So I bought my car about 4 months ago (1999 mustang) and the second day the check engine light came on and was the code for the EGR valve. I just reset the ECU and it went off and stayed off until now. Same code for the EGR, but this time after resetting ECU the light continues to come on. Is the EGR valve important enough to have fixed? and I have aftermarket Flomaster exhaust if that would have anything to do with the code being thrown
It used to be a cheap fix. I haven't worked on the newer vehicles, but it used to be an F-shaped plug, with vacuum hoses, that you could replace in a few minutes. Price was under $20. The biggest problem, then, was decoding the codes! I just looked it up and it seems to be pretty simple, and similar to what I worked on. A small diaphragm valve that runs about $50. Ford would probably charge you $300 for the part and another $100 or so to put it on. The EGR valve helps with exhaust and, to some degree, gas mileage. In other words, if you live in a state with strict rules about emissions, you may fail the test. In proper condition, you may notice a little better fuel mileage. Of course, when I drove a sports car, I noticed that a good waxing helped my mileage. LOL I doubt that the Flomaster would cause a problem. This is a sensor issue that is, or should be, directly related to the EGR valve itself. Of course, I haven't worked on vehicles for years, so... Google this and see what you think. Location should give you some pictures to show where it should be on your Mustang and then you can see if you think you can do it. Then, check the prices. If your state is a pain, fixing it is probably cheaper than failing the emissions test. Besides, the more work you can do yourself, the cheaper it is. The only real difference between you and the guys who work in the dealership is a degree (piece of paper) and a fancy machine. You can do the same things they do.
