Egr, Valve And Solenoid Plus Over Heating [Maybe Linked]

[brit644]

Had trouble with both the above.

Did all the usual [take out clean egr, plus flush rad] neither worked. Decided to spend and buy all.

Arranged with my local garage to have it worked on there, and for me to watch.

They exchanged the egr, that code disappeared, but code for the egr solenoid appeared, change that...Both codes came back.

Flushed rad, filthy of course. Took up a 20% hill and over heated immediately. Stripped that out put new rad in [old was so crudded up it was solid, so much so developed a small leak] Thermostat replacement. next

A pig..a real pig. Luckily I had found this thermo has a separate temp sensor attached] used vin to get this as reg gave a different part number..remember this  [most dont, appears late 2007 on for emissions.. for one year it seems] The thermostat with sensor does not stay open as default when busted, it was 2/3rds shut. .So, with new rad it still overheated. New thermo along with the rad and its fine. But heres the thing, without having to check on the egr codes [which prior to thermo replacement were still there] disappeared. 

I called a friend in the USA who tells that the sensore'd thermo makes that part of emissions linked to egr. And without properly functioning thermo/ egr wont function either

This is just a heads up. Having gone around in circles with both problems.forever.

Oh btw. Stuck between the engine and firewall theres a connection thats linked to egr, mechanic traced it back and told me at the time, you would never know its there unless you were in the belly of the beast..behind the engine.  

Moral of the tale. You can cure one or tuther but unless both are dealt with neither function. Caveat tho. This is for the thermo with sensor, without the sensor I have no idea.

ps...Was also told, if thermo without the sensor is used [wrongly] the comp etc has to be re-mapped   

[scrufgp]

hi brit 

very interesting read 

out of question but related to the op (also for any other members who could shed some light)

does the 2.8crd engine commenly suffer with egr cooler problems ?

the problem i had/have is few weeks ago was driving in rush hour noticed my voyager get warmer than usual (did not boil over) about 3/4 (instead of halfway)

when got to where i was going checked water and was low (very low !!)

have checked few times since and doesn't seem to be loosing water defiantly not on the floor 

but water in system is s#@ty 

so contacted my usual garage told him what i wanted etc.. system flush new anti freeze etc.....

he advised new thermostat but was warery about taking on the job due to the could be's 

ie why loos of water (thinks could be egr cooling something or other?)

not having the code reset thingy !! 

i have copy and pasted the op to him 

so question is can anyone give some advice about egr thermostat etc......

many thanks 

[QinteQ]

See here : https://www.chryslerforum.com/forum/chrysler-voyager-town-country-21/fitting-second-thermostat-guide-26641/

[bignev]

Hiya scufgp, but how long ago was it you last checked the coolant?

 

Yes, I realise in an ideal world they would not use / lose any, but this a grand voyager we're talking about!!

 

Mine lost about 3.5 litres on the way to Blackpool last year, around 60 miles, but then didn't lose a drop on the way home. Water pump was the guilty party in my case.

I spotted it starting to drip under the car as we we're about to set off, but we were having a bit of a tough time with a terminal family illness then so I thought "I am taking my girls away for the weekend - it can die if it wants and come back on a GreenFlag flat back". But I topped it up at the B&B in the morning, went to the zoo, drove home and it was still full.......

[scrufgp]

Hiya scufgp, but how long ago was it you last checked the coolant?

 

Yes, I realise in an ideal world they would not use / lose any, but this a grand voyager we're talking about!!

 

Mine lost about 3.5 litres on the way to Blackpool last year, around 60 miles, but then didn't lose a drop on the way home. Water pump was the guilty party in my case.

I spotted it starting to drip under the car as we we're about to set off, but we were having a bit of a tough time with a terminal family illness then so I thought "I am taking my girls away for the weekend - it can die if it wants and come back on a GreenFlag flat back". But I topped it up at the B&B in the morning, went to the zoo, drove home and it was still full.......

[scrufgp]

To be totally honest it’s been a while

I honestly vary rarely use the voyager due to having van and another car

I tend to check quite often but I would be lieing if I said a month ago ish

It has drained itself of coolant before a couple of years ago so since that I do tend to check all levels quite regularly

And it’s always got coolant in the header tank just small splash and dash tbf

I’m not 100% sure head gasket not gone but experience leads me to think not as absolutely no other symptoms

My mechanics theory of the egr cooler with hair line crack sounds plausible

[QinteQ]

Head gasket on 2.8's are as rare as hens teeth, they tend to be on much older petrol or 2.5's with gas conversions.

 

Front flush proper Hoat 05 and 'stat mod with wobble pin') will cure most 90%+ of what people describe as overheating and "possible" head gaskets.

 

See #3 Best of luck..

[brit644]

Could go on forever about these probs. Included would be scanner and key dance diagnostics [both throw wobblers at you]

Had help from a friend in the USA who looks up using vin, also pointed me to a guy in the UK so could use them as an alternative source.

Do not buy anything unless using your vin. Three occasions reg# has pointed in the wrong direction, which would have had serious consequences,

Im lucky in that my local mechanic allows me to find/purchase parts [dealer rad was 400...i paid 88] for him to install. We all have old vehciles, most parts are original. After playing with mine I decided to 'shotgun' on parts. I bought front shocks [complete] rear shocks bushes, rad, thermo and sensor, egr valve and egr solenoid [that was 8 quid from usa dealer] and alternator. All this for under 500

Labour on installing all this was 490 plus fluids. Last year I had both front hubs replaced, I sourced and they installed for 100 quid.

The water pump [clue here] and timing was done just prior to my purchase [100 miles] When I tested the vehicle it was fine and I bought. Howvere the first really steep incline into the red it went.

The clue here is the guy must have had probs, someone had the idea water pump and timing etc. They obviously had a rad prob they didnt notice/resolve.

So I come in on the back-end of this, and having read this forum decided to flush. Flushed well to clean. However, if the crude is solid makes no difference. I figure they put a sealer in there. Getting home after the flush noticed a leak [the leak was clean coolant]. Back at the garage straight away [meanwhile took the step of ordering everything could possibly need]

Parts arrived morning after. Rad out, twas so bad couldnt blow thru it hardly, pin holes in a few places. Thermo gummed up to point it was stuck with crude, thermo sensor was goosed to.

They are old vehicles, theres inherent problems. Often they have the original parts, often quick fixes are just put me on [bucket under a leaking roof not fixing the roof] You put new part in which then puts pressure on another thats dozen yrs old. 

I look at keeping this thing for 10yrs or more, thats how I view my purchases.

I work in the USA quite a bit [im a aid/disaster relief worker] 20 yrs ago I bought  a truck. That vehcile has 440k miles. Maintenance of highest order ,means it has the original engine/transmission.Dont let a tiny wiggle become a wobble.