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EGR issue 1993 Buick


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greasy one
User

Aug 4, 2020, 10:45 AM

Post #1 of 23 (1662 views)
EGR issue 1993 Buick Sign In

  Greetings, hope all are well. My LeSabre was running fine with old plugs that I started to change, last year. With a pipe, I managed to do one and gave up and paid a local shop. I had the wires for them too. The car never idled well after. A CEL came on, months later that I found to be the Computer. Code 55. The garage told me to look into EGR valve. I found it and found the area, carbonless, but the part seemed broken due to 2/3, little bolts on the three valves were rusted and snapped. I replaced with a valve that gave the same code, a couple days later. A new valve has kept the light off but the car still runs, roughly, at idle. The mileage is not what it usually is. Any touching of the gas pedal will smooth the engine, there is no skipping in cylinder firing, although I thought my supplied wires were bad, at first. I tried to find a vacuum leak with a spray bottle, with no luck. Now I hear there is are other components to the EGR. I see there may be a check valve, but need ideas. Thanks as always.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 4, 2020, 10:55 AM

Post #2 of 23 (1658 views)
Re: EGR issue 1993 Buick Sign In

Your EGR is electric. There are no other related components other than the passage to the throttle body.

I doubt the EGR has anything to do with your mileage or running problems.

Are there any other codes setting?



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



greasy one
User

Aug 4, 2020, 11:19 AM

Post #3 of 23 (1654 views)
Re: EGR issue 1993 Buick Sign In

No there have been no codes since I replaced the replacement EGR. This was a month ago


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 4, 2020, 11:34 AM

Post #4 of 23 (1646 views)
Re: EGR issue 1993 Buick Sign In

You might be able to pinpoint something using scan tool data stream but other than that, we have nothing to go on.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



greasy one
User

Aug 4, 2020, 11:47 AM

Post #5 of 23 (1638 views)
Re: EGR issue 1993 Buick Sign In

 Well if you think so, thats good enough for me, thanks. I know a good car guy but he has to hide due to too many friends. He recently posted on the FB on how he has no Give a F bucket that he tosses Fs around to everyone who is stuck.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 4, 2020, 12:01 PM

Post #6 of 23 (1635 views)
Re: EGR issue 1993 Buick Sign In

You're going to have to look at things like fuel adaptives. On that year I believe it's called Block learn.

You may have to run other tests like cylinder balance to try to pinpoint a weak cylinder. Cleaning the fuel injectors may help.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 4, 2020, 12:01 PM

Post #7 of 23 (1633 views)
Re: EGR issue 1993 Buick Sign In

Arggh - 1993 was a pest year for lots of things. Since this quite apparently came about just for replacing plugs and wires LOOK hard what items are in the way of doing that especially to coil pack(s) if replaced ever?


Dang codes for OBD1 really aren't so special or accurately targeted. Strong clue is just what was disturbed that wouldn't be if not for the wires or plugs to do?


For vacuum and fuel MPG it really does go down in warmer weather both because the gallon you bought warmed up then shrinks plus air density is less you get less for a gallon that isn't like last time you seriously measured MPG if cold or lots colder outside.


"Summer" fuels are made to be less volatile on purpose as well to help isn't enough varies by exact location of about 200 formulas of fuel - really.


Look hard again if nothing plain seen off for a scan with the right shop and person to read more clues from that,


T



greasy one
User

Aug 4, 2020, 1:17 PM

Post #8 of 23 (1622 views)
Re: EGR issue 1993 Buick Sign In

I will have to look closer at the area of rear bank wires. The garage owner said a vacuum leak might smooth out when increasing RPMs and agreed that I should spray with water. I wondered if a leak could be noted with a vacuum gauge. They never do anything right then, need appointment in next week.


greasy one
User

Aug 4, 2020, 1:22 PM

Post #9 of 23 (1620 views)
Re: EGR issue 1993 Buick Sign In

 I got lucky with this car, only did a belt and alt.on the engine painted the car
and plugs twice in 15 yrs.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 4, 2020, 1:46 PM

Post #10 of 23 (1614 views)
Re: EGR issue 1993 Buick Sign In

This is exactly why I asked you to look at fuel adaptives. It will immediately tell you if you are dealing with a fuel mixture problem which a vacuum leak would cause.

Make sure you didn't drop one of the new plugs and crack it. Make sure you verified the gap on the plugs.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 4, 2020, 2:01 PM

Post #11 of 23 (1611 views)
Re: EGR issue 1993 Buick Sign In

OK: The misting or spray bottle of water is a safe idea to suggest now have to say AYOR or don't is use other easy things with knowing some are dangerous.


Propane out of a handheld torch without it burning will react to a intake leak is naturally unsafe. Other is brand name Brakleen brake parts cleaner is like a fire extinguisher will stall an engine or really make it stumble on a leak other types are flammable do the opposite.


Intake gaskets, throttle body to intake area and any hoses or items you see that are directly into "actual manifold vacuum" so do look also for a hose or item that is sensing that for later can discuss vacuum gauge testing is very telling of what's going on but you must allow item it gives info or purpose to the real vacuum has to be a "T'd" in creation.


Just a note on the taper seat plugs used all over the place: Don't overtighten those and do use a Q-Tip of the slightest amount of high temp lube just on threads being super careful not to touch anything else they'll come out without hassle years later. Busting up plugs is a reason to louse up just replacing them.


Plugs themselves could be dropped by mistake don't trust that one if you do it write down which one if anything not perfect it's that one!


Sorry for the total novel again but I used to get this crap when nobody had the time it sure can and does but I do catch most oddities for what shouldn't have caused any problems,


Tom



greasy one
User

Aug 4, 2020, 8:19 PM

Post #12 of 23 (1587 views)
Re: EGR issue 1993 Buick Sign In

I will google that 'fuel adaptives' no idea what that is. I only put in one plug and didnt drop any. The car is very smooth running, except at idle.


greasy one
User

Aug 11, 2020, 2:50 PM

Post #13 of 23 (1527 views)
Re: EGR issue 1993 Buick Sign In

 So I am waiting for tomorrow and a new alternator. In the meantime, I was wondering what the experts feel are my odds of this being the problem. The battery was just brought to full charge and driven with no change in idle. I did see the voltage was low at idle and rose with acceleration. I raced home to my plug in gizmo and my voltage meter. At idle, I was getting only 12v +/- and no more than, a barely 13v ever. I could have figured this out, before the alt change but it looks like it needs one, either way.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 11, 2020, 7:59 PM

Post #14 of 23 (1510 views)
Re: EGR issue 1993 Buick Sign In

Alternator "> I raced home to my plug in gizmo and my voltage meter. At idle, I was getting only 12v +/- and no more than, a barely 13v ever.<"
That's too low if accurate but I don't think THE problem? If idling too low it might be normal with freshly charged up battery for a very short look but not long.


Internal regulator isn't available easily whole new cloned alternators can be fine with no core charge at least can keep that one if you wish.
Been ages it's old recall belt went around motor mount if change it too when there CAREFUL not to let engine tilt so you can't mount it back on with a thru bolt if alone it stinks to impossible.
See if another meter reads differently or checks better on another vehicle. Check again with lights on and like a fan blower full speed really should be over 13V still if not high chance it just can't do the power or not responding to regulator new fixes it - high chance nothing more,


Tom



greasy one
User

Aug 11, 2020, 8:46 PM

Post #15 of 23 (1506 views)
Re: EGR issue 1993 Buick Sign In

 The belt is pretty easy and I did it once or twice. I was hoping the low voltage would be the problem. It really was low at idle when driving on the dash gauge. I think was under 12v.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 11, 2020, 9:30 PM

Post #16 of 23 (1502 views)
Re: EGR issue 1993 Buick Sign In

Voltage does matter but for items to work IMO 11.5 wouldn't "cause" the issue - rather is another issue that can't stay that way. Lots of these IMO again the idle was just low feel and sounding perhaps too low if/when also some load on it like steering while stopped but were like that new?
The things noticed were slower p. windows but nothing really wrong.
Side note is my exposure to several of these I think all Buick 3.8s behaved well, lasted fine but owners were low mile old pharts like I am now :-)
Another GM mistake (any vehicle makes same mistakes for decades and does it again later didn't learn) was a PS cooler line low under front with a core for it or maybe trans fluid would rot out and leak not this issue here but all did it seemed.
Could also bump those just parking on the concrete things to stop you from plowing beyond that mark places.
'93 was also the switch year for A/C parts and refrigerant nobody figured out for a few more years that too not your issues.
Buicks? They also made OBDII for some 1995s to add hair loss a year earlier than others.


