2009 dodge journey egr valve problems

6 Signs Of A Defective EGR Valve

• Updated: March 14, 2023

While there are plenty of ailments that can slow down your vehicle, one of the more common with newer vehicles is a bad EGR valve. While these EGR valves have some performance and environmental benefits, they’re notorious for clogging.

If you suspect that your vehicle might have a faulty EGR valve, keep reading, and we’ll break down the most common symptoms you should look for.

Even better, if you do narrow down the problem to the EGR valve, we’ll walk you through standard repair costs and where it’s located on your engine to help speed along with your repairs. Let’s take a look at the signs first.

Symptoms Of A Bad EGR Valve

The most common symptom of a bad EGR valve is a check engine light illuminated on your dashboard. You may also notice bad fuel consumption, reduced power, and rough idle. Your car may also fail an emission test with a bad EGR valve.

Here down below, you will find a more detailed list of the signs of a bad or failing EGR valve to look for:

1. Check Engine Light

There are tons of sensors monitoring your emissions, engine performance, and even the EGR valve’s performance. Whether the EGR valve is clogged, stuck open, or stuck closed, you’re going to get a check engine light .

While the check engine light will usually point you straight to the EGR valve, it is possible that it might come on due to a symptom instead of a cause. For instance, you might get a check engine light that indicates excessive exhaust chemicals or misfires, even though the problem stems from a faulty EGR valve.

2. Increased Emissions

Your EGR valve’s primary purpose is to reduce emissions, so you can expect that if it’s not working correctly, your overall emissions will increase. In fact, if you have a faulty EGR valve, your vehicle will most likely fail an emissions test.

You might notice slightly more smoke when the EGR valve is bad, but this isn’t very common.

3. Decreased Fuel Consumption

Your EGR valve works to send the right amount of exhaust back to the combustion chamber. One of the advantages of this is that it reduces the combustion chamber’s temperature and improves efficiency.

But when the EGR valve is stuck open, the engine will suck in air that is already measured by the MAF sensor , leading to a lean air-fuel mixture and a reduction in fuel consumption. While this might sound like a great symptom, it can damage your engine.

4. Reduced Power

Not only does an optimized engine improve fuel economy, but it also improves engine performance.

You’ll notice the problem more at lower speeds if the EGR valve is stuck open and at higher speeds if the EGR valve is stuck closed.

You might also notice that your acceleration has become jerky or rough.

5. Rough Idle

If your EGR valve is stuck open, then you’re going to get a rough idle, especially when your vehicle hasn’t warmed up yet. That’s because usually, the EGR valve starts in the closed position.

However, if the EGR valve is stuck closed, you’ll notice more problems while idling after the engine has already warmed up. That’s because the EGR valve is typically open then as it recirculates exhaust to lower the overall temperature of the combustion chamber.

RELATED: Rough Idle Causes & How to Fix it

6. Engine Knock

One of the lesser-known perks of the EGR valve is that it actually reduces engine knocking. Keeping the combustion chamber at a lower temperature prevents the fuel from igniting before it should.

While this won’t always happen if you have a faulty EGR valve, the chances go up dramatically if the valve is stuck closed. If you have a check engine light on for a faulty EGR valve, keep an ear out to see if you can hear any knocking.

If you can, you need to make repairs immediately before any further damage occurs.

RELATED: 6 Causes of a Knocking or Pinging Car Engine

EGR Valve Function

The EGR valve takes specific amounts of exhaust and recirculates it back to the combustion chamber. EGR Valve stands for exhaust gas recirculation valve, which breaks down exactly what it does. 

Recirculating the exhaust does a few things for overall performance. First, it optimizes the fuel to air ratio without pulling in extra air from the intake.

Not only that, but the exhaust has a different chemical makeup than fresh air. This different chemical makeup allows the combustion chamber to stay up to 150 degrees Celsius cooler, which produces cleaner exhaust and improves overall engine performance.

Since the EGR valve runs off sensors, it knows when to open and when to close to optimize performance. But when these sensors fail or the EGR valve gets stuck, you’ll run into problems.

EGR Valve Location

Your vehicle’s EGR valve is typically located at the top of the engine and generally connects to a pipe that runs from your exhaust. If you know what you’re looking for, the EGR valve is usually very straightforward to find and get access to.

It can be hidden deep into engine bays on some models, so to say that it is always easy to locate would be a lie.

Look for a metal tube coming to the top of your engine, then locate the valve that’s attached to it, and you’ve found your EGR valve in many car models! Some car models are totally integrated into the cylinder head, though, and do not have these pipes.

