So I'm getting this hesitation occasionally, and the motor is sluggish to respond, more so than usual.

I know there are 2 spark plug boots that aren't FULLY on the plugs....but the vehicle idles fine too. I'm thinkin of just yanking off the EGR and capping it, as it's essentially useless and just pops the CEL....however the rich condition has me thinking those plug boots are the cause.

I'll be throwing on a K&N FIPK saturday which will throw more air in, but I'm wondering if anything else could be an issue.

 

Plugging the EGR will most likely cause pinging. Make sure the EGR system is working properly, not just the valve.

The EGR light comes on when the exhaust flowing through it do not reach a certain temperature in a certain amount of time, meaning other things can cause an EGR code other than the EGR itself. I was recently working on a Camry with an EGR code. It turned out that the thermostat had holes drilled in it and the engine would not warm up, so the exhaust would not get hot enough for the computer to see it as normal.

Try checking your O2 sensor, or just changing it if it has a lot of miles on it, and check your temperature sensor. That would be my first guess for the rich mixture. If it is not missing, then the plug wires probably are not causing a rich mixture.

 

Plenty of cases where folks have bypassed the EGR without ping. Me being one. Atleast on the 3vze, anyway.

O2 and temp sensors are definitely good recommendations. I was going to say temp sensor, but you beat me to it. And nice explanation on the reasons for EGR code. Never made complete sense to me until now. Thanks!

 

the EGR temp sensor? Is that right on the unit itself?

As for the plug wires and missing, it does miss occasionally.

Damn these pain in the butt ignition systems...it'd be so easy just to slap on an MSD box and widen the plug gap and throw more spark at it.

 

The EGR temp sensor should be close to the EGR valve. I think it is just below it if I remember correctly. I am not sure where the water temp sensor is on a 3vze without looking at a manual. Fix those plug wires and see if it stops missing. That might be related to the rich mixture, but probably not the EGR code.