Egr

[LandCrusher'70]

I was going to take the Cruiser in Friday for a CA smog check, but I was doing some reading... Should I replace the EGR valve and related EGR shtuff? Since I just brought the LC to CA, I cannot say it has ever had a smog check. I DO NOT want to fail CA smog req's.

 

[Proven]

Do you have any codes related to the EGR or are you just reading here and found all of us complaining about it?

Not sure if there is anything more stringent there than here in Georgia (atlanta metro) but, they just read my codes. I had none, and therefore passed the inspection.

 

[LandCrusher'70]

I'm not sure what CA smog tech's do here. I don't know if they read codes. (don't know if I even have any) I haven't had to have a vehicle smogged in a very long time. I've been driving diesel's and/or haven't had my "cars" long enough to require a smog check. I think the last time I went in for a check was early '90s. Maybe someone who knows will chime in.

 

[fzj80kidpen]

Your MIL would eb lit up on your dash.
They seem to go around 150K miles but many go well beyond.
When it does through the code just buy the new vacuum modulator with the blue top. The original should have a green top. What color is yours? It may have already been done. I just cleaned my EGV valve good and put on the new vacuum modulator and its been 25K miles with no problems. Be sure to clean all the little hoses as they get clogged easily. Modulator was about $50 if I remember right. Its a PIA to do just because its way up there in the middle at the way back. Be careful reading here as you will soon think you have all these problems when you really do not. Personally I have a HG, exhaust sniffing problem. SWEET

 

[ElJefe]

As long as your cat is in good shape you should be fine. Under california law the 80 is considered an "AWD" vehicle and is not required to be run on the 1 axle dyno. You should just get the visual inspection and the standing probe in the tailpipe at idle and 2500 RPM. Should be the same test that you had back in the early 90's. Since the car never goes under load the EGR should not even activate during the tests. As long as all of the smoghetti is there and hooked up, and your cat is good, you should have no problem passing.

1 quick tip... the cats need to be HOT to operate at peak efficiency. When they run the treadmill tests, the techs will usually run a 'test' test by 'accidentally' going out of the rev range and the computer forces them to redo the test. This is actually to heat the cats up and get them really working. Since the LC will not run on the dyno, make an appointment, and run it HARD on the way to the test station to preheat the cats. If there is going to be more than a 5-10 minute wait, get it out and run it again HARD right before the test. Good luck!

 

[LandCrusher'70]

Just ran out and looked. It appears I have the original green top. All the emissions shtuff looks clean and hooked up. I'll pop off some of the line to check the condition inside.

I've read the 'hot cat' trick and will be sure to do that.

 

[Shahram]

I had my Cruiser smogged last September. The CEL was on, and she was throwing me a P0401 code, as my EGR vacuum modulator was not working. I passed just fine.

 

[alaskacruiser]

Shahram- where did you get it tested?

 

[LandCrusher'70]

Shahram- where did you get it tested?

No kiddin'. I may need to drive up there for the test.

 

[Shahram]

Shahram- where did you get it tested?

At a place on Santa Monica Blvd. in West LA....I think the cross street is...well, it's between Barrington and Brockton, north side of the street. Across the street from the Ford Dealership.

 

[Shahram]

You should just get the visual inspection and the standing probe in the tailpipe at idle and 2500 RPM. Should be the same test that you had back in the early 90's. Since the car never goes under load the EGR should not even activate during the tests.

Like...what he said.

 

[cruiserdan]

If it aint broke, don't fix it...........EGR is a sleeping dog. DO NOT monkey with it if the system does not have EGR related trouble codes stored.

 

[LandCrusher'70]

If it aint broke, don't fix it...........EGR is a sleeping dog. DO NOT monkey with it if the system does not have EGR related trouble codes stored.

FZJ80KIDPEN mentioned cleaning the hoses 'cause they can get clogged. I assuming I shouldn't mess with this either for risk of 'waking the dog'?

 

[cruiserdan]

With a 97, if there is an EGR problem, the computer will let you know. Don't bring a knife to a gunfight.....

 

[LandCrusher'70]

I've got to check for codes. GM's have a paperclip trick for pulling codes. Bet there is something similar here. I'll search...

 

[RavenTai]

one thing to note here is that there are two distinct 80's as far as emission are concerned,

91-94 OBDI, paperclip
96-97 OBDII, scanner
95 half and half

If an OBDII vehicle has any code stored it wil not pass, in GA that is all they look for on 96+ vehicles, just code scan

 

[LandCrusher'70]

91-94 OBDI, paperclip
96-97 OBDII, scanner
95 half and half

Oh...

Being a '97, I'll need to scan it to get codes. Where, KRAGEN or someplace similar?

 

[RavenTai]

I have a cheap code scanner, you can get soeftware and a cable to hook into your laptop for about $75 to $600 depending on who you go with, the softare lets see a lot more than just codes you can read outputs of sensors freeze frame data etc.

 

[LandCrusher'70]

Is a search for "OBDII software" going in the right direction?

 

[RavenTai]

Is a search for "OBDII software" going in the right direction?

yes