While there are plenty of ailments that can slow down your vehicle, one of the more common with newer vehicles is a bad EGR valve. While these EGR valves have some performance and environmental benefits, they’re notorious for clogging.
If you suspect that your vehicle might have a faulty EGR valve, keep reading, and we’ll break down the most common symptoms you should look for.
Even better, if you do narrow down the problem to the EGR valve, we’ll walk you through standard repair costs and where it’s located on your engine to help speed along with your repairs. Let’s take a look at the signs first.
Symptoms Of A Bad EGR Valve
The most common symptom of a bad EGR valve is a check engine light illuminated on your dashboard. You may also notice bad fuel consumption, reduced power, and rough idle. Your car may also fail an emission test with a bad EGR valve.
Here down below, you will find a more detailed list of the signs of a bad or failing EGR valve to look for:
1. Check Engine Light
There are tons of sensors monitoring your emissions, engine performance, and even the EGR valve’s performance. Whether the EGR valve is clogged, stuck open, or stuck closed, you’re going to get a check engine light.
While the check engine light will usually point you straight to the EGR valve, it is possible that it might come on due to a symptom instead of a cause. For instance, you might get a check engine light that indicates excessive exhaust chemicals or misfires, even though the problem stems from a faulty EGR valve.
2. Increased Emissions
Your EGR valve’s primary purpose is to reduce emissions, so you can expect that if it’s not working correctly, your overall emissions will increase. In fact, if you have a faulty EGR valve, your vehicle will most likely fail an emissions test.
You might notice slightly more smoke when the EGR valve is bad, but this isn’t very common.
3. Decreased Fuel Consumption
Your EGR valve works to send the right amount of exhaust back to the combustion chamber. One of the advantages of this is that it reduces the combustion chamber’s temperature and improves efficiency.
But when the EGR valve is stuck open, the engine will suck in air that is already measured by the MAF sensor, leading to a lean air-fuel mixture and a reduction in fuel consumption. While this might sound like a great symptom, it can damage your engine.
4. Reduced Power
Not only does an optimized engine improve fuel economy, but it also improves engine performance.
You’ll notice the problem more at lower speeds if the EGR valve is stuck open and at higher speeds if the EGR valve is stuck closed.
You might also notice that your acceleration has become jerky or rough.
5. Rough Idle
If your EGR valve is stuck open, then you’re going to get a rough idle, especially when your vehicle hasn’t warmed up yet. That’s because usually, the EGR valve starts in the closed position.
However, if the EGR valve is stuck closed, you’ll notice more problems while idling after the engine has already warmed up. That’s because the EGR valve is typically open then as it recirculates exhaust to lower the overall temperature of the combustion chamber.
RELATED: Rough Idle Causes & How to Fix it
6. Engine Knock
One of the lesser-known perks of the EGR valve is that it actually reduces engine knocking. Keeping the combustion chamber at a lower temperature prevents the fuel from igniting before it should.
While this won’t always happen if you have a faulty EGR valve, the chances go up dramatically if the valve is stuck closed. If you have a check engine light on for a faulty EGR valve, keep an ear out to see if you can hear any knocking.
If you can, you need to make repairs immediately before any further damage occurs.
RELATED: 6 Causes of a Knocking or Pinging Car Engine
EGR Valve Function
The EGR valve takes specific amounts of exhaust and recirculates it back to the combustion chamber. EGR Valve stands for exhaust gas recirculation valve, which breaks down exactly what it does.
Recirculating the exhaust does a few things for overall performance. First, it optimizes the fuel to air ratio without pulling in extra air from the intake.
Not only that, but the exhaust has a different chemical makeup than fresh air. This different chemical makeup allows the combustion chamber to stay up to 150 degrees Celsius cooler, which produces cleaner exhaust and improves overall engine performance.
Since the EGR valve runs off sensors, it knows when to open and when to close to optimize performance. But when these sensors fail or the EGR valve gets stuck, you’ll run into problems.
EGR Valve Location
Your vehicle’s EGR valve is typically located at the top of the engine and generally connects to a pipe that runs from your exhaust. If you know what you’re looking for, the EGR valve is usually very straightforward to find and get access to.
It can be hidden deep into engine bays on some models, so to say that it is always easy to locate would be a lie.
Look for a metal tube coming to the top of your engine, then locate the valve that’s attached to it, and you’ve found your EGR valve in many car models! Some car models are totally integrated into the cylinder head, though, and do not have these pipes.
