I got to fix my mom's 94 4Runner when I fly home. She needs the EGR valve changed out. Anyone done this before and have any words of wisdom?

 

Heat the nuts to get them off. They can be a real bear.

 

if you do a search, you'll get to hear some great stories of how hard it is to get to it! i haven't done it, but was looking into it and everybody said it was a huge PITA

 

Liquid wrench and a large adjustable cresent got mine off.

 

How do you know its needs to be changed? I did mine years ago by grabbing it from under the intake manifold. Major PITA. When it comes out it looks to be in perfect condition. Needless to say I was pissed. Remember hearing somewhere later it doesn't really need changing, and thats why its not very accessible. Kind of like the fuel filter-it doesn't hurt to change but is not always necessary. Seems like there is a rubber grommet also, and don't remember if it comes with the valve.
I'd like to hear what others' valves looked like when they got them out. Just curious.

 

From what I have heard it''s usually that round plastic filter part next to the egr that gets clogged or the egr tube leading to it that fills with carbon deposits. I can hear mine functioning and opening and closing pretty easily since my intake is plumbed differently and I have a separate filter on mine.

 

its leaking exhuast gas (and noise) under certain conditions. the sound is coming directly from the vicinity of the valve. I haven't been home in a long while and it was doing it when i left. I'm assuming my mother has had someone take a look at it and verify thats the problem, but im not sure. i was just informed i need to change the valve for her.