EGR Valve Replacement Cost

The average EGR valve replacement cost is between $225 and $800, depending on the vehicle you drive and where you take it into repairs. You can expect the EGR valve to cost $150 to $400, while labor costs $75 to $400

But before you jump straight to replacing the valve, see if you can’t clean it first. Start by removing the EGR valve, spraying it with a carb cleaner, and scrubbing it with a wire brush. If this works, you’ve just saved yourself a few hundred bucks!

But if you narrow down your problem to the EGR valve, and cleaning it doesn’t do the trick, then there’s good news and bad news. The good news is that with even with just a little technical know-how, it’s straightforward to replace. The bad news is that the valve itself is a bit more expensive than you would expect for such a small part.

While you can find an aftermarket EGR valve for some vehicles for around $50, a more typical cost is closer to $150 and $400. If you’re looking for an OEM replacement part, you’re looking to spend a little more, generally between $250 and $600.

If you’re going to have a mechanic replace the part for you, labor costs often range between $75 and $400. So, while you can save a little money by doing it yourself, you’re still going to be on the hook for the majority of the cost.

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2009 dodge journey R/T new egr still getting error code

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• Engine & Transmission

EGR Sensor replacement?

• recirculation

By 19InBlkJrny March 14, 2013 in Engine & Transmission

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19inblkjrny.

Took my 2009 R/T (3.5 V6) in to see about a few things and the check engine light reported an issue with the EGR sensor. I've found talk about the EGR valve and how it sometimes sticks and throws the light, but is there a difference? Also if I choose to replace the EGR valve assembly myself is there anything that has to be done with the computer? Flash? Firmware? or anything else that might require the dealership to perform the work?? Thanks guys and gals in advance for your help.

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• 2 months later...

I have the same issue with the egr sensor. Do you know where the egr sensor is located. I was hoping to remove myself if possible and replace. Thanks

why post here without doing a little checking things out first... google 2009 egr valve and if you have a code type that in it will bring up all kinds of info and even has a u tube video showing how to replace it. you may have to check into what engine you have and an other good place to start is your local parts store most will show you the part and or where it is located and i believe auto zone has instructions on how to replace it and if you need certin tools some places will loan them with a deposit of course to make sure you bring them back... but try to google it first i have been able to fix alot of things by doing this first GOOD LUCK

• 3 weeks later...

My 2010 SXT had a check engine light come up. I turn the key on and off 3 times and the trouble code showed up on the odometer as P0406. I googled it and it's saying its an EGR signal code. My friend Carl who works at the local Chrysler dealer told me to go get the part at NAPA and change it myself. All I had to do was remove the top air filter assembly and the intake tube to the throttle body. This allowed me more room to get to the valve. Only tools I needed to remove it was a 10mm and 8mm socket wrenches. I removed the exhaust tube from the old valve with a 5/16th wrench and installed it on the new valve. All bolts removed were coated with anti-seize compound for re-assembly. I put everything back together and it was working great. I should mention that I disconnected the battery before starting the work and reconnected after I was done. Doing so ensures that the trouble code is reset from the engine computer.

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Gas Recirculation Valve (egr Valve) problems of the 2009 Dodge Journey

Two problems related to gas recirculation valve (egr valve) have been reported for the 2009 Dodge Journey. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2009 Dodge Journey based on all problems reported for the 2009 Journey.

1 Gas Recirculation Valve (egr Valve) problem

Reporting common problems of 2009 Dodge Journey 2. 0crd 103kw 1. A car started shutting off whenever it drives, running in parking lot, stopped at red light. 2. Battery fails suddenly, without any warning, jumping cables can't help, because a car just making a cranking noise under a hood. 3. Wheel airbag is having short circuits, so due to it sometimes lights a warning in dashboard. 4. Steering wheel relay shows misunderstood degrees of wheel angle, so it comes to esp bas error.

2 Gas Recirculation Valve (egr Valve) problem

After starting up the vehicle, the radio and information display will not function at all. When the vehicle is then shut off the battery will drain rather quickly( within 8 hours) and kill the battery. If the battery is disconnected and then reconnected the radio and display will then work. This happens frequently depending on how many time the vehicle is started and stopped. My mechanic has traced it to the tipm ,totally integrated power module.

Other Engine And Engine Cooling related problems of the 2009 Dodge Journey

Dodge Journey P0402: EGR → Excessive Flow Diagnosis

P0402 is an OBDII trouble code that’ll pop up in the Dodge Journey . It has to do with the emissions system and stands for:

P0402: EGR → Excessive Flow Diagnosis

The EGR system on a vehicle is responsible for recirculating exhaust gasses in order to lower the vehicles emissions output. The amount of gas cycled back into the engine is typically not more than 10%. These gases help keep the engine’s combustion temperature under 2500 degrees Fahrenheit.

P0402 is a general code, which means that regardless of the year (1996+) and the model, it’ll have the same meaning regardless of which manufacturer built the vehicle (Dodge Journey or not).

