[Calpod]

Well, I'm glad someone is listening to me, if you are going to replace the EGR valve, just try cleaning it before, and it will save you some money. if anybody is replacing theirs, PM me, I would like to have one to take it apart, and find out what is really happening, I won't do it with mine cause I still have 100K more miles to go.

 

[Insightful Trekker]

And thank you Calipod for the trouble of your post in the regard.

Looks like your "batting" around .500 :shock: Puts you in the Major Leagues :!:
(but what's your RBI )

Yes I'll agree (and I think I did before) that in some cases this will "buy" you extra time, and maybe quite a lot of it. But you didn't want the first failure to discredit the otherwise potential benefits either. If cleaning the valve dosen't work then cleaning the plumbing is the next step. And In Aaron Cake's case I still might be missing the broad side of the barn.

HTH!

 

[meow77]

I also think running a fuel cleaner along with your fuel will also help and that is what I'm doing now.. eg... I think this should help clean the plates etc... all said thanks Calpod for the information... this thing was really frustrating me and I don't like the way the dealers rip you off...

 

[meow77]

Trekker when you say clean the plumbing what do you mean going further into the engine itself?

 

[Insightful Trekker]

Yup :!: Slightly, and not really "into" the engine, just the intake system.

pg.. 6-43 of the factory service manual shows an exploded diagram of the EGR plate that is the "plumbing" distribution system downstream the valve.

viewtopic.php?t=653

and:

viewtopic.php?t=689

HTH!

EDIT: Fixed broken links

 

[meow77]

Yes helpful.... any idea where you can get that deep creep stuff?

 

[drktrpr]

this thread needed more pictures of the egr valve, so I took some:

http://www.dennisjudd.com/archives/000815.html

 

[Calpod]

Good, this should help a lot lf Insighters.

 

[figgy]

Thank you!

 

[meow77]

Hey DR.... good stuff!

 

[Rusty]

It worked for me

Just wanted to put in that the WD-40 trick worked for me. Getting the EGR valve off was pretty easy (you need to put the socket on the right-side bolt and then push an extension onto the socket or use a universal joint for that bolt). At first, there was some residual jerking (a couple of days), but then the car started running smooth and has been doing so for some months now. It saved me a wad of cash. Thanks
Rusty

 

[Guest]

I also cleaned my EGR valve based on the advise in an earlier string. It ran great for a while, but seems to be getting a little jerky again (it has been a few months). Should I just plan on cleaning it every few months? Maybe when I change the oil? How frequently should be considered too frequently and maybe symptomatic of some other issue?

 

[Insightful Trekker]

Hi Sharon,

Rick Reece reported a similar result and recently choose replacement rather than the needed frequent additional cleanings. He stated he was so happy with the improvement he wished he had done it sooner. But ultimately time will tell..

[edit]

Here's the link:

viewtopic.php?t=3287

[end edit]

HTH!

2nd Edit: Fixed broken link

 

[Guest]

EGR Cleaning

Wife has been complaining about this for a year. Hopefully, I'll be a hero in a few days.

1) Soaking my EGR Valve as we speak.
2) After slightly stripping one of the nuts, I had to bend the wire holder/bracket to get my socket wrench fully seated on the harder to reach nut holding the EGR Valve.
3) Broke a 12mm socket getting the harder to reach nut off the EGR Valve. It obviously was a cheap peice of ___.
4) Pulled the EGR Valve off.. filled the rectangle reservior up with WD-40 and shot WD-40 onto the circular valve thing. I plan on soaking it for 6+ hours.
5) Looked at the EGR 'manifold' and examined the circular and rectangle 'ports'. Figured it couldn't hurt to clean those too. Went after it with Q-Tips and WD-40. The circular one came clean relatively easy. The rectangle one had more crud on it and I had to scrape the black hardened crust off as well as working on it with WD-40 soaked Q-Tips. Eventually got the majority of it off. Seemed to take 20 minutes.
6) Gasket has no dimples. Not sure if I should get a new one. Any advice? I put the EGR Valve on and the gasket compressed... so I think its good. (changed from original)

I'll report the results of any improvement in driving in a few days.

That didn't take long. Wife called this morning and said hirky-jirky was gone and MPG was up even in stop n' go traffic. I have to get the tires pumped up and get some fuel additives/premium in the car and see even more improvement.

 

[Rick Reece]

Well I have over 600 miles on the new EGR valve and it was definitely the problem. The old one looks clean but if the problem is electrical then cleaning is not going to help. Have fun, Rick

 

[devin1955]

remove the EGR valve, turn it over, (there is a picture posted here a couple of posts back, this is the area where you want to spray WD-40, don't be afraid, just fill it up with the spray, let it sit for a few hours, (I usually do it at night and let it sit all night).

I'm trying your cleaning trick right now. The thing that's got me bugged is that twice now I've noticed the level of WD40 in the valve has gone down, maybe 1/4", and I've had to add more. Could be evaporation, but my gut tells me it's seeping into the valve somewhere. :?

 

[Insightful Trekker]

That would be the point :!:

If cleaning is going to fix a "sticky" valve then it must penetrate up the pintel shaft.

 

[devin1955]

Well, it worked. The difference is like night and day. ALL of the jerkiness is gone, smooth as silk once again. I drove it 75 miles today, and my mileage is up too because I don't have to deal with getting off the gas everytime the jerks start. No telling how long it will last, but for now I'm happy and if it starts doing it again anytime soon I'll feel better about spending the bucks on a new part knowing the problem IS with the EGR valve for sure.

Thanks Calpod!

 

[Calpod]

You're welcome, I have over 135K miles on my Insight, the reason why i started cleaning mine was because when I ordered it it was back ordered, the guy on the line told me that people were ordering a lot more that Honda expected, so the supply was short.

I would not change mine until they change the design, I believe it's a design flaw, and if you buy another one, you'll end up with problems again.

We should all let Honda know about this problem, I think if over 80% of the Insights out there have the same problem, Honda should recall these parts.

Do you think we may get Honda to recall our EGR valves if we all write to them?

 

[devin1955]

Do you think we may get Honda to recall our EGR valves if we all write to them?

Well, I'd be willing to write a letter. Actually, I just called them to get an address and they offered to document the problem, so I let them. I'm going to write as well. Anyone who does be sure to include your VIN number in the letter.

Phone
Toll-free number: (800) 999-1009

Fax
(310) 783-3023 (24 Hours)

Mail
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Honda Automobile Customer Service
1919 Torrance Boulevard
Torrance, CA 90501-2746
Attn: Customer Service