Unplug EGR to see if it's clogged?

[AccordWarrior]

I've been reading up on the EGR cleaning and blockoff plates...but I have a question regarding them.

I've been getting the standard slight bogging under light throttle, so I'm thinking my EGR is due to be cleaned. However, I wanted to make sure that it was that before I spent hours upon hours digging out the ports.

If I disconnect the EGR, I know I'll throw a CEL. However, would that allow me to see if the EGR is causing my bogging issues?

I'm trying to go through the car to get it running smoother and with a little more power (there's no way my auto A4 EX should be faster than my I/H/E manual A1), and I'm just trying to go down the list of things that might be the culprit.

I was thinking if I just disconnected the EGR and ignored the CEL, could I drive it around town for a day and just see how different it runs? I know if you block it off, it doesn't allow it to function, but I'm just not certain if that means that blocked caps will or won't affect your motor.

Thanks in advance.

[eriemoto.]

at what RPM does it bog?

[Accord R33]

Just try it...i guarantee the car wont explode.

[AccordWarrior]

Just try it...i guarantee the car wont explode.

Nah, I know it'll run fine, I'm just not familiar enough with it to whether or not clogged ports will still hamper the car with the EGR disabled. In theory it shouldn't I was just confirming.

I'm not that dumb under the hood.

at what RPM does it bog?

Anywhere between 1500 and 3500 under light throttle.

[Accord R33]

Im just saying...try it. Whats the worst that could happen? it actually works?

[cp[mike]]

only one way to find out.

[rickyduckworth]

you can always use resistors to trick it into not throwing a code or altering any of the parameters while totally bypassing the egr.

it SHOULD run differently with that CEL on, so i don't think unplugging it will help. if it doesn't change, then you don't know anything, and if it gets worse, that could simply be because it's unplugged.

i'd use resistors or just get an EGR and swap it out OR i'd just clean it.

cleaning it is a 15 minute job if it's cooled off completely.

if you have a blockoff plate, then putting that on and pulling the egr but leaving it plugged up would also work as far as ruling out the EGR valve or not.

[Granite CB7]

When I realized I had the typical bogging under light acceleration/constant speed @ about 1800 rpm, I knew it was the EGR. So first thing I did was leave the valve as is, but unplug it. The problem was gone, smooth acceleration, no stammering at all. It took about 5 minutes for me to get a CEL too, so it gave me a chance to really see what it was like w/o the EGR. And now I have a block plate w/ the valve plugged in and tied against a lower coolant hose. Works very well I must say.

[owequitit]

I agree with Ricky.

As soon as that light pops on, you are no longer testing the same set of variables.

If you are looking to temporarily investigate, I would make a cheap block off plate, and seal it with some gasket sealer, and drive that around.

You could probably use a few layers of Soda can if you wanted.

Then if you block it, and the driveability doesn't change, it is a good indication that your ports are clogged, since blocking it off should cause a difference if they are working correctly.

Can you do me a favor, and have the timing tested, and then PM me a pic of your dizzy?

Your problems are the result of either a huge combination of small things, or 1 single big problem, and there is only 1 big problem I can think of that explains all of your symptoms.

[starchland]

if your egr valve is full of carbon, I guarantee that your passageways are blocked as well.

[91whitecb7]

its your egr ports. theres a service bulletin on slight bogging under light acceleration. ill see if i can find it and ill let you take a look at it

[eriemoto.]

when i bogged like that, i just cleaned out everything that i could think of related to the EGR (service ports, valve, IACV, etc etc). there was ALOT of carbon build up. the various valves were easy, with some carb cleaner, it comes right out and looks new. service ports took a little longer. if you're going to clean one, might as well do the lot of them. they won't get clogged again for a long long time

[10thcb7]

id would fool with the egr. Unplug the electric portion of it and keep the vac line on it. if i could start from scratch that is what i would have done instead of not using honda bond like i should have. disconect it and get a chipped ecu