Honda Car Forum

2001 EX-V6 Accord with 170,000 miles. Just got a P0401 code. The check
engine light went out on it's own (TCS light was also on when this occurred)
then lit up again a week later.

Trying to find information on the procedure for cleaning the EGR. Not much
out there. Found 1 article stating special tools are required.
http://www.faqfarm.com/Q/How_do_you_...d_2000_V6_2_Dr

Anybody attempt this with the standard tools one might find in a typical
home garage? Trying to determine if I should attempt this myself or just
buy a new EGR. They're expensive ($200 plus) but maybe not depending on how
much effort it takes to clean and drill it out and what the special reamer
costs, especially if I'm only going to use it one.

Any insight from those experienced in this would be appreciated.

"Seth" <seth_lermanNOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:VF98h.5865$w%7.3607@newsfe11.lga...
> 2001 EX-V6 Accord with 170,000 miles. Just got a P0401 code. The check
> engine light went out on it's own (TCS light was also on when this
> occurred) then lit up again a week later.
>
> Trying to find information on the procedure for cleaning the EGR. Not
> much out there. Found 1 article stating special tools are required.
> http://www.faqfarm.com/Q/How_do_you_...d_2000_V6_2_Dr
>
> Anybody attempt this with the standard tools one might find in a typical
> home garage? Trying to determine if I should attempt this myself or just
> buy a new EGR. They're expensive ($200 plus) but maybe not depending on
> how much effort it takes to clean and drill it out and what the special
> reamer costs, especially if I'm only going to use it one.
>
> Any insight from those experienced in this would be appreciated.
>
http://www.98exl.com/tsb/CG/99-085%2...20Clogging.pdf

bbtaco wrote:

> http://www.98exl.com/tsb/CG/99-085%2...20Clogging.pdf

This won't do the OP any good. The extended warranty is good for only
80,000 miles, but this Accord has 170,000 miles on it.

Original Poster: Did you mean the valve itself? Or only the ports and
passageways?

I have a follow-up question for the masses out there: I had the same
prob where insufficient EGR Flow causes this P0401 code and we know the
fix for it, but I was told that over time if not remedied it will fail
the EGR valve...on the other hand I've also been told that these EGR
valves pretty much never fail? Well do they? And is this true?

Kevin

High Tech Misfit wrote:
> bbtaco wrote:
>
> > http://www.98exl.com/tsb/CG/99-085%2...20Clogging.pdf
>
> This won't do the OP any good. The extended warranty is good for only
> 80,000 miles, but this Accord has 170,000 miles on it.

"bbtaco" <bbtaco@spamnot.com> wrote in message
news:7qSdnauy_bsFtvzYnZ2dnUVZ_umdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>
> "Seth" <seth_lermanNOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:VF98h.5865$w%7.3607@newsfe11.lga...
>> 2001 EX-V6 Accord with 170,000 miles. Just got a P0401 code. The check
>> engine light went out on it's own (TCS light was also on when this
>> occurred) then lit up again a week later.
>>
>> Trying to find information on the procedure for cleaning the EGR. Not
>> much out there. Found 1 article stating special tools are required.
>> http://www.faqfarm.com/Q/How_do_you_...d_2000_V6_2_Dr
>>
>> Anybody attempt this with the standard tools one might find in a typical
>> home garage? Trying to determine if I should attempt this myself or just
>> buy a new EGR. They're expensive ($200 plus) but maybe not depending on
>> how much effort it takes to clean and drill it out and what the special
>> reamer costs, especially if I'm only going to use it one.
>>
>> Any insight from those experienced in this would be appreciated.
>>
> http://www.98exl.com/tsb/CG/99-085%2...20Clogging.pdf

Well, it's too late for me warranty wise, but that's the instructions on
doing the entire service.

Thanks

But I don't think I'll go through all of that, especially the drilling.
Looks a little beyond what I think I'm willing to go through, I may just
use these instructions to get at the valve itself and try cleaning it out
with some pipe cleaners and a little carb cleaner. Vehicle went 170k
without being drilled, a good cleaning should buy me a lot more time.

"High Tech Misfit" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:azhe8b5iv6ru.dlg@hightech.misfit...
> bbtaco wrote:
>
>> http://www.98exl.com/tsb/CG/99-085%2...20Clogging.pdf
>
> This won't do the OP any good. The extended warranty is good for only
> 80,000 miles, but this Accord has 170,000 miles on it.

But the detailed instructions on what they do are there, so it's a good
start.

"FunkyKev" <lee.kevin@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1164020315.167666.206830@j44g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> Original Poster: Did you mean the valve itself? Or only the ports and
> passageways?

