2.3L ('83-'97) Egr valve & solenoid

[martinglen]

Can anyone tell me how to test my Egr vacuum solenoid? It has a 2 wire connection and 2 vacuum ports. Also, was wondering if I could test the EGR valve without removing it? Thanks in advance.

 

[RonD]

Yes to both

Get a longer vacuum hose at parts store, correct size
Remove hose on EGR valve, put longer hose on EGR valve
Start engine
Feel if the removed EGR hose has vacuum present, put your finger on the end, if so EGR solenoid is bad, should be no vacuum to EGR Valve at idle

Suck on the longer hose, engine should start to stumble as exhaust gases come in to the intake, it should eventually stall
If no stumbling then EGR valve is bad or EGR pipe is clogged with carbon


EGR solenoid can be tested with 9 volt battery or 12v car battery
The 2 connections have NO POLARITY, so can't be miswired
If one is + and the other - then you will hear the solenoid "click" open

Put your vacuum hose on one port of the solenoid
Suck on the hose, it should not pass air, its closed
Power solenoid
It should now pass air thru
Repeat a few times