Related: P0420 Dodge Journey

Dodge Journey P0402 Symptoms

Most of the time there are not going to be symptoms when P0402 is triggered, other than the service engine soon light itself. In some extreme cases, you may notice a slight ping or knock.

• Service Engine Soon Light – P0402 will illuminate the service engine soon light.
• Loss in Power – In more extreme cases, you may notice some adverse effects on the engine. These would include a low engine power, hesitation, and dying at idle.
• Knocking Sound – In certain cases, there may be a noticeable knock that comes from the vehicle. It’ll sound almost like piston slap.

P0402 Causes: Dodge Journey

Diagnosing what is causing the P0402 code in the Journey is typically not very tricky. Here are the most common causes:

• Sensor Issues – There are many sensors that the vehicles computer relies on to accurately operate the EGR system. Some of these sensors include the EVP, DPFE, and MAP sensors. When one of them goes bad, they can cause P0402.
• EGR Valve Itself is Bad – The EGR valve itself is often the cause of P0402. They typically aren’t that expensive
• Vacuum Issues – Some EGR valve relies on engine vacuum to operate. Others rely on an electric signal. If there is not enough vacuum present to allow for the proper operation, the EGR may not close. P0402 will then be thrown.
• Sensor Issue – The Differential Pressure Feedback- EGR sensor can go faulty and cause the EGR valve to stop operating properly and throw the code.

Journey P0402 Fix

The good news with P0402 is that it rarely ever costs much money to fix, and it is usually pretty easy to get the problem, since it is right on top of the engine. Most folks see P0402 Insufficient EGR flow, look up the price of an EGR valve, see how cheap it is and just throw a new one on.

That can be a mistake. That’s because the EGR valve is not always going to be the culprit. Here are some of the most common fixes to help clear the P0402:

• Check the EGR Tube- It’s a good idea to check the tube going to the EGR because it’s often the cause of P0402, easy to do, fast, and replacing it is very affordable. If it’s cracked, you’ll need to get a new one. If it’s clogged you can get away with cleaning it and replacing it.
• Check DPFE Sensor Voltage- If you are good with a voltage meter go ahead and test it. Here’s a good article on how to do that from It Still Runs : How to Test DPFE Sensor .
• Test the EGR Valve- A vacuum gauge will help you determine if the EGR valve itself has gone bad. Here’s an article from Autozone on how to test it with a vacuum gauge .

Testing your EGR system is relatively easy to do. The most challenging aspect is the DPFE sensor. If you aren’t sure you can tackle that, you can always test everything else first. If there is anything you would like to add about P0402, please feel free to add a comment below. Good luck!!

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EGR valve: problems, symptoms, testing, replacement

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Egr Valve Problems

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Is anyone else having troubles with EGR valves? I know these hemi's love to eat these things up, but I am having to replace mine every year. I have tried factory and also after market. I replaced it a third time in 3 years and after 3 months the P0404 code is starting to appear again. Does anyone have any suggestions that have been dealing with this problem? I remember reading up on it before and someone had mentioned get the the PCM software update.  

The only thing that causes an EGR to fail is too much carbon or the valve/switch itself fails. You might check some of the other sensors like the MAP or O2's sensor for age of service. Some brands are only good for 50K or 75K before they need to be replaced. The newer ones are good for at least 100K. If the sensors are weak and not responding fast enough, it could cause the engine to run too rich. I believe the scanner at the dealer can tell if the sensor is weak. It may cost you the $50 to $75 testing fee but it could save you money in the long run.  

The thought of going to a dealer makes me cringe. I took off the EGR tube and cleaned it throroughly with a bore cleaner/brake cleaner. The end that went into the intake was heavily caked with black soot. I thought I had the problem solved, up until the light came back on. I only have 72k on it and can't believe I'm the only one having these problems.  

Some of the emissions equipment is covered for 8/80K I believe. I just don't know if the crappy EGR is covered under that part of the warranty.  

Thanks for the input dmcelhannon . You've been one of the first to respond to any questions I've asked over the years. I greatly appreciate that. Alittle more research and I found some info on ALLPAR.com. There is a TSB #18-021-04 and 18-010-04 for vehicles built before 3-13-04 and 2-29-04 for the 5.7, specific to the EGR. I have a build sheet for my truck but it doesn't show the exact engine build date. The truck was manufactured in 5/04, so the engine was before that, possibly falling in that range. Do you know which numbers in the VIN show the exact build date of the engine (assuming it does?).  

It should be in the records for the truck. All you should have to do is ask your service writer at the dealership and they can look it up to see if the job was done or not. If or what they may charge you can be a big swing in-between dealer. My pretty luck to be living near a dealer that seems to go out of their way to help. They do the same thing for our local Mopar group.  

