190 EGR issues

combatwombat · Jun 9, 2015

The combination of EGR-blank and newer model Navaras - don't know if it's only the newer 190-versions - might cause an check engine light. I fitted the blank in december and everything was fine, until three weeks ago suddenly the check engine light came on. Nothing changed, no limp mode, truck went like normal. Fault code read was 0401, which wasn't in the list i found here. Apparently it's because the ECU doesn't detect any change after opening or closing the EGR-Valve and thinks there is something wrong. Solutions i found including a post here was drilling a small hole into the blank, but somehow i just couldn't get myself to do it.
ECU-Reset cleared the error for two weeks, came back a second time, has been cleared again.
Only thing i don't unserstand is why it took so long for the "error" to show itself. I drove around with the truck for almost half a year without anything.

And i think my truck does the whole fault code in a fast sequence. Slow flashes to show it's in diag-mode, but all four digits are a fast sequence of flashes.

lookskyward1 · Jun 9, 2015

Re: How to investigate and fix engine running issues

There are a lot of 190 models that have EGR blanks fitted that do not have problems with fault codes. Up till now, there are no sensors fitted to the 190 that detects if gasses are actually flowing through the system. (There is on the V6 3.0 variant).

With the EGR blank fitted the valve itself should still function as designed and not throw up a code unless there is actually a problem with the valve itself. Unblanked, the valves are known to get gummed up with soot and carbon causing fault codes and failures.

As for reading the fault codes, they system is the same, a sequence of up to ten slow flashes followed by 3 sets of up to ten flashes each. So to get 0401, you should see; ---------- .... .......... . and so on.

Have you tried cleaning your EGR valve?

combatwombat · Jun 9, 2015

Re: How to investigate and fix engine running issues

Like i said, mine didn't do it for half a year, and how should the valve have gotten clogged up after the plate was fitted? If the light comes back on I will try to get it out and clean it nonetheless to maybe get the light to stay off permanently.

I know that there aren't any flow-sensors in the EGR-system, found this Info on Navara.asia (http://www.navara.asia/archive/index.php/t-19367.html):

i've yet to hear of an engine with a flow meter in the exhaust/egr side. for fairly obviously reasons as exhaust temp would cook the hell out of any sensor.
a lot of engines use an egr valve position sensor and use the maf to determine egr flow.
when egr flows there is a drop in air flow through the maf. ecu is simply looking for that drop in airflow. which is why the hole in the plate works. there is still some egr flow which causes a drop in airflow.

The only sensor present is a EGR valve position sensor. EGR flow is computed by the ECM using MAF output. This will typically give P0401 if no drop in airflow (blanked EGR) is detected. This is only a feature on the YD type 2 onwards.

lookskyward1 · Jun 9, 2015

Re: How to investigate and fix engine running issues

combatwombat said:
Like i said, mine didn't do it for half a year, and how should the valve have gotten clogged up after the plate was fitted? If the light comes back on I will try to get it out and clean it nonetheless to maybe get the light to stay off permanently.

Obviously the EGR valve will not get clogged if it was blanked from new. Most people will fit a blank after the truck has been used for a while without cleaning the valve.

That is an interesting theory on the Aussie forum and sort of makes sense. So apart from the light coming on and there are no other (running) symptoms, it is not much to worry about :dunno

combatwombat · Jun 9, 2015

Wasn't blanked from new, took a while for me to find out about it and do it finally, but had no problems before and the truck isn't that old. so i don't expect it to suddenly develop a sticky valve after the blank.
If the light comes back on I'll check if it needs cleaning.

lookskyward1 · Jun 9, 2015

I've edited this into the 'How to investigate and fix engine running issues'

It has been pointed out that some 190 models can occasionally throw up a fault code (P0401) relating to the fitment of the blank. There are no other symptoms attached and it is easily cured by an ECU reset.

Thanks for the heads-up :thumbright:

B10 · Jun 9, 2015

Blanked my 190 @ 30k miles and never had a fault light on, done 72k miles now.

combatwombat · Jul 14, 2015

Truck did it again, for the third time now. Bought a small Bluetooth OBDII-Adapter and installed Torque lite on the Tablet and got the confirmation that i'm able to count to ten :mrgreen:
Error showing was "P0401 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Flow Insufficient Detected", cleared easily by the push of a button instead of doing the pedal dance.

No time currently to clean the valve to look if the light will stay off, but since there is nothing else with the truck i can live with plugging in the adapter, starting an app and pushing two buttons every other month :mrgreen:

17114 · Jul 20, 2015

combatwombat said:
Truck did it again, for the third time now. Bought a small Bluetooth OBDII-Adapter and installed Torque lite on the Tablet and got the confirmation that i'm able to count to ten :mrgreen:

Which adapter did you get? Can you post a link? Or anyone else?

Ta

combatwombat · Jul 21, 2015

The one you get with a thousand different names from amazon. I guess they are all from the same chinese manufacturer... It's small enough that you can let it plugged in all the time.

17114 · Jul 22, 2015

Ordered. Ta.

grayst01 · Jul 23, 2015

just for info, I blanked my EGR (brand new '15 Tekna, at 1k miles) at the weekend and 3 days in the engine check light came on. I'm not overly worried about it at the minute but will try the ECU reset over the weekend and see what happens. will update...

combatwombat · Jul 24, 2015

Seems to be that the ECU only sometimes checks this, not in a regular manner. The first time it happend to me almost half a year after blanking the EGR, then a few weeks nothing, two times almost in a row, now back to a few weeks. But as long as the OBD-Adapter only gives that one error that is easily cleared i think it is still worth it

190 EGR issues

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