EGR Valve.... is this a protege problem?
 

My sister has a 2000 Protege and the check engine light came on. She took it to the dealer (as it was under warranty) and they did a diagnostic (and charged her $70) and told her the EGR valve was dirty. They said it wasn't covered in her warranty and wanted another $70 to clean it. She doesn't have much money, so had her boyfriend clean it for her. 3 days later the light came back on. SHe took it back to Mazda and they said that it was the EGR port, not valve So they cleaned that and the light still comes back on. She thinks that Mazda knows this is an issue and since she was a few hundred miles with in the expiration of her warranty, they shoved her out the door to not have to replace the $150 part. Is there any history of the EGR port/valve going bad on the 2000 model???

Thanks!

dio

The car was right at that 49,900 miles or so when it was looked at the first time. The second time she'd gone over. The problem occurred before the 50k mark but they said that the diagnostic wasn't covered (which sounds weird to me).

Don't know for usa but for canada every part of the emission system his warranty 7 year. The egr his a major part in the emission system. Never heard you could clean a egr valve and cannot see how they would do it has it just a vacuum activited valve and the only thing going in it are hot exhaust gas.

All egr are controlled electricaly. There's a solenoid that open when the computer tell him and it lets the vacuum pass to the egr valve.

EDIT
teehee :p
[rant]why do I jump to conclusions?[/rant]
thank you.

i think (hope?) what he meant to say is the solinoid that controls the vacuum to the EGR valve is electronic. so that makes the egr controlled electronically, but the mechanical opening and closing of the valve is caused by vacuum or lack there of.

oh ok.

I think the dealership is just trying to waste your time. The engine light problem has been was happening to me a lot recently on my 2000 pro. They kept doing diagnostics and saying nothing was wrong. Then one month I just got tired of it and kept bitching about it like every week. So finally, one day, I went in and started bitching at them and being a jerk. Well it worked. They had my car in there for like 3-4hrs, but my engine light doesn't come on anymore. They said that I was getting multiple code readings through my MAF sensors or something. So far I haven't had a light problem for about 2 months now.

Sometimes, even if its against your personality, you gotta be a jerk.

but it still takes time to hit all the parameters to set some codes

All parts of the emission system covered for 7 years? Did not know this. I am currently having a problem that I think could be the EGR valve. I am past warranty for my 2001 protege. Where can I find proof for the 7 yr warranty on the emission system? Mechanic said he has replaced a lot of them and everyone past standard warranty has had to buy new part, no mention of 7 yr warranty.

welcome back after 3 years of not posting.........

emissions control systems have a 100K mile warranty I believe. Check your owners manual for specifics or contact your dealer for details. I'd first ask them what their warranty is on emissions systems before explaining your situation. Get it in writing if it's what you wanted to hear and then take that sheet into the sevice department for coverage.

I checked in my Warranty guide for my 2001 SE (Canada) . EGR is not warantied for the 100K as far as I know, only a few items are for 128 kilometres. or 98 months. Unless there is something not written that we don't know about. Any suggestions where we can find out?? I dunno if the dealer would be honest to tell us the truth about it, but he gets paid for the work anyways.

Dont know in the us but in canada its not a manifacturer warranty its a obligation by law that every major part of the antipollution system must be cover, but be carefull has they some time change the name of certain parts so they can pass them outside, like the kia sorento that has a precatalitic that is not covert even if its part of the antipollution.

Cannuck Warranty Info
 

Ive checked my Warranty boocklet again. Ina Canada the 24month/38km Emmision Warranty covers the EGR valve, EGR valve control solenoid and a slew of other items.

at the 98 months/128000km warranty covers the Catalytic Converter, Electronic Emissions Control Unit and the Onboard Emissions Diagnostic Device.
So I dunno where I could find out IF the EGR is covered or 7 years. If at all.