EGR Valve Replacement Cost
The average EGR valve replacement cost is between $225 and $800, depending on the vehicle you drive and where you take it into repairs. You can expect the EGR valve to cost $150 to $400, while labor costs $75 to $400
But before you jump straight to replacing the valve, see if you can’t clean it first. Start by removing the EGR valve, spraying it with a carb cleaner, and scrubbing it with a wire brush. If this works, you’ve just saved yourself a few hundred bucks!
But if you narrow down your problem to the EGR valve, and cleaning it doesn’t do the trick, then there’s good news and bad news. The good news is that with even with just a little technical know-how, it’s straightforward to replace. The bad news is that the valve itself is a bit more expensive than you would expect for such a small part.
While you can find an aftermarket EGR valve for some vehicles for around $50, a more typical cost is closer to $150 and $400. If you’re looking for an OEM replacement part, you’re looking to spend a little more, generally between $250 and $600.
If you’re going to have a mechanic replace the part for you, labor costs often range between $75 and $400. So, while you can save a little money by doing it yourself, you’re still going to be on the hook for the majority of the cost.
12 thoughts on "6 Symptoms Of A Bad EGR Valve and Replacement Cost"
Mike C
My 1998 Accord V6 has a rapidly surging idle from 1000-2000 rpms. It is throwing a P0401 check engine code (EGR valve) Car runs normal at cruise speed. Does this sound like a EGR problem to you guys?
Magnus Sellén
Yes, a surging idle can be a strong sign of a bad egr valve. Especially along with that error code. But, need to diagnose the EGR valve to make sure no money is wasted, if for example there is a wiring problem causing it.
Teddy
Hie i have a problem with my Mercedes Benz w203 it says check the right positioner sensor has been interrupted y100/1
Joana Santos
Hi there! My BMW 520 was replaced today the EGR COOLER as part of recall. But they told me need to replace the EGR VALVE... is that really not part of RECALL”?!...I thought EGR COOLER AND EGR VALVE are integrated. Worried here to pay extra 400 euro as warned by the BMW SERVICE CENTER?.. I would like to know my rights as part of recall please. Joana
Narpinder Pal Singh
Hi I got bmw e60 525i year 2006 and i got problem with my car that when i turn the ignition on, it engine vibrates and shakes then RPM goes up and down and engine makes weird noise and then after 1 minute engine shuts off. If i press acceleration rpm more than 2500 seems like engine miss fires. What to do? And how much to fix it?
charalambos
There is no egr valve available to buy for my car.The one that the car has is 22 years old cleaned enough and functionable.I want to replace it before it's due date.Any thing to substitute it with can be a good help.
John Minyard
I have a 2012 ram 3500 diesel, I cleaned the whole egr valve the air horn AN elbow going into the air rail, it was really plugged up, AN I lost about half of the power, really bad build up, but now it's running full power. The cost was 50 dollars, for gaskets AN 5 cans of carb cleaner.
Alexandru
Hy, my car it's a VW Golf 5, 2.0 tdi, 140 HP, 2004. I have the check engine light on the dashboard with P0401 error code that is coming from the EGR. So, if I will delete the egr, it's necessary to make some modifications in the ECU? I have read on the internet, that it's necessary to rewrite that parameters to open up or close up the valve that's work influenced by the rpm. Also I need to know if I will remove it, it will be bad or good for the engine? A lot of mechanics said it's better with no EGR (technically speaking). As far as I know the valve it's mechanical with vacuum pump. I'm thinking to remove it and before doing that, I need to know how much it's possible. Thank you in advance. If you are going to tell me more things/info than I asked, these will be welcome.
Carl
Just replaced the EGR valve on my sprinter van. All the posts I've read say to wiggle it out or give it a light tap with a nylon hammer. After 3 attempts over six months and a total of 20 hrs, I had to completely drill it, cut it and destroy it before it moved. I used a lump hammer and a chisel and a sawzall. I used 15" channel lock pliers with no effect. I even had my sds hammer chisel to try to move it. What a bastard!
vineeth
hi , can anyone tell me about egr valve function and EGR valve made up of some components like…………..; pleae reponsed me as soon as possible . thanks vineeth
Magnus Sellén
@wilhelm smith I guess you have a 2.0 tfsi engine and in that case, there is no EGR. I would recommend making a leak down test to see if the intake valves are okay! You can also check the camshaft timing.
wilhelm smith
Hi i have a golfv gti 2005 model with axx motor code.I need to find out if the car is fitted with an EGR valve and where is it situated please.My car pushes all its exhuast gasses through the intake manifold back into the engin.intake manifold gets exstreamly hot in seconds.