only a few models like the Mustang, Thunderbird (?) and I think one other. There were some other manufacturers that incorporated the OBD-II code system as early as 1994, but I haven't heard of any pre-1994 models using OBD-II. I'm not sure OBD-II was even conceptualized in 1991. Rob Roy, did you mean this is a 2001?

-Rod

It is the DPFE sensor that is bad,not the EGR valve and most people make this mistake replacing the EGR Valve instead of replacing the DPFE sensor.The 1994 Mercury Cougers were OBD II which the connector is in the glove box.Some 1994 GMs are this way too,OBD II and I know the Park Avenues are this way.