Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) System Description. Pontiac Firebird 2001

For 1990-2009 cars only

Makes 🢒 Pontiac 🢒 2001 🢒 Firebird 🢒 Engine 🢒 Engine Controls - 3.8L 🢒 Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) System Description

Purpose

The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system is used in order to lower oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emission levels which is caused by high combustion temperature. The EGR does this by decreasing combustion temperature.

Linear EGR Valve

The main element of the system is the linear EGR valve. The EGR valve feeds small amounts of exhaust gas back into the combustion chamber. With the fuel/air mixture diluted by the exhaust gases, combustion temperatures are reduced.

Operation


(1)	Cap-Sensor
(2)	Sensor-EGR Pintle Position
(3)	Pole Piece-Primary
(4)	Bobbin and Coil Assembly
(5)	Sleeve-Armature
(6)	Valve-Pintle
(7)	Armature and Base Assembly

The linear EGR valve is designed to accurately supply EGR to an engine independent of intake manifold vacuum. The valve controls EGR flow from the exhaust to the intake manifold through an orifice with a powertrain control module (PCM) controlled pintle. During operation, the PCM controls pintle position by monitoring the pintle position feedback signal. The feedback signal can be monitored with a scan tool as EGR position sensor. The EGR position sensor should always be near the commanded EGR position, called the Desired EGR Pos. The PCM uses information from the following sensors to control the pintle position:

•	The engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor

•	The throttle position (TP) sensor

•	The mass air flow (MAF) sensor

The linear EGR valve is usually activated under the following conditions:

•	Warm engine operation

•	Above idle speed

Diagnosis

Too much EGR flow at idle, cruise, or cold operation may cause any of the following conditions to occur:

•	The engine stalls after cold start

•	The engine stalls during closed throttle conditions

•	The vehicle surges during cruise

•	Rough idle

•	DTC P0300-Misfire detected

Too little or a lack of EGR flow may allow combustion temperatures to get too high. This could cause the following symptoms:

•	Spark knock or detonation

•	Engine overheating

•	Emission test failure

•

DTC P0401

•	Poor fuel economy

EGR flow diagnosis is included in the DTC P0401 diagnostic table. Pintle position error diagnosis is covered in DTC P1406. If EGR DTCs P0401 and/or P1406 are encountered, refer to Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) List for diagnosis.