check engine code HELP PLEASE

[babbster]

My check engine light came on this morning and I took it to autozone and they checked it and gave me a code of P0401 with a description of "EGR Flow Insufficient"

My guess is that it has something to do with my intake set-up. I have the KKM intake with no surround and a tube running from the bottom grill to bring more air to it. It is as 2001 V6.

Any advise or comments or expertise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

[tagliato22]

egr valve i would suppose (egr = electric gas recirculation i believe).

 

[babbster]

so do you have any idea of what the problem may be then? but now that you mention it i agree, that sounds right

 

[babbster]

I found out what the code stands for but still need help trouble shooting the problem, I dont know what needs attention...the code stand for "Exhaust Gas Recirculation Flow Insufficient Detected"

 

[Quik LS]

There is an EGR valve and a DPFE (differential pressure feedback EGR) transducer.

It could also be a vacuum leak - PCV is a common issue.

 

[babbster]

Where is that located and is that something that is simple to replace?

 

[King03LS8]

EGR problems sometimes have to do with carbon getting built up in the tubing. There are ways to to clean the tubing without having to replace the whole system including the EGR. It might help to pull it apart and check your tubing, most of the time that carbon can just be cleaned off with a tool and it will be sucked back in the engine and out the exhaust like it is supposed to. If the flow is insufficient this could really be the problem.

 

[babbster]

problem solved, thanks for the help. the opposite end of the pvc(the end away from the air flow) was really lose and also the was a little build up in the air flow tube. idles alot smoother and doesnt rattle or make any noise when i accelerate. intake sounds much better and all is good.

 

[digimurda]

hi all,

i have a 2000 lincoln ls and my check engine light wa on with code P0430
i was told it was the cat so i replaced it and got the light turned of and now afetr driving it for about 250 mile it turned back on again and it has the same P0430 code...........can the problem be the O2 sensor now?

 

[Quik LS]

P0430 Catalyst System Low Efficiency Bank 2 - so it's telling you that the difference between the front and rear O2 sensor is not enough - so people assume that means the Cat is bad (which is between the two) - but could be the O2 sensors, or something upstream throwing off the mix (vacuum, EGR, ...etc)

you could move the O2 sensors around (swap sides) and see if the problem follows the sensors

 

[digimurda]

which sensor should i swap?
the ones on the cat?

 

[steagle]

i think he's suggesting to swap both sensors, upstream and downstream of the cat, with the two sensors on the other side of the car. then if your error code changes you know the O2 sensors are wack. it's uncommon but i've heard it happening. btw i pulled the same error code a year and a half ago and mechanic told me that particular cat went bad. well i just got my semi-annual smog check last month and it passed fine, no way it failed. ironically the CEL turned off and i haven't seen it on the dash for the last few months. sounds like a screwy sensor, not going to drop the $$ for trial and error experiments with something that minor though.

 

[Quik LS]

modern cars use a pre-cat and post-cat O2 sensors - that's how they tell if the cat is working. reading the difference between the two (the cat is between them).

You could swap both the pre-cat and post-cat sensors from the passenger bank to the driver bank, clear the code and see if it returns.

If the code returns but states it's the other bank - then the problem followed yours sensors (and you can then change them) - it's likely the post-cat one. if it returns with the same code - then something else......

 

[digimurda]

thanks guys ill try swaping them..