My check engine light came on last night. I did a search here and found a recommendation to go to an auto parts store and have it scanned. Did that this morning and it says the EGR valve is the culprit. They guy says those are sometimes expensive so I ask for a price and he says he can't get that part. This was an Advance Auto Parts store. So, I assume I'd have to get one through MOPAR only? Any idea how much they cost or how difficult they are to replace?

Meanwhile, his recommendation was to unhook the battery cable for about an hour and let the codes clear and see if it happens again over the next couple of days. How likely is it that I won't get another code? There are some things I understand about engines and some I don't. EGR valve is something I've heard of but really have no idea what it does but assume it has something with the exhaust and/or monitoring/adjustment.

 

Oh, by the way, if it matters, it's a 04 Ram 4x4 quad cab with a 5.7 Hemi and is about to turn 60k miles. Never an issue before now.

 

Call around to different parts stores till you find one that has or can get it. It is not a dealer only part. A buddy of mine with a 04 got his from NAPA and I think it was around 40 or 50 bucks. You can unhook the battery cable and it will clear the code but more than likely it will come back. The part isn't that expensive and easy to replace.

 

You can try the reset and see if the CEL comes back. Are there any other symptoms besides the light coming on? I tried to look up an egr valve for the 04 on a few mopar parts sites and it says "No items were found in this catagory." Napa has one for about $63 and autozone has them for about $50.

 

http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPage...alve&VehCode=Y

 

and here's one at Advance Auto for 36.49. http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...S__EGR%20Valve___

 

No other symptoms (I don't think). I had about an 8 hour round trip yesterday and the check engine came on about 10 minutes before I got back home. About 15 miles before that, I was very tired but, as I came to a stop light, it did seem like the motor wasn't idling just right. I saw the tach fluctuate a little bit while sitting still at the light. Could that be a related symptom?

Anyway, I'm a "better safe than sorry" type of guy, especially when talking about a <$100 part. I haven't taken that close a look at it. Is it fairly easy to replace? The guy at Advance didn't seem so sure of where it even was. He pointed me to something on the top front left side of the motor (when facing the motor from the front end). Is that the correct approx. location for this part?

 

Yes it's in front of the passenger head...couple bolts, unclip the wiring harness and it's off. Might want to have another gasket on standby incase you rip the stocker.

 

I had the same thing happen to me on a long trip. when I got back I took it to the mechanic, and the light turned off...so I guess it unstuck or something. and it only comes on during road trips now...no noticible(sp) problems, and it turns off after a few start ups...The guys said not to worry about it until the Check engine light remains on...

 

here it is