The check engine light came on in my 94 3.0 today. It is throwing code 71 which is the egr system. I don't seem to have a T lying around so I haven't done all of the vacuum tests yet, but vacuum applied to the egr valve does cause the engine to almost die. The little filter in the regulator valve is very dirty. Would this be enough to trigger the check engine light? Is it possible to clean it or replace it with something similar? I don't want to pay $50+ for a regulator if it's just a dirty filter.

I know a lot of people just unplug the hose to the egr and forget about it but I would rather find a way to fix it if I can. I'm going to go get a T and do the rest of the vacuum tests but I'm hoping for some insight from the YotaTech gurus.

 

I am going to subscribe tot his because I have the same problem except that it is intermittent. I think that it may just be a bad sensor. Is there a way to test the sensor to see if it is in spec?

 

Yep...

 

Often caused by a cloggged EGR. Code 71 basically means the sensor does not read hot after the ECU has opened the EGR valve after a period of time. So either the sensor is bad, or caked in soot, or hot exhaust gas is not reaching the sensor to heat it up. So if the resistance tests out, check the valve for clogging. If found, clean or replace. My buddy had that code in his '94 and a new EGR fixed it.