I've just used an Android tablet running Torque  to look at codes.

 

First play with the technology showed up an emissions error. No dashboard warning lights on. Second play the next day showed the error message had cleared itself.

Drove round with the sender in place for about a week and everything worked well. No error codes, so I unplugged the sender.

About 3 weeks later the EGR light on the dash came on. Torque showed the error, something like "Low recirculation value EGR" ( I now realise I should have logged this so I had the correct wording.)

Used Torque to reset, and fault light cleared.

About a week later the light is on again.

 

I'm happy to keep resetting this, but is it wise? The car runs just as it used to, with no limp mode or other vile tendencies.

 

I'm way past the age where I want to dismantle anything, especially having looked at the pics of cleaning an EGR posted here.

 

I have a local friendly garage to keep the Disco purring, but have always kept the Octy with the main agent who has always seemed good value.

 

Can anyone suggest what the relative cost would be for investigating and probably replacing the EGR at a main agent versus asking "my man" to look at removing and cleaning out the EGR.

 

Finally, does anyone think there is any point in squirting some EGR cleaner at it?

 

It's just the 56 reg 1.9tdi, but it has to do huge amounts of this tiny mileage start, stop, long wait, start, stop mileage.

Can get new EGR on eBay for not too much

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-1-9-2-0-TDI-EGR-Valve-for-PD140-BKD-BKP-PD105-BXF-BKC-038131501AN-/130601523656?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Cars+Type%3A1.9+TDI%7CModel%3AOctavia&hash=item1e687519c8

 

 

 

Lewwy

Costs nothing to take the EGR out and clean it.  If that fixes your problem then great, if not then search or google for EGR delete.  You'll never get the problem again.

cheaper to replace by the time you bought EGR delete, then get the CEL mapped out, can by at least a couple of £80 EGR's for the same money.

 

i dont know why people so obsessed with the delete, for what it costs it pretty expensive for no performance gain.

Don't just squirt cleaner into it... for a start it won't really do much!

 

The best you can do is remove the EGR, get some petrol or carb cleaner and a toothbrush. Leave it to soak a while then give it a good clean.

 

Hopefully it's just clogged.

 

If that still doesn't work it was worth a shot but then you may need a new one.

 

Common problems are either clogged up or the mechanism inside breaks.

 

It will cause no damage running it with the light on... basically the car expects a certain amount of fresh air into the engine based on so much being recirculated through the valve. When it's clogged or not working the car either draws more or less fresh air in due to the difference in the amount coming through the valve.

 

However it can get so clogged that it will reduced engine performance or bit chunks can come loose and cause problems. Here are some examples of EGRs:

 

Mine on my PD130 with 98,000 miles:

 

 

I can't believe this car even ran anymore!:

 

 

What it should look like:

 

Thanks to everyone. This morning the warning light has gone out again without me doing anything, and I'm having to wait for the cheap tablet to charge up again before I can see if any error code is still there.

 

I'll give squirting cleaner a miss as, if it did unexpectedly do anything, I'd be worried about where the gunge had gone.

 

I had looked at

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/308175-octavia-ii-egr-valve-cleaning/?hl=%2Begr#entry3805594

which put me off doing anything myself. I really am too old to take on much more than topping up oil and water.

 

I'll keep driving it for a bit, then try my local 1-man independent for giving it a clean.