Is it my Egr valve or my catalyctic converter??

Question

I have a 1991 Chevy Caprice and whenever I drive long distances my service engine light will come on. The last couple of times this has done that I will not be able to crank the car again for a couple of days. I called a mechanic and he said that the EGR valve could be the problem. Another said the catalyctic converter b/c of how rich the exhaust was. What is the problem??

I know it is not my fuel pump but one of my neighbors banged on the fuel cell while I tried to crank it and it started and drove well. After I cut it off the same method would have to be applied.

Answer 1

If banging on the tank got it started, it most likely has a bