[jpar1983]

Ok seriously, does anybody know a truly effective way of cleaning one of these things or diagnosing whether it needs to be replaced? My check engine light has come on three times in the past year, and even though I'm pretty sure I've cleaned it as well as I can, I don't think I really even scratch the surface of what really needs to be done. And what the heck is a pintle? Where is the darn thing and how do I compress it? Anybody know where I can get a good tube brush with stiff bristles so I can get inside the thing to scrub it?
Current symptoms are that the engine is running a little more rough than usual, little more noise, and running a bit hotter than I'm used to (maybe a tic or two past half-way, which is where it usually stops). I think I'm also losing some gas mileage. Oh and the check engine light, codes P1404 and P0404. From what I've read, especially the engine running hotter than usual, I'm thinking the valve is stuck closed, and the EGR may be toast. That's fine, I just want to know and not revisit this issue again in 4 months!