Well I'm not really sure. I only have the error code and what the Service
Bulletin says to do as a reference at this point. Based on the wording of
the error messsage, "Insufficient airflow" I would take that to mean the
ports and passageways. I guess when I get in there we'll see how hard it is
to clean.

> I have a follow-up question for the masses out there: I had the same
> prob where insufficient EGR Flow causes this P0401 code and we know the
> fix for it, but I was told that over time if not remedied it will fail
> the EGR valve...on the other hand I've also been told that these EGR
> valves pretty much never fail? Well do they? And is this true?

Well I went 170k without that service ever being performed. We'll see what
condition the valve is in after I attempt to clean it.

"Seth" <seth_lermanNOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5Ih8h.2$_p3.0@newsfe10.lga...
> "High Tech Misfit" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
> news:azhe8b5iv6ru.dlg@hightech.misfit...
>> bbtaco wrote:
>>
>>> http://www.98exl.com/tsb/CG/99-085%2...20Clogging.pdf
>>
>> This won't do the OP any good. The extended warranty is good for only
>> 80,000 miles, but this Accord has 170,000 miles on it.
>
> But the detailed instructions on what they do are there, so it's a good
> start.
>

That is why I sent the link, you mentioned possibly trying to do it
yourself. Our '99 Accord had this done at around 70,000 miles by the
dealer's service department.

Seth wrote:
> "bbtaco" <bbtaco@spamnot.com> wrote in message
> news:7qSdnauy_bsFtvzYnZ2dnUVZ_umdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>> "Seth" <seth_lermanNOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:VF98h.5865$w%7.3607@newsfe11.lga...
>>> 2001 EX-V6 Accord with 170,000 miles. Just got a P0401 code. The check
>>> engine light went out on it's own (TCS light was also on when this
>>> occurred) then lit up again a week later.
>>>
>>> Trying to find information on the procedure for cleaning the EGR. Not
>>> much out there. Found 1 article stating special tools are required.
>>> http://www.faqfarm.com/Q/How_do_you_...d_2000_V6_2_Dr
>>>
>>> Anybody attempt this with the standard tools one might find in a typical
>>> home garage? Trying to determine if I should attempt this myself or just
>>> buy a new EGR. They're expensive ($200 plus) but maybe not depending on
>>> how much effort it takes to clean and drill it out and what the special
>>> reamer costs, especially if I'm only going to use it one.
>>>
>>> Any insight from those experienced in this would be appreciated.
>>>
>> http://www.98exl.com/tsb/CG/99-085%2...20Clogging.pdf
>
> Well, it's too late for me warranty wise, but that's the instructions on
> doing the entire service.
>
> Thanks
>
> But I don't think I'll go through all of that, especially the drilling.
> Looks a little beyond what I think I'm willing to go through, I may just
> use these instructions to get at the valve itself and try cleaning it out
> with some pipe cleaners and a little carb cleaner. Vehicle went 170k
> without being drilled, a good cleaning should buy me a lot more time.
>
>
cleaning the valve may help a little, but the core of the problem is the
carbon buildup in the manifold, and drilling /is/ the factory solution.

Seth wrote:

> 2001 EX-V6 Accord with 170,000 miles. Just got a P0401 code. The check
> engine light went out on it's own (TCS light was also on when this occurred)
> then lit up again a week later.
>
> Trying to find information on the procedure for cleaning the EGR. Not much
> out there. Found 1 article stating special tools are required.
> http://www.faqfarm.com/Q/How_do_you_...d_2000_V6_2_Dr
>
> Anybody attempt this with the standard tools one might find in a typical
> home garage? Trying to determine if I should attempt this myself or just
> buy a new EGR. They're expensive ($200 plus) but maybe not depending on how
> much effort it takes to clean and drill it out and what the special reamer
> costs, especially if I'm only going to use it one.

> Any insight from those experienced in this would be appreciated.

Before you start drilling, make sure the EGR valve or control unit isn't
having problems. Insufficient vacuum or a leaky diaphragm might produce
the same code. (I don't know that for sure!)

Basic troubleshooting is straightforward. Get one of those hand vacuum
pumps with a vac meter. Insert a 'T' fitting and monitor the the vacuum
being provided to the valve while the car is in motion. Then remove the
valve and use the pump to pull vac on the unit. Observe its motion, and
watch for leaks. Note how much vac is required to lift the valve, and
compare to the control box output. The system may not need full lift,
but the valve should be at least partially open when the car is running.

Also, check the rate of vacuum application. I chased my tail for
several weekends troubleshooting a constricted EGR solenoid passage.
The vac would arrive, and the valve would get opened, but not quickly
enough to keep the ECU happy.

If all this is working, then start thinking about drilling and reaming....

-Greg