egr passages and pvc clean tips? 02 civic 1.7

[Willo]

I did a tuneup on my 02 civic ex 1.8 last sept. which turned into a bit more then I was expecting.
I had 1491 EGR Valve Lift Insuffient and 1457 EVAP ECS Leak Detected (Control Canister System) codes so I was expecting those. But while I was in the middle of those repairs I also noticed my right front control arm had a 1/4 to 1/2 in crinkle in it near the back bushing. I wish when I’d brought it in for repair in 06 for the right stabilizer link They would have replaced the control arm too instead of replacing the stabilizer link on the drivers side instead. Oh well, live and learn I always say. 🙁
Anyways,
Last fall I pulled the ERG valve and cleaned both the EGR valve and passages the best I could from the openings available with the valve removed and freed up the sticky valve before reinstalling the valve.
Are there any other openings I can get to without removing the head or tips for getting the gunk out of the valve openings?
And for the pvc is it recommended to pull the throttle body and get at it from the top, or is it easier to get at it from underneath the car?
I had the throttle body off for cleaning last fall, but after finding the bent control arm I forgot to do the pvc while I had the throttle body off.

I had a deja vu while watching time management video after posting my questions 🙂

Topic

[Joe]

generally the pcv valve should just screw out. I’m pretty sure the easiest way to get to it is from the top (maybe use a mirror so you can see it better). You “shouldn’t” have to remove the throttle body to do this. pcv valves are cheap enough that you generally just replace them. I’ve never actually tried to clean one.

unfortunately your egr valve is electronic so there’s limited cleaning that you can actually do here. If it doesn’t work after your cleaning, you need to replace it. It’s also possible that the electronic solenoid in the egr is actually at fault here in which case you’ll need to replace the egr.

Also, when you took the throttle body off to clean it, did you replace the gasket or at least put some silicone around it to keep it from leaking?

[Willo]

thanks for the suggestions 🙂

[quote=”quickNpainless” post=102315]generally the pcv valve should just screw out. I’m pretty sure the easiest way to get to it is from the top (maybe use a mirror so you can see it better). You “shouldn’t” have to remove the throttle body to do this. pcv valves are cheap enough that you generally just replace them. I’ve never actually tried to clean one.[/quote]excellent, I’ll take a look and see if I can wiggle my down in there.

[quote=”quickNpainless” post=102315]unfortunately your egr valve is electronic so there’s limited cleaning that you can actually do here. If it doesn’t work after your cleaning, you need to replace it. It’s also possible that the electronic solenoid in the egr is actually at fault here in which case you’ll need to replace the egr.[/quote]Yep, I took it apart as far as I could and lubed the piston so it at least moved some but I had a bear getting the nut behind the valve off. No socket I owned would fit properly on it. I finally got if off with a craftsman 10mm open end but it was stripped pretty bad after all my attempts at it. So I ordered the two nuts and the gasket just in case.
My egr passages were filled with carbon. I tried to get it out till the cleaner ran clear, but after waiting an hour or so and flushing again I got more carbon deposits, every time.
edit: I even taped an old piece of air filter on the throttlebody and turned the motor over with the valve off. It sucked in one hole and blowout the other from what I could see afterwards, but I still got more carbon out of there after that too.

[quote=”quickNpainless” post=102315]Also, when you took the throttle body off to clean it, did you replace the gasket or at least put some silicone around it to keep it from leaking?[/quote]
hell no 🙁

The throttlebody was a after thought while I had the egr off for repairs. I followed gearwrenches forgotten tuneup mods – and I got most everything at least once over except the pcv.
I felt even back in the fall I would need to do it again to get at the stuff I missed the first time around.

And the other code turned out to be the canister shut valve. I tried like hell to reuse the canister.
I guess you know where that lead to. 🙂

[fitone]

If you really want to do a complete cleaning of the EGR passages see this link.
http://www.civicforums.com/forums/36-mechanical-problems-vehicle-issues-fix-forum/343687-how-clean-egr-ports-passages.html

[Willo]

I think – karma added in advance – that is the one I’m looking for – one 🙂

[Willo]

Can you guys help me get the fuel-rail out?

Attachments:

• fuel-rail.jpg

[Willo]

I got it out. Not the way I was hoping to, but it’s out. two injectors popped off the rail, oh well, it’s an 02

next time I hope I don’t have to peel the valve cover off to see what I’m missing.

Attachments:

• fuel-r-out.jpg

[EricTheCarGuy]

Not sure why you’re pulling the injectors out but OK. As for the EGR issue, it’s possible your EGR is bad. Those electronic units will fail from time to time and need to be replaced when you get that code. Clean them all you like but it’s possible it has an electrical issue.

Lastly, I do NOT recommend cleaning throttle bodies unless there is an issue. I especially do not recommend removing them to clean them as that can lead to other issues.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[Willo]

Hi Eric,
I know you are busy, I see all the threads you are reading and posting to.

Thanks for taking a look at my latest project and providing me with your experience.
I’m breaking new ground with this cleaning EGR passages thing.
First times around for me are slow and usually painfully so.
I headed your warnings as I’m letting the paint dry on some of the old rusty brackets I’ve pulled so far.
I also had to drill out a broken bolt in one of them.
Your video on how to get out broken bolts was on my mind as set the center notch and drilled the pilot hole. Eventually the broken bolt came out with threads of the nut still intact.
Tomorrow I’ll check the top bolts on the intake, paint the special two and reassemble what I’ve taken apart so far.
I have 500 lbs of concrete mix in the trunk ( keeping it dry ) I have to get down to repair the corner of the garage slab.
After that I can tackle the lower section of the intake and get my bearings there as well.

Hope you had some fun over the holiday and was not stuck doing chores all day long.

[Author]

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