I have been getting a CEL (Bank 1&2 lean) and a restricted performance light sometimes. The Restricted Perfm doesn't happen every day, and only comes on during short trips. It will stay on for 2-3 mins (sometimes upto 5) then go away. I can't think of what it could possibly be. My only thought is if the EGR is not working correctly some of the time.

 

Could it not be an air leak anywhere else? What are the LT fuel trims at idle & 2500rpm in P?

What freeze frame data with the codes? Any pattern?

 

I guess I need to look at those I've checked all around for air leaks (hoses and gaskets) and I can't find any leaks, but I will pull the data on the fuel trims. What gets me is that I cannot reproduce the restrict perform light. it comes and goes as it pleases.

 

You and I breifly discussed this on another thread. I too was getting lean bank code, CEL that would come and go, exhaust leak sound (i.e., carb'd old school VW Beetle sound), and foul smell in the car (bothered passengers). I thought it was a stubborn exhaust leak that I couldn't find. Sounded like it was coming up high, not anywhere near the cats or anything. It ended up being the EGR valve that failed due to age/usage and got stuck open. Your symptoms sound like what I had to deal with. I wouldnt be surprised if you needed a new EGR. Good luck!

 

Ya your thread is what prompted me to think the EGR was going bad. Do short city trips wreck more havoc on the EGR system?

 

It seemed pretty random but would be a CEL usually within the first few miles of driving.

 

But are you getting the exhaust smells etc UnderP had?

This guessing is weird with an OBD tool at $10 or so.

 

Take your OBD II reader and install it in the car and go for a drive and it will capture any temporary code that is thrown. Read the code and that will give you the direction you need.

 

It seems like the EGR valve should set a code if it's failed open? P0402 is for excessive EGR flow. Also possible the DPFE is bad but that's not reported hardly at all? No codes at all concerning the EGR?

I know other cars have several EGR codes for stuck open, stuck closed and not responding EGR valves.
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Each car has at times temporary codes that do not set a check engine light. I do not recall the sequence that is required to set the code. I hope someone that knows can chime in.

 

Yes, there are 2 kinds of codes. Pending (such as P1000 or P1111) and codes. To become a code mostly a pending code needs to occur twice and under similar conditions. (The codes PDFs show this.)

You won't necessarily even get a pending code, as things have to be quite bad to get one.

If you've none, not even P1111, worry and report back.

 

I was able to capture my code when the CEL kicked on and it was lean bank code (forgot number). I just happened to have my scanner in the car. M. Star says thats what he's getting in his origianl post.

 

Yes but many things cause that. You had exhaust smell as well. MStar - we don't know.

The common reason is not EGR.

 

Ya I am getting 0171 & 0174 banks 1 & 2 lean. No other codes. I am trying to find software that I can datalog with.

 

That will work! This should help you find the problem. When I was doing my car I used throttle body cleaner and it worked just fine.

Link http://jagrepair.com/images/AutoRepairPhotos/P0171.pdf

 

Fuel Trims at idle

Short Term Bank 1



Short Term Bank 2

 

I was throwing a single P0171 and your bank 1 is in double digits

 

See post #2