I am getting really tired of staring at this stupid "check engine" light. My car is throwing code P0401, which is "insufficient EGR flow. We took the EGR out and it was working fine, so we cleaned it at put it back in. Any ideas what else it could be? Somebody told me about blocking off a small hose somewhere but, they said it in passing and I didn't quite understand. I just want the damn light off! Thank you.

 

when you had it off did you clean out the passages underneath the valve they get blocked with carbon build up sometimes

 

Would that be something that is separate to the EGR itself. After doing some research I find that the EGR Solenoid goes alot on these too. Could that be the cause?

 

the passages I'm talking about are in base where the valve sits that runs to engine, could be solenoid also , vacuum leak ,modulator ,bad sensor or connection . what R/T do you have sedan or coupe if coupe(has Mitsubishi engine) and you try searching for information online might try using "p0401 Mitsubishi" get more specific info

 

Yeah its a Mitsubishi Stratus R/T with the 3.0.

 

If I remember right, that area is difficult to get to or even see. When we took the EGR out we were doing it blind. Is there a trick to see it without tilting the engine forward?

 

no tricks that I know of ,only thing I can think of that might help to clean out passages might be throttle body cleaner spray that comes with a straw on side of can, what I've done if straw wasn't long enough to reach was take the smallest diameter vacuum hose I had and tape/seal it to end of straw keep hose as short as possible, you might be able to able to find and spray the passages with one hand

 

Thanks, Bill. That actually a very good idea.

 

Is there a difference between the "EGR Vacuum Solenoid" and the "EGR Solenoid Valve"? Went to Advanced Auto and they couldn't tell me if they were the same. All my google searching just says "with code P0401 replce EGR solenoid." Nothing tells me vacuum or valve.

 

I think its a solenoid valve on mitsubishi, try chryslerpartsdirect.com, they have good exploded parts diagrams might help auto zone figure out correct part or check your local dealer they might tell you just need last 9 of vin#