Back > these alternators were/are much the same as others older and newer I used to just fix them not replace but couldn't find everything needed to gave in for clones cheaper than core charges for another local one!


Just for laughs do check belt tension make sure it's snug enough some will slip quietly without notice but indicator of tensioners show it's out of range - engine off can play where its extremes are.


Late now for me just last to say I don't trust codes too much for most of these then and none around right now did all have vacuum issues like about everything most from bumping stuff doing something else not really abuse just things were brittle,


Tom


greasy one
User

Aug 12, 2020, 5:33 AM

Post #17 of 23 (1496 views)
Re: EGR issue 1993 Buick Sign In

Maybe I was too quick in buying the alternator . The belt is old and cracked but seemed plenty tight. I am gonna check idle with a car hooked to it now


greasy one
User

Aug 12, 2020, 7:34 AM

Post #18 of 23 (1492 views)
Re: EGR issue 1993 Buick Sign In

I had 11.7v waiting for me but the car fired up no problem and had better voltages than yesterday. It was at 13.7 at one point but fluctuated. Gotta wait for the new one to arrive but got the new belt in, mostly That motor mount is close but no hassle.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 12, 2020, 8:03 AM

Post #19 of 23 (1487 views)
Re: EGR issue 1993 Buick Sign In

? Thread got long, part or mostly my fault: Just alternator now and voltage to cause other problems noting it's a '93 anything.
A 6 cell, 12V battery is dang close to 12.6V just sitting there might read more if just off a charger or run if in vehicle. Can be lower momentarily if interior lights were on to pop the hood - just don't be too fooled by it but pay attention.
A fav thing for me is cig lighter voltmeters, LED now a total addiction to watch the things when cranking anything! That's when it matters most watch how low it drops from inside. Later models or some Asian, Euro stuff will kill lighters and ports if not on acc. or engine on so is a problem. Take those out if more than the day too they draw too much by themselves LED and all shouldn't but does if days. Ebay = under $2 or more if smart ones will flash when voltages are out of range that's a warning!
You saw 11.7V and could if door just opened OR you have to compare your meter with another they can be that far off.
Upon start up volts spike to put back juice you just sucked out with starter motor will get over that in less than a minute. Use a ton of features right away will drop and adjust is what they do normally never under 12.6V unless about to stall.
New belt, if you do or did new alternator all fine with what I see now back to the EGR stuff it's NOT caused by those voltages so we can move on,


Tom


greasy one
User

Aug 12, 2020, 1:00 PM

Post #20 of 23 (1469 views)
Re: EGR issue 1993 Buick Sign In

Yes on to other things. I made up two prong things with a DC plug in and use a digital volt meter. I can sit in the car and check the meter while turning things on. Everything seems normal. I am no mechanic, now, but remember voltages from when I was a mechanic. I thought this might be the problem and was even considering this same thing happened when I last changed the Alt.


greasy one
User

Aug 13, 2020, 7:05 AM

Post #21 of 23 (1442 views)
Re: EGR issue 1993 Buick Sign In

 Its hard to post and PMs are impossible. My computer Im sure


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Aug 13, 2020, 7:22 AM

Post #22 of 23 (1439 views)
Re: EGR issue 1993 Buick Sign In

NO - it's the way this site is in disrepair! They go thru scroll down or sign out and come back or refresh your view, Tom



greasy one
User

Aug 24, 2020, 3:24 PM

Post #23 of 23 (1375 views)
Re: EGR issue 1993 Buick Sign In

 Good day. My car refused to start the other day, as it did until a new battery a couple years ago. It won't even try but around 40 min later, like clockwork, it fires up with plenty of power. This morning, I managed to remove the ground, on the engine and reinstalled that and a small one near the horn area. They got cleaned real well and my remote start is working again and the car may be idling better. I am waiting and hoping things reset with the battery disconect. You can close this or wait until the car gets scanned, as a guy says he might be able to get to it. He is up near you, Tom, but in ct.






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