A trip to the dealer is inevitable......thanks for the help guys!  

Doesn't necessarily have to go to the dealer. ANYBODY with a graphing scan tool can watch the actual vs. desired egr position. Typically when they set the p0404 code, you can go for a ride and the actual position will be very erratic, especially when they get hot. Either the motor cannot control its position, or the sensor itself fails. Poor, or loose terminals at the connector can also lead to repeat failures. If graphing shows a clean signal, I would suspect an intermittent connection problem. The tsb shouldn't apply because it doesn't go for the engine build date, it's a reflash. It goes off when the ecm was programmed initially. All trucks built after 3/1/04 got the updated flash from the factory.  

Matt, correct me if I'm wrong, but the TSB applied directly to when the engine was manufactured which is typically before the truck itself? So if the truck was 5/04 the engine could potentially fall in the 3/04 area? I'm not a mechanic by any means, just a humble public servant with a small amount of knowledge on mopars. All I know for sure is I hate these egr valves and emissions in general!!!  

You can do what I did a long time ago. I have a diablo predator tuner and the tune i have disables the egr. So, i took it off and blocked it all off with a plate.  

I considered doing that, but I've heard the predators no longer have the EGR delete function. I already have a SC too. Here in PA we have emissions and they plug it into the OBD2 and check it that way. I don't know if it would check for an EGR or only catch a faulty one.  

Re read your post on my computer and clearly misread it while trying to read on my phone and drive at the same time. It makes sense that it would go off the manufacture date of the vehicle and not the engine. The software wouldn't be loaded till the vehicle was complete.  

Update. Rather than taking my truck to the shop and addressing this issue, I just continued to drive my truck and would delete the EGR code when it would come on. It was coming on basically everytime I drove it. After some time, my truck began to stall when backing up and coming to a stop to shift to drive and also when coming to a stop at stop signs and red lights. I would have to slightly depress the gas pedal to prevent stalling. I don't drive my truck that often, as I get picked up for work. This stalling issue began to tick me off so I finally decided to address it. I figured out the reason for the stalling was I was about 2 quarts low on trans fluid. I brought the trans to the right fluid level and my truck has been running flawlessly, no stalling or EGR codes in over 2 months. I know the trans should in no way have an effect on the EGR, but could this really be a coincidence when I used to throw an EGR code EVERYTIME I drove?  

That there is just plain weird. .  

ummm... okay. :huh: Well, hey, whatever works! Glad it's happy and running properly again! :tup:  

I had a stalling problem with my '06. It would stall coming to a stop before it was fully warmed up. No EGR code. On a hunch I checked the transmission fluid - was not quite a quart low - added a quart and the stalling went away. On EGR's - I replaced mine with an OEM from the dealer - it's been 150K miles and the EGR is still working fine. Something to be said for OEM parts.  

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How Moscow is getting rid of its traffic jams

Moscow traffic is really overloaded, so the authorities spare no effort trying to improve the city's infrastructure

If you’ve never been to the Russian capital, you’ve never experienced a true traffic jam. Hours spent in the car on the way home, moving at a snail’s pace, people angrily honking their horns – it really is rather depressing.

Despite the fact President Vladimir Putin and Moscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin usually skip the bottlenecks by jumping into their helicopters or having their chauffeurs driving special lanes, they are trying to solve the traffic problem.

“We are implementing a project aimed at developing Moscow as a transport hub, which includes roads, railroads, and the metro,” Sobyanin stated during his meeting with Putin on Nov. 15.

Station to station

The authorities are focusing on the city’s rail system and working with the state-owned Russian Railways company. In 2016 they opened the Moscow Central Circle (MCC), an urban line that connected relatively remote districts of the capital to reduce pressure on the underground system. Around 400,000 people use the MCC daily – that’s almost 150 million passengers a year.

Now that the MCC is up and running, the city hall is launching a new project called Moscow Central Diameters, which will build overground railway lines connecting towns in the Moscow region.  

Faster connection

“Now suburban railways go to stations and stop there – these are dead ends in fact,” Sobyanin explained. He says connecting railways in the city will make the infrastructure more efficient. For instance, one of the new diameters will connect Odintsovo (26 km west of Moscow) and Lobnya (40 km north) with a direct line.

According to Oleg Belozerov, the president of Russian Railways, the new line will service 43 million passengers a year, cutting the journey time from Odintsovo to Lobnya in half. Tourists will also benefit: After the project is completed, it will only take an hour to travel from one airport to another, which is great if you need to change for a connecting flight.

The first two diameters, which will bear 30 percent of the whole project, are expected to be finished by the middle of 2019. As for the rest, Sobyanin says it will take up to five years to implement the whole project. In total, it should provide 300 million people with quicker transport.

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