I give up! CEL P0401 is BACK

[marcre]

Originally Posted by Ramblin Fever

So, is an EGR valve in need? Thinking back, I wonder if I didn't do something to it - I dropped it the 1st time I cleaned it, not hard, but wonder if that was enough.

I recently replaced mine (junkyard, $15) and I too was thinking back for causes. Mine was dropped as well, but I also wonder if it's a bad idea to spray cleaner into the pintle? Maybe I didn't let it dry enough, maybe it was unrelated, but something caused it to break.

It may be worth a shot to go to a junkyard and get a used one cheap, that will at least tell you if it's the EGR.

My only concern is yours is saying the flow is insufficient. But, you've cleaned it quite a bit, so I don't know. Maybe it is worth another cleaning. Get into the tube with a coathanger or something.

marc

[Rob_NC]

..the wife`s has been doing the same thing...what I`ve found the plunger is sticking into its seat..angles of the seat or plunger could be the culprit..I push back the plunger clean what carbon there is there usually there is nothing but a little soot..then I use a little anti-seize on the plunger/seat and its shaft..I have found the gold high temp seems to last longer..its just a design flaw..harder seat and different seat angle could alleviate this..

[boaz2020]

I just cleaned my EGR for the same reason. Here is my suggestion for a quick but quality fix, unfortunately I removed my entire intake to fix this.

Applies to a 2000 Passport 3.2L V6, your milage may vary however it should be identical.

1.) Remove the intake piping from the air cleaner box to the throtle body.
2.) Remove any wiring harneses (my TB is drive by wire) and cables that are attached.
3.) Remove the 4 bolts securing the throtle body to the common chamber (intake plenum).
4.) Finagel throtle body out of the way, or disconnect the coolant lines on the bottom.
5.) Put a rag or something over the throtle body and something in front of the opening of the common chamber.
6.) Remove the EGR valve assembly from the top of the lower intake manifold.
7.) Connect a shop air line to the smaller opening where the EGR valve was (the one closer to the intake).
8.) Attempt to clear this with compressed air. Spraying gum cutter or the like before hand may help.

Good luck!

-Phil

[Ramblin Fever]

Thanks, I'll look into that as time allows - the CEL is still coming on, but not as often as before.

I honestly wouldn't worry about it, as it's running great, with or without it on, but I'm worried about not passing emissions next year.

[boaz2020]

Originally Posted by Ramblin Fever

Thanks, I'll look into that as time allows - the CEL is still coming on, but not as often as before.

I honestly wouldn't worry about it, as it's running great, with or without it on, but I'm worried about not passing emissions next year.

This is exactly why I cleaned mine, since my inspection expired in Jan. '06. You WILL NOT pass emissions if you don't resolve this. Well in NJ anyways, I'm sure other states would be the same seeing the EGR is an important part of the overall emissions system.

I even failed due to the CEL being on for a bad fuel sending unit .

NJ inspection is terrible.

-Phil

[Ramblin Fever]

In Colorado, they were talking about putting a stop to emissions testing in the last year - so I'm hoping that passes. This EGR set-up is definitely a bugger!

[highlandlake]

Originally Posted by Ramblin Fever

In Colorado, they were talking about putting a stop to emissions testing in the last year - so I'm hoping that passes. This EGR set-up is definitely a bugger!

Here in Maine we used to have emission testing. So many of the frugal native folks are driving old beaters that the failure rate was high. A group of people got together to challenge the requirement, drove a few lawsuits and PRESTO - the testing program was quickly abandoned less than two years after it started. It's a good thing - every car I drive was made in the last century and would be a big headache above and beyond the strict annual mechanical inspection process we have in place today. The state inspectors will check for CEL's only. If your light is on, you flunk. No light (no black tape on the dash either) and you pass. I was lucky that my '68 Chevelle baffled the inspector. The engine originally had a very basic air pump smog system. But that 'fell off' at some point over the years. So I told them that since the car was built in 1967, it didn't have emissions accessories on East-Coast built cars. He didn't have anything to disprove it, so he put the sticker on the windshield. Now I can use the presence of the old sticker as the reason to get a new one each year. Of course I could be a smart-as* and suggest that he plug in his scan tool to check for codes!

