Price on fixing an EGR valve fault?

Shawn_Dark

Anyone know how much it'll cost roughly to fix an EGR fault with my car?

Car:
Vauxhall Zafira 2004 2.0DTi (propriety diesel, not common rail so no injector fault), timing chain, no belt, etc.).

Fault:
I get the icon which looks like a service light (car with a spanner on top) but the car goes into limp mode. I can restart the ignition to get rid of it (e.g. whilst on the motorway) but it only comes back within a few minutes.

Diagnostics:
- Glow plugs (aware of this one already)
- EGR valve (this is the more recent light)

Had it for just over a month, obviously I have been conned but now its just a case of repair it if cheap enough to do or sell it for a loss.

Mankysteve

If you're mechanically minded neither are big jobs.

Shawn_Dark

Mankysteve wrote: »

If you're mechanically minded neither are big jobs.

The glow plug is just jammed and for the moment I dont want to yank it out and break it or cause other related damage as a result.

As for the EGR valve, then I don't know why people are saying its expensive to repair/replace. If it costs upto £200 that's pkay. Perhaps its because Vauxhall use an electronic valve that's more expensive than a normal one?

bigjl

There are two egr valves on the 2.0 dti I think.

You can get both from https://www.autovaux.co.uk

Electronic one is £214.50

Mechanical one is £99.50

You could try taking it off and giving it a really good clean, I have used carb cleaner to good effect but I believe there are some more specialised EGR cleaners out now.

I would be concerned about trying any harder to remove the seized in glow plug.

You could try soaking the plug regularly over a few days but I would be inclined to replace the ones I could get out.

The 2.0dti is the last of the hardy old diesels and it is fairly long lived if you maintain it well.

We had a few at work from 53 plate and they were used for Duty Officers, then in 05 they had them as more general response use, they were slow and prone to turbo failure due to the harsh use they were out to.

They are all still being used in London and when I retired they had all done well over 150k.

That was in 2011 so god alone knows how many miles are on them now.

They were more reliable than the later 1.9's, which also had egr issues along with Dpf problems.

All the ones I have used have been auto, so don't know what they are like for dmf or clutch problems.

If you can sort those issues it should last you a few years, probably give 40/50mpg aswell.


I would be changing the oil and filter in it every 6/7k, air filter every two oil changes and fuel filter every two air filters.

Shawn_Dark

EGR valve fault:
Going to see what the mechanics say, see if I can get it cleaned first. If not perhaps replaced with a used one.

Glow plug fault:
All of the glow plugs were changed with the last service - except the one last plug that is stuck. It causes a few problems with engine start-ups in the morning but I'm going to do the WD40 soaking method to remove it after a few days.

marlot

Abu_Yoosha wrote: »

EGR valve fault:
... but I'm going to do the WD40 soaking method to remove it after a few days.

Penetrating oil is much better than WD40

Strider590

Best way to deal with EGR is a blanking plate, there are various methods for this.
Your car doesn't need the EGR, it's only there to satisfy EU regulations for new cars. Removing it will probably give you an MPG boost and decrease the amount of soot/cr4p being sucked back into the engine.

Westmead_Fan

spray using 'super crack' made by normfest.

or put some cillit bang or coca cola & leave overnight

strangest stuff I've heard but works a treat

Shawn_Dark

marlot wrote: »

Penetrating oil is much better than WD40

WD40 is a penetrating oil.

Shawn_Dark

Strider590 wrote: »

Best way to deal with EGR is a blanking plate, there are various methods for this.
Your car doesn't need the EGR, it's only there to satisfy EU regulations for new cars. Removing it will probably give you an MPG boost and decrease the amount of soot/cr4p being sucked back into the engine.

I've heard about this but I can't seem to find anyone who will do it.

I have one persons number in Middlesbrough but there is no answer. I am going to drive to the place but its a residential address.

I called the garage first thing this morning and they said the EGR valve is a specialist one from Vauxhall, then certain other parts will need cleaning out as well so looking at around £250 to £250 all in.

They said once done the performance will be noticeable (put the problem has never been about loss of power - except when it enters limp mode).

bigjl

Abu_Yoosha wrote: »

EGR valve fault:
Going to see what the mechanics say, see if I can get it cleaned first. If not perhaps replaced with a used one.

Glow plug fault:
All of the glow plugs were changed with the last service - except the one last plug that is stuck. It causes a few problems with engine start-ups in the morning but I'm going to do the WD40 soaking method to remove it after a few days.

As far as the egr goes I would avoid a used one unless money is really tight, it is unlikely to be much better than the one on there.

As mentioned a blanking plate is an option on many egr equipped vehicles, but you would probably need to reset the error code first.

I have Dash Command and a wifi obd do god that I bought on eBay that can read and clear codes.

I had to buy the wifi one as I couldn't get the cheaper Bluetooth ones to work with Dash Command and my iPhone 5, did work fine with Dash command on Android, so gave the Bluetooth one to the brother in law, he uses it with a Galaxy Tab on his Vectra 2.2 petrol.

It is always possible you could just reset the code and clean it, but I would steer clear of a used one, you may aswell just clean yours.

Or confirm which of the two valves stocked by Autovaux is the correct one for yours.

Hopefully these little issues will be the last for a while.

If you have a weak glow plug you can try letting the glow plugs beat up a couple of times before starting in the AM, just switch on the ignition, wait for the light to go out, then turn off the ignition and repeat three or four times.

I have used that technique for years on older diesels.

It is also possible that the engine has lost a little compression over the years which may be adding to your glowplug related problems.