xtremerevolution Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 This one doesn't come on very often on my Regal, but it managed to during my trip to California, right around Colorado. At that time, I figured it was simply because i was filling up with 85 Octane, which is what is available as "regular" fuel in Colorado and Utah. So I filled up with that stuff a couple of times thinking the SES light would go away eventually. I also drove my car pretty hard through those mountains, though never went above the 1/4 temp mark. Well...the SES light didn't go off yet. Since the last fill-up with 85 octane, I've put in 10 gallons of Regular 87, a 3-point octane booster bottle, and last night filled up with 3 gallons of 91 Octane, but the SES light still manages to come on. Idle was rougher before the Octane booster, but now seems to be fine. Also, after the first fill up with 10 gallons of 87 octane, the car would very lightly "buck" forward from time to time when cruising at low RPMs (1500 rpm @ 50-55 mph). Doesn't seem to be happening anymore, but the damn light is still turning on. I'm not really sure of who would have a scanner for this car, and the SES light doesn't come on until you drive for a little while. It takes a long time for it to come on if you just started the car after letting it sit overnight, but comes on in about 1-2 minutes if the engine is warm. Any ideas? Engine runs perfectly fine, without any loss of power. I'm thinking of giving it a good seafoam and oil change to see if that does anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 try a new O2 sensor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian P Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 O2 or EGR. Definitely get it scanned if you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 O2 or EGR. Definitely get it scanned if you can. agree. egr usually turns on after the first deceleration from higher speed (like 45mph) after reaching operating temp/closed loop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slick Posted January 26, 2009 Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 Yeah, I say EGR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtremerevolution Posted January 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2009 It might be worth noting that I was getting a surprisingly high 28.5mpg at 75-80 mph while driving with this SES light on, which is a bit of an improvement from the 24-25mpg I was getting in Iowa and Nebraska (though with much colder air). That's with a completely loaded car carrying a lot of weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgethis Posted January 27, 2009 Report Share Posted January 27, 2009 Yeah, I say EGR. yea from past experience with my cutty that had a 3100. It would go off and on randomly. I eventually changed out the EGR solenoid but it didn't fix the problem. I sold it too long after Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtremerevolution Posted February 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Alright, i had the car scanned at Pep Boys and it did come up with an EGR code. I have the printout somewhere but I lost it, so I don't know exactly which code it is for now. Is this something I can take apart and clean? Is the EGR system anything more than that cylinder-type thing in my engine bay with a pipe going from the exhaust to the TB/UIM? If that's all it is, I can definitely just head over to a junkyard and pick up a replacement, or take apart the existing one if its possibly clogged somewhere. Edit...nevermind, I searched the forums and found plenty of threads to point me in the right direction. I'll be taking the thing off and giving it a good cleaning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian P Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 ...that and the passage thru the intake manifold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtremerevolution Posted February 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 ...that and the passage thru the intake manifold. I checked that already and there's plenty of airflow there. I took it off and blew through it and it was pretty effortless. Checked inside it with a flashlight too and it looked pretty open. Any ideas on what's the best method to clean this thing? I was thinking of getting some carb cleaner and letting it soak in there for a few hours. Worst case scenario I have to drive to a junkyard to get another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfewtrail Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Since you can't really disassemble a linear EGR, it needs to be replaced if that carb cleaner doesn't free it up. I tried soaking the egr off my parent's '94 Regal when it was sticking open and it didn't help it any. I ended up finding an aftermarket replacement EGR in a junkyard that looked nearly new(the box it came in was still in the back seat, along with boxes for new plug wires, and several sensors...looks like someone shotgunned parts at that Regal, gave up, & sent it to the junkyard ) to swap on there, it worked perfectly. EDIT: I forgot to mention that GM reccomends not soaking the EGR in carb cleaner or any type of solvent for what it's worth. The carb cleaner didn't seem to hurt the old egr I took off my rent's Regal though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgethis Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 You know that reminds me. When I took off the EGR solenoid I did soak it in Carb Cleaner. I didn't know if it was a good idea to do beause it ended up make a rust, or reddish stain all over it. I dont know if that was normal or was it in fact making it worse. I do know one thing that I was told not to spray the whole inside of the egr with the cleaner. The reason behind it was there were electronics inside it that would mess up from the cleaner. I didnt care so i tried it and it didnt fix my problem. Thats funny that you have the cylinder type egr solenoid. The one i delt with was the 3 piece black style one. On another note, I would just have it unplugged. I could tell a difference on the cars performance with it disconnected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtremerevolution Posted February 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 So I caved in and went to the junkyard. Bought 2 EGR valves from identical engines for $25 after taxes, installed one of them, and now everything runs just fine. I'll keep the other one in case this one fails in 50k or so miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwk39018 Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Glad it was a easy fix for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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