[boaz2020]

I can't believe what I'm reading, there are states that don't bother checking emissions!?!?!? Maybe I need to move, seriously in NJ not only do they put a sniffer up your tailpipe (checking for NOX, CO, and HC's) but they also set your car up on a dyno, run it up to speed with a fan in front to simulate actual driving, all while connected to your OBD-II PCM.

-Phil

[Gizmo42]

Originally Posted by boaz2020

I can't believe what I'm reading, there are states that don't bother checking emissions!?!?!? Maybe I need to move, seriously in NJ not only do they put a sniffer up your tailpipe (checking for NOX, CO, and HC's) but they also set your car up on a dyno, run it up to speed with a fan in front to simulate actual driving, all while connected to your OBD-II PCM.

Thats what they do in colorado too, for the time being. They did pass the bill to get rid of that system of emissions testing (the gov signed it last month). But it is being replaced with road side emissions vans that check your emissions as you drive past. If they are too high it will take a pic of your licence plate, after a few fails they send you a letter to get it tested at an inspection station. They dont have enough vans yet though so it may take a couple years for it to actually be implemented.

[Ramblin Fever]

So, Gizmo, do you know if they're definitely getting rid of the stations? I.E. I don't have to worry come next February ???

[Gizmo42]

The stations will still be there for those that fail the road side tests but we wont have to go to them anymore otherwise. I dont know how long it will be before they actually get rid of the annual testing. The governor said he thinks it'll be a couple years before there are enough monitoring vans to allow them to do that. They are supposed to have a full plan in place by the end of this year and have until 2010 to prove that it works. If it doesnt or isnt cost effectective then the entire emissions program gets scrapped.

There has been one of the vans set up on 225 between alameda and mississippi most days for the past month (usually at the end of the on ramp to south bound 225 from alameda).

Heres some more info if you wanna know..

http://www.bighorncenter.org/accomp....plishmentID=38

[rodeo02]

I don't think RF has to worry about the P0401 code too much anymore.... Ramblin?? Did u spill the beans over hear yet as to what (new ride) you recently purchased? wink-wink....nudge-nudge....

**EDIT** Oops..I see that's it's in your signature. CONGRATS!

G/luck
Joel

[Ramblin Fever]

Originally Posted by rodeo02

I don't think RF has to worry about the P0401 code too much anymore.... Ramblin?? Did u spill the beans over hear yet as to what (new ride) you recently purchased? wink-wink....nudge-nudge....

**EDIT** Oops..I see that's it's in your signature. CONGRATS!

G/luck
Joel

Sssshhh! Quiet!

Boy, you don't know how to keep a secret, do you?? Kidding!

Thank you on the Congrats!

Yep, we added a new ride to our stable, an '06 Nissan Xterra Off-road 4x4 Edition, almost same color as the Rodeo.

I actually hadn't thought to really mention it, as we still have the old faithful (Rodeo) - so, yes, I do still have that P0401 code to trouble shoot, emissions is due in February.

The Rodeo's gonna have to crawl to the junkyard before I get rid of it; she's long paid for and isn't worth too much to anyone but me.

KBB is only like $2k or so on a 157k Rodeo - we never even thought of trading it though, runs too good with actually fairly little issues, with the exception of some parts that had to be replaced just this last year.

Hate to say this though, the power in the 4.0L X, puts the 3.2L to shame; course there's 9yrs difference in age here.

But wow - can I say, ummph!

[rodeo02]

Awesome. I always liked the looks of the xterra & love nissans for that matter. We've had a cpl of sentras over the years, and my inlaws have a 1998 maxima that's been trouble free and still looks new with minimal care. Great engines and transmissions. I *think* nissan uses jatco transmissions which IMO are great. ATF dipstick AND a drain plug! Gotta love it.

Joel