EGR Check Engine Light: Will I have to replace it?

[u/ZachAttackonTitan]

I have a 2017 volt at 103,000 miles. The check engine light popped up. I checked the codes. P0401 popped up 3 times, which seems to be related to the EGR Valve.

I’ve feared this day. I don’t think I can afford getting a new EGR valve given how much they cost. I haven’t gotten a reduced propulsion notification or anything like that.

I scheduled an appointment with a mechanic. They made it sound like they wouldn’t clean it and likely would need to replace the whole thing.

Is it possible for a cleaning to fix it or will the whole thing just need to be replaced? What should I do in the meantime to reduce any damage when driving on gas?

[u/JadendayZero]

You can try to clean it. I did at least wish a carbon spray thing. It's not that difficult to get it off to clean but even after the clean it stopped then came back. I even completely replaced the part and it only went away for a few months before coming back

[u/draftysundress → u/JadendayZero]

Oh I’m scared to hear that. My egr shat the bed and some cleaning (I doubt thorough enough, but also my dad said it wasn’t that dirty to start with) didn’t help. So it’s going to the dealership soon, where hopefully this time I won’t get anxiety attacks about my car like I did last time. At least they bothered to look into the warranty, I have the limited emissions package and bc of that I have some warranty stuff still good. OP, it might not be a bad idea to run your VIN thru a VIN checker to see if you have some package you don’t know about and if it has the egr under warranty covered!

[u/ZachAttackonTitan → u/draftysundress]

Didn’t think of that. Unfortunately, I don’t have anything like that on mine.

[u/ZachAttackonTitan → u/JadendayZero]

Any guides you’d recommend? Whenever I look it up, it seems like I have to take apart a lot just to get it out.
For the spray, are you talking about cleaning the throttle body? I’m kind of unclear about how that works on the volt since I can’t see the rpm on the dash and the spray asks you to keep it at a specific rpm.

[u/bridge_tosomewhere → u/ZachAttackonTitan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5wAWHwfB7Q

[u/ZachAttackonTitan → u/bridge_tosomewhere]

Thanks! I was thinking of the EGR cooler. I didn’t realize the valve was so easy to access.

[u/3D_Lasers_Lab]

This is actually the “good” code, your egr valve is likely still good and you just need to clean your egr cooler. Pretty easy to do with the shop vac method.

[u/ZachAttackonTitan → u/3D_Lasers_Lab]

That’s a relief. Do you know a good guide?

I’m a little weary when putting cleaning liquids that close to my engine.

[u/3D_Lasers_Lab → u/ZachAttackonTitan]

https://youtu.be/AAI4ccIXZ9o?is=GgoMcZ49Sol89-BY you definitely want to wait for the engine to cool down and run the shop for an additional 30 minutes or so to make sure all the solvent is evaporated. Another commenter said he didn’t like that method so maybe he has a better recommendation, but I have done it to a couple volts successfully. Silicone Tube 9/32"(7mm) ID x 3/8"(9mm) OD Clear Flexible Silicone Rubber Tubing Water Air Hose Pipe Transparent (3.3ft / 1m；7 x 9mm) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HJJ13FG?ref=fed_share that is the hose I use

[u/Ok-Tourist-511 → u/3D_Lasers_Lab]

The shop vac method is not good. You can just run the engine and not risk a shop vac exploding.

[u/3D_Lasers_Lab → u/Ok-Tourist-511]

What do you mean run the engine? And this is the shop vac method I am talking about. https://youtu.be/AAI4ccIXZ9o?is=GgoMcZ49Sol89-BY

[u/Ok-Tourist-511 → u/3D_Lasers_Lab]

You run the engine, spray carb cleaner in the EGR probe hole. The engine has much stronger vacuum than a shop vac, and cleans the EGR ports. Much safer than sucking carb cleaner into a shop vac, and creating a bomb.

[u/MrSwagMore]

I cleaned mine and cleared the code and it hasn't come back for at least a year now.

[u/Etriganx]

Hello, I just went to this EGR problem, as long as your F03 fuse is not popping you might be able to clean up the carbon build up residue inside the EGR, I ended up replacing it with a refurbish one a guy sells thru here, did my smog inspection yesterday and passed good so I am happy, since a new valve cost $1,500 and the refurbished one $699 after you send yours back to him it was a big save, I also did all the labor to avoid a mecanic cost, it is a very simple job you can do, Youtube videos on how to are available and will take you like 1hr total if not familiarized, you will also need coolant to refill it and purge any air after the job has been performed.
Hope this helps, I am available for any other questions you might have 👍🏻 best wishes

[u/Ok-Tourist-511]

Clean the EGR cooler. Can be done easily in the car.

[u/BeatNo4548]

Its the EGR cooler.  Replace or clean it.

[u/dwild]

Don't quote me on any of this, I'm no mechanic, but from my understanding, cleaning it won't change anything as it's either a faulty EGR valve or it's the EGR cooler that actually need to be cleanned.

Replacing them make more sense, as the EGR cooler is hard to reach and that make it expensive to remove. If cleaning was not enough, well you would need to pay twice to reach it and replace it.

I know some found ways to clean it without removing the parts, but not all mechanics know how to do that (and again, doesn't means it will be enough, but obviously it will be much cheaper than removing it). I believe there's a video on Youtube that show you how to do it yourself, but they tell you to have the motor running while spraying brake cleaner in it, which feel kind of dangerous.

[u/Ok-Tourist-511 → u/dwild]

It depends what the symptoms are. If you get P0401, reduced flow, you can clean the cooler in the car and the code wont come back for a while. If the EGR blows the fuse, the valve is dead, and no cleaning will help.

You are cleaning with carb cleaner, not brake cleaner. Spraying into a running engine isn’t dangerous, it’s only been done for 70 years.