2002 Mercury Sable Low EGR Flow

2002 MERCURY SABLE
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JOESACK
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  • 2 POSTS
My car has low EGR flow. Pulled line from valve and no vacumme at 2000 rpm. Vacume at selenoide.
Powered solinide vacume at EGR valve engine slows than stalls. Believe it is the "EGR Backflow Sensor" causing the problem.Would that be a logical conclusions?
Jan 2, 2007 at 6:23 AM
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2CARPRO JACK
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 11,533 POSTS
Sounds about right, replaced a bunch of those.For some reason they only last a little while.Once they go out of range, the MIL comes on for "insuff EGR flow"
Jan 2, 2007 at 6:49 AM
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JOESACK
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Thank you. If this works will the light go off after a couple cycles on its own or will I need a "Code Reader" to clear the code?
Will unhooking the batery work since I do not have a code reader. I had the codes read for free at Advanced Autoparts so I could go back if I have to but I feel guilty since they did not have the sensor I needed.
Jan 2, 2007 at 7:12 AM
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MATHIASO
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 1,209 POSTS
for your last question:
1/Fix the problem once the cause has been found
2/ Erase the computer code
3/ Test the vehicle to see if the symptom is gone
4/ Retest the computer to make sure the same code didn't reappear.

Your last question was removing the egr sensor to be a logical conclusion because everything pinpointed at it right?
The DTCs for the exhaust gas resirculation system will usually be set for one of the three reasons:
A control circuit fault, a no-or low-flow condition,or an excessive-flow or flow-when-not-commanded condition.
The DTC should identify the problem area but not NECESSARY the component at fault.
Once the DTC is retrieved ,consult the service manual to determine the necessary tests to be performed to isolate the cause of the code.
My conclusion is ,you may change the egr sensor to solve the problem now but do not be surprise if the same problem come back in few months.. or year...
Jan 2, 2007 at 11:41 AM
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Suggested Repair

Replace the EGR backpressure (DPFE) sensor, clear the stored code, and road-test the vehicle. If the insufficient EGR flow code returns, follow the service manual tests for an EGR control-circuit fault, low flow, or excessive flow rather than assuming the sensor alone is at fault.

Conversation Summary

The owner of a 2002 Mercury Sable with about 95,000 miles reported an insufficient EGR flow condition. Vacuum was present at the solenoid but not at the EGR valve at 2000 rpm; applying vacuum to the valve slowed and stalled the engine. The owner suspected the EGR backpressure sensor. One expert agreed that these sensors commonly fail and set the insufficient EGR flow light. The owner then asked whether the light would clear itself, whether a code reader was required, and whether disconnecting the battery would work. A second expert advised fixing the confirmed cause, erasing the code, testing the vehicle, and rechecking for the code, while noting that an EGR code identifies a problem area rather than necessarily the failed part and that the issue could return.

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