2002 Mercury Cougar EGR VALVE

Simply Because My Light Is On:evil, And I Want My Car To Run/Operate Right. Can You Instruct Me As How To Replace And/Or "Fix" My Problem? : A Diagram, or Some Pictures Would Be Helpful.

Thanks A Million 8)

The service rep. At auto zone said the code he pulled up when he hooked up the diagnostic machine was for insuffecient flow, and he told me the E.G.R. Valve needed to be replaced. He also suggested cleaning the piece, and he said something about plunging around the area when I took out the E.G.R. Valve. Do I simply need to clean the piece, or will I have to replace it? Either way, I still need to know how the location of the E.G.R. Valve on my car, and then I can remove/replace/and/or clean it. Please Help if you can.

Joshua

Did you ever find the location of the EGR Valve? I need to replace mine too, same situation. Thanks

How do you know if it is the valve or the sensor then?

If the sensor is bad would this cause my car to be stuttering when stopped?

Please advise when I went to auto zone they stated that it was the EGR Valve aftering reading this it may be my sensor just trying to figure out if that would make my car stutter when stopped.

Thanks

A STICKY EGR VALVE WILL CAUSE SURGEING AND DRIVABILITY ISSUES. IT MAY OR MAY NOT SET A TROUBLE CODE AND LIGHT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.

IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHERE THE VALVE IS STUCK AT.

IT TAKES ABOUT 1/2 HOUR TO CHANGE. AND COSTS ABOUT 135 DOLLARS FROM FORD I HAVE THE PART NUMBER IF YOU NEED IT I CAN GET PHOTO, S IF YOUSTILL NEED THEM

I hope you are seeing this BEFORE you dropped all that cash on parts. I have a 02 cougar with the 2.5 duratech and was also getting the 401 code. The chances of it being your EGR Valve are very very slim.
There is a chance it could be the DPFE/ Backpressure sensor. The easiest way to tell if it is the DPFE is your MPG will totally bottom out.
I replaced 6 of them, they can also be bought at Advanced Auto / Auto Zone. These are the EXACT same parts that Ford will sell you but only at half the cost.
IF your mpg hasnt bottomed out then the cause of all of my issues was the Throttle Body was clogged with carbon, not allowing the EGR to do it's job of recirculating exhaust gases back to be reburnt.
Go to about any parts store buy you a throttle body gasket. Like 3 bucks. Oh and a can of SeaFoam also wouldnt hurt.
But dont waste your money throwing parts at it like I have get the throttle body cleaned.

Was searching around this morning to see if this is a common occurance for '02 cougars.

My '02 2.5L V6 Cougar just began doing this VERY same thing not more than a week ago (sputtering/hesitation/skipping) with no warning lights. Thankfully, myself and my brother-in-law are rather skilled with cars - and upon a basic review with no problems (battery, hoses, vacuum, wiring, censors, filters, etc.) We dove deeper this weekend to discover my EGR valve is sticking open - and cleaning has not done the trick - hence a replacement.

It is an extreme case to actually have to replace it - and I would not reccomend anyone jumping to it as an immediate solution as most are saying here - there are so many different reasons why this would happen. Doing the homework and testing parts first before you start racking up the bill will leave you less disgruntled in the long run. :) Good luck!

OK My car is stuttering at take off and while sitting in gear at a stop signal. We replaced the DTPE sensor and its STILL doing it. Also still reading code P0402. Where is this EGR sensor located on a 2002 mercury cougar.I have looked all over and cannot find a manual for this car ANYWHERE. HELP!

JenCC. How much of a pain was this to fix. Cuz if its only a $100 part.I can deal with that. But with this car sitting so low makes it kinda difficult to climb under and fix.

This is a nice pic showing where the EGR valve is located, and what it looks like, among other sensors.

The DPFE (Differential Pressure Feedback EGR Sensor) controls the opening and closing of EGR valve depending on signals from PCM.

Diagram 1 EGR is Number 4:

EGR System Diagram:

1.The Differential Pressure Feedback EGR system receives signals from the Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor, Intake Air Temperature (IAT) sensor, Throttle Position (TP) sensor, Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor and Crankshaft Position (CKP) sensor to provide information on engine operating conditions to the PCM. The engine must be warm, stable and running at a moderate load and rpm before the EGR system is activated.
2. The PCM deactivates EGR during idle, extended wide open throttle or whenever a failure is detected in an EGR component or EGR required input.The PCM calculates the desired amount of EGR flow for a given engine condition. It then determines the desired pressure drop across the metering orifice required to achieve that flow and outputs the corresponding signal to the EGR vacuum regulator solenoid.
3. The EGR vacuum regulator solenoid receives a variable duty cycle signal (0 to 100%) . The higher the duty cycle the more vacuum the solenoid diverts to the EGR valve.
4. The increase in vacuum acting on the EGR valve diaphragm overcomes the valve spring and begins to lift the EGR valve pintle off its seat, causing exhaust gas to flow into the intake manifold.
5. Exhaust gas flowing through the EGR valve must first pass through the EGR metering orifice. With one side of the orifice exposed to exhaust backpressure and the other to the intake manifold, a pressure drop is created across the orifice whenever there is EGR flow. When the EGR valve closes, there is no longer flow across the metering orifice and pressure on both sides of the orifice is the same. The PCM constantly targets a desired pressure drop across the metering orifice to achieve the desired EGR flow.
6.The differential pressure feedback EGR sensor measures the actual pressure drop across the metering orifice and relays a proportional voltage signal (0 to 5 volts) to the PCM. The PCM uses this feedback signal to correct for any errors in achieving the desired EGR flow.