Code 12 EGR valve lift not working.

[Bad_dude]

Hi guys,
I have been getting the CEL for the EGR lift valve. From you experience, is it really the valve or the run channel needs cleaning? I clean out the channels back in 2008 and drill the holes and clean them out. My mechanic seems to think the channels need cleaning rather the valve defective. He says the valve rarely ever goes bad.

What do you guys think?
Thanks.

[Granite CB7]

Def the valve or one of the components inside the black emissions box mounted on the firewall. With all the ports clogged you'd never get a CEL with OBD1. OBD2 is a diff story, that'll check for flow as well. It certainly wouldn't hurt to reclean the ports but those are not the issue.

[Bad_dude]

Any way to test to see which is causing it?

[Bad_dude]

The Cel comes and go. So what could it be?

[Rilas]

There could be so much carbon buildup in the valve itself that it isn't fully opening or closing anymore. I'd take it off and clean it intake/carb cleaner. Then see how it goes.

[Bad_dude]

I cleaned it a few years back.