3.4L Problems...EGR, Charging System...

Symptom 1: Rough Idle
When: Anytime I stop, sit, etc...

I know that this is usually associated with the EGR...

Symptom 2: Accasional, but not steady SES light
When: It usually comes on toward the end of my 60 mile round trip journey to work on the interstate when I have been driving this car for a few days. It will come on, and then, a few minutes later, go off. Although, last night I was driving it and it came on and stayed on for a few minutes when I wasn't on the interstate, just on regular city traffic and secondary roads.

I remember someone mentioning that this too was an EGR related symptom (coming on during deceleration???)

Symptom 3: Decresing Fuel Economy

It hasn't been extremely bad, but it does seem to be getting worse.

That's all the EGR related ?'s I can think of...

Symptom 4: My left blinker (left only too, not right as well) seems to be dying.
When: Anytime I use it...sometimes if I bring up the RPM's, it does better, but not always. Even during hwy. travel it blink r..e..a..l..l..y slow. It has even stuck on a couple of times.

More info on the car...it has 125K, I just changed the O2 sensors a couple of months ago.

Also, is it possible to clean the EGR on these things, and the tubes/hoses running in/out of it and see any results?
Just wondering. I will fork out the cash if I need to, was just wondering though what all my options were. I am aware of the upper tube problem that CARdiac had, so I am just want to be as sure as possible before doing anything.

Thanks all, sorry for such a long post...

OK guys, I am trying to be patient...I just need to know as soon as possible...I would like to go ahead and order my EGR if that's what I need to do...Thanks. :D

Get the PCM read...............that will narrow it down drastically.

Stop by Autozone, they will scan it for FREE:)

If its a EGR code, then more than likely the EGR is defunct, unless of course its the pipe that is plugged with carbon.

As for the turn signal, try a new flasher.

When was the last time you tuned it up? (new plugs, wires, etc.) My car would idle rough and sometimes even die when i was idling in gear down a street. That ended up being my IAC valve, located on the top left side (passenger) of the throttle body. and if the egr is going bad , doesn't necessarily mean its gonna get worse gas mileage. I just made a round trip to south carolina from ohio (540 miles each way) and i averaged 30 mpg in the mountains, etc. doing 85-90 mph. My computer scanning tool tells me that egr 2 and 3 are bad, even though i've replaced the valve itself (that was a pretty penny) but haven't been able to locate the upper tube to try and change it, i'm tempted to just take the ses bulb out. I'm getting great gas mileage, power is just fine, etc. and its still casting those codes. does the engine run rough only when its hot? my coils went bad at about 95k miles, replaced them and the difference was amazing. the charging problem, is your voltage gauge on the dash showing low voltage? have your alternator checked at autozone along with the battery, if they're ok, check under the lil red oval cover on the pass side fender well right next to the battery, tighten down those nuts, and check all your grounds you can find. my batttery cables were loose under that red cap, tightened those down, made my volt gauge read about the normal mark and increased the cars performance.

Definately sounds like an EGR.Especially if the rough idle goes away when you rev it up.Have you tried cleaning the EGR and all the pipes and hoses?Good luck.
Kevin

Thanks A_ITR, I have stopped by AutoZone a few times before, and they always insist on just using the little key...I guess I need to threaten to kick them in the head if they don't plug into it with the scanner. :D

My last tune up was not too long ago...I try to keep all of my vehicles in excellent maintenece...It has a rough idle all the time, doens't make a difference if it is hot or cold. Cold is worse, but it still idles rough warm...

I checked all the grounds recently when doing my fog light swap...all of them are good. Thanks blue...

And I actually got the problem of the dead blinker fixed...I swapped out to 97+ tail lights last night. Now I have the opposite problem...both turn signals blink hyperactive...

Thanks for the input kev, I will try cleaning it now that I know I can.

Thanks all...anymore input would be appreciated as well.