Of course the day before I plan to smog my car CEL comes on and it's code 71. I'm not a mechanic and I'm kicking myself for this but I don't understand how to clean the EGR valve. Everything I find looks like the EGR setup in the LS400 which looks nothing like mine. From what I've read they say to take it off and clean it, so I tried taking the EGR valve (near where you put oil) off and cleaning it. I see 3 bolts and 3 screws. I take them all off and pull on the black piece and it comes off but then I hear something metal fall into the gap underneath it. I tried looking in there but can't see anything in there. I don't even know what it was, I'm guessing some kind of ring or something. Will my car run ok without that piece? Do I have to buy another EGR valve?

I did find a guide after that happened and one of the steps says I have to drain my engine coolant? Would I have to do that?

thanks

 

For anyone who may come looking for the answer in the future, for the for 93-94 SC400 or 92-95 LS400 the EGR valve is a stepper motor with an external temp sensor that gets the resistor. Pic here.