TEST 4: Making Sure The EGR Valve Pintle Position Sensor Is Receiving Ground
Up to this point, your test results show:
- The EGR valve pintle position signal stays stuck in one value as you open/close the pintle (TEST 2).
- The EGR valve pintle position sensor is receiving 5 Volts (TEST 3).
Your next step, and the focus of this section, is to make sure the EGR valve pintle position sensor is receiving Ground.
The wire that delivers Ground to the EGR valve is the black (BLK) wire that connects to the female terminal labeled with the letter B in the illustration above.
Ground should be present in female terminal B with the key in the ON position.
CAUTION: Ground is provided internally by the PCM. So be careful and don't short this terminal (circuit) to battery 12 Volts, or you'll fry the PCM. The multimeter voltage test suggested in the instructions below is a safe way to check for the presence of Ground in this circuit.
These are the test steps:
- 1
Place your multimeter in Volts DC mode.
- 2
Disconnect the EGR valve from its pigtail connector.
- 3
Connect the red multimeter test lead to the battery positive (+) terminal.
- 4
Gently probe female terminal labeled with the letter B with black multimeter test lead.
- 5
Turn the key to the RUN position but don't crank or start the engine.
- 6
The multimeter should read 10 to 12 Volts DC.
Let's interpret your test results:
CASE 1: The multimeter registered 10 to 12 Volts. This is the correct and expected test result and confirms the EGR valve pintle position sensor is receiving Ground.
You can conclude that the EGR valve is bad and needs replacement if you have:
- Confirmed the EGR valve pintle position signal is stuck in one value as you opened/closed the pintle (TEST 2).
- Confirmed the EGR valve pintle position sensor is receiving 5 Volts (TEST 3).
- Confirmed the EGR valve pintle position sensor is receiving Ground (this test section).
CASE 2: The multimeter DID NOT register 10 to 12 Volts. This test result confirms the EGR valve pintle position sensor is not receiving Ground. Without it, the EGR valve's pintle position sensor will not be able to create its position signal.
Although it's beyond the scope of this tutorial, your next step is to find out why Ground missing and restore it.
TEST 5: Making Sure The EGR Solenoid Is Getting 12 Volts
The EGR valve has a solenoid that moves the valve's pintle up or down (open/close) when commanded by the PCM.
The solenoid gets power in the form of 12 Volts, and in this test section, we'll confirm it is.
The wire that delivers these 12 Volts to the solenoid is the pink (PNK) wire of the EGR valve's 5-wire pigtail connector.
The PNK wire connects to the female terminal labeled with the letter E in the illustration above.
These are the test steps:
- 1
Place your multimeter in Volts DC mode.
- 2
Disconnect the EGR valve from its pigtail connector.
- 3
Connect the black multimeter test lead to the battery negative (-) terminal.
- 4
Gently probe female terminal labeled with the letter E with red multimeter test lead.
- 5
Turn the key to the RUN position but don't crank or start the engine.
- 6
The multimeter should read 10 to 12 Volts DC.
Let's interpret your test results:
CASE 1: The multimeter registered 10 to 12 Volts. This is the correct and expected test result and confirms the EGR valve solenoid is receiving power.
Your next step is checking the solenoid's resistance. Go to: TEST 6: EGR Solenoid Resistance Test.
CASE 2: The multimeter DID NOT register 10 to 12 Volts. This test result confirms the EGR valve solenoid is not receiving power. Without it, the EGR valve solenoid can not move the pintle (up/down).
Although it's beyond the scope of this tutorial, your next step is to find out why these 12 Volts are missing and restore them.
