1999 Escrot P0401 EGR

[watermoose]

Hello-
My first posting, so hang with me.
Several months ago my CEL came on. I had it tested at AutoZone and it was P0401 EGR valve. I was told to pull off my EGR valve and clean it out. I did so and I was as clean as a brand new one. No carbon build up in the hole to the block and it seemed the tube was clean as well.
After that the code tripped off for awhile. Then it came back on, had it tested again and was told to put in a can of fuel injector cleaner. Did so and light came off.
The code has been back on now for a few months and I have been ignoring it, knowing what it was. I had it tested again today and it was P0401 again. I have done a lot of internet research but get lost with all of the terms, vacuum solenoid, dpfe sensor, etc. Also, my car has been running rough for quite some time. Just a lot of vibration both in idle and drive. It gets worse when I turn on the A/C and during idle, better when I am moving.
So can I leave this, should I follow the online Autozone instructions and get a vacuum pump, ohmmeter, etc and try and tackle this myself?
Any help would be very appreciated!
Thank you,
The Moose

[Davescort97]

Moose-- Welcome to Automotive Forums. The vibration at idle could be the IAC (idle air control )valve. It is on top of the throttle body. It looks like a small electric motor with wires running into it. Take the 2 screws loose and pull it. Spray some WD 40 into the 2 cavities of the valve. Put it back on. Don't spray any in the cavity of the throttle body.

Code PO401 is EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) Insuffient Detected. The EGR valve artificially leans out the mixture by recirculating the exhaust back into the mixture. This code indicates the amount of gas recirculated is not enough to artificially lean out the charge. If it is running all right and you want to put the CEL light out, disconnect the negative battery terminal for 15 minutes, then put it back on. If it comes on again, pull the vacuum hose off the EGR and plug it. This may solve the vibration problem.

Trust the people at Auto Zone. The Ford dealer will charge you $85 to pull the code on your Check Engine Light. The people at Auto Zone will do it for free. However, if you want to get it fixed the first time, everytime, take it to the dealer.

[watermoose]

Thanks for the information. Is the WD40 to lube the IAC or clean it out? If there is carb build up can I use carb cleaner and a brush to clean it out?

Will pulling and plugging the vacuum hose cause any problems long-term?

I didn't edit. Accidentally started post on your thread. Sorry.

[Davescort97]

The WD40 will clean it out and lubricate the moving parts. I have used carb cleaner to clean it out before the WD40 and only as a light spray. There are 2 schools to the clean it out thought. 1. Clean all the surfaces as well as you can. Leaving nothing to chance 2. Don't disturb the suraces you are working on any more than you have to. I subrscibe to the 2nd school of thought. Just spray it with WD4O and don't take a brush to the carbon or anything like that.
There is a rubber coated plunger in the first cavity that leads to the second. If any carbon gets loose it could affect the seal between the 2 cavities.

No it won't cause any long term problems. Sure as God made little green apples someone is going to post that it will cause problems. I stand by my statement. Plug the vacuum line and just put the vacuum line back on before you go for the emissions test.

Hey Moose---We started by looking at the EGR valve. Yes, it could be the culprit, but most engines will run rough and heitate and stall from bad ignition wires. If your scort has over 75,000 miles you should replace the wires. Under a load the engine will run rougher due to bad wires more than any thing else. They say........
First things First. 'If your plugs have over 75,000 miles replace them, too. Get Autolite or Motorcraft If you can. My fault we didn't talk about wires.' They say the most simple things should be looked at first. The wires are simple and inexpensive to replace. I hope you have already replaced them and the plugs, too.