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Check Engine Light On - Dealer Can't Find Cause

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by yadax3, Jul 27, 2012.

  1. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    The EGR valve is listed at $280 in the Repair Manual. I checked ToyotaPartZone. com and they list it at $200. I checked the Service Manual and it does not look like that complicated of a job to DIY if you are capable.
     
  2. yadax3

    yadax3 Member

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    Great, thanks for looking it up for me! I'm off to find a service manual......
     
  3. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    PM me your e-mail address and I can e-mail you the pages.
     
  4. pjksr02

    pjksr02 Active Member

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    Sorry about your situation. Maybe you could argue that an EGR valve is part of the emissions system, and should be covered under the emissions warranty.

    I'm wondering if the EGR system might be prone to "sticking" over time, accumulating carbon deposits. This will be interesting to track, seeing if others have the problem, and whether something like SeaFoam Deep Creep, sprayed into the valve, would clean it...
     
  5. yadax3

    yadax3 Member

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    The dealership told me that, although the emissions warranty is still in effect, this particular part (i.e. the EGR valve) isn't covered by the warranty.

    It is probably important to note the check engine light had gone off again by the time I returned my car to the dealership this weekend. When I called them prior to my appointment they told me to bring it in anyway because the codes are stored.

    When I picked up my car I asked the service rep what he meant when he said replacing the EGR valve is the 'next step' and he told me my EGR valve is working perfectly at the moment and they didn't find any carbon, which they would have cleaned up had they found any. He said the only option left is to replace the valve.
     
  6. tedjohnson

    tedjohnson Member

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    On Honda's I have had EGR valve lift sensors ( basically a cermet resistor with a wiper to change the resistance based on valve lift) wear out and go flaky. Sometimes they work sometimes they go intermittent . A dealer can take it out for a drive with equipment to check its proper functioning.
     
  7. Hitchensthinksnot.

    Hitchensthinksnot. New Member

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    The EGR valve is listed at $280 in the Repair Manual.

    I'm sure this has been taken care of by now, however, I'll re-post a solution that worked for me, in hopes to help someone else. It's a good idea to do all of the tube cleaning recommended by others, but this is what I did to fix mine.
    Don't replace the egg valve! I figured out how to fix it.
    This is very simple.
    Step by step;
    pull off the plastic cover on top of the engine, just lift up.
    Look on the right top side of the engine and locate the erg valve, black round with a wire connection in plain view, and two Phillips screws. Unscrew the two screws and pull the black cover off. There is a black magnet, with a bearing, unscrew that. You will see the threaded shaft it came off of. All you have to do is slip a washer over that shaft, and screw the magnet back on, then reassemble. You'll have to go through three start cycles before it will reset.
    The flow restriction is caused by the pin, inside the magnet, wearing down, thus preventing the valve to open enough. With the washer, this extends the throw of the valve, and solves the problem.
    Thanks to all for posting, but I found this to work, and want to share. Good luck.
     
    Robert Holt likes this.