I have a 1987 4runner with a 22R-E in it. I took it in to have it tested for California emissions and failed the EGR functional test. I took it home and put vacuum to the ERG and quickly removed it. The valve can be heard snapping closed. I then removed the EGR assembly and checked to see that when the valve was opened air could flow through to the intake. It passed this test. I reinstalled the valve and left the rubber vacuum hose of the exhaust supply side off. I stared the engine and got no exhaust flow out of the small pipe. This leads me to believe that there is no exhaust gas being supplied to the valve assembly. This is were my knowledge of Toyota EGR design falls off. I see that the EGR is supplied with exhaust gas from the port in the back of the head however I'm not sure where this port is supplied with exhaust gas. Im thinking about removing the valve again and starting the engine and restricting the exhaust to build pressure and maybe blow out any possible blockage. Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

I had the same or similar problem as you. In my case, the hard line (steel line) between the EGR modulator and the EGR valve was plugged with some hard varnish stuff. A few seconds with a tiny drill bit and all was fixed.

I would recommend that you pull both ends of the vacuum tubes and verify that you can blow through them. Your problem could really be that simple.

My engine is the 3.0, but it may be similar to yours.