Well, I didn't see the above post until tonight, and I'd already picked up a vacuum pump ($30 for a nice one at AutoZone).

Here's the latest, for those not yet asleep. I could not get the back line off the solenoid to the EGR valve without fear of breaking something. I' going to have to remove stuff to get at that area, safely. Since I couldn't do step 2, I went on to step 3.

I pulled a vacuum at the front side of the solenoid and held it at 20. I hit the key (jumpered DLC) and the fans came on. Vacuum was immediately lost at the pump. If If turned the key off, I could pump it back "up", but as soon as I turn it to Run again - zippo.

New solenoid?

 

No new solenoid. It held a vacuum until you "cycled" it. When it opened it released the vacuum. Solenoid appears to be OK but!!!!!!!

What was the other side connected to. If it was the EGR valve, you may have a problem.

Either the hose or the EGR is bad. Or you had an open solenoid on the other side.

 

The other side of the circuit was connected normally to the EGR valve.

I was expecting the hand pump to open the EGR valve when I jumped the DLC. I pumped it three or four times while the fans were running, thinking I'd suck the EGR open.

Why did that not work?

 

Take the hose off the other side and put a vacuum on it. The EGR diaphragm may have a hole in it and it doesn't open. Thus the code. Or the hose may be split or not connected.

 

I figured that was what I was going to have to do. It's going to be a pain to do this, since I can feel that the rubber connectors are stuck tight on the back side -- and there's very limited space to work. I'm going to pull the fuel lines out of the way tonight, so I can get in there.

I am enjoying this little adventure, thanks.

 

Well, off it came...


Testing on and off the car shows no vacuum held (see gauge). Online an EGR valve is $75. "My price" at my local dealer $125. What BS. Does anyone know if the valve comes with the gasket, or do I have to order that too?

 

You can get one anywhere it doesn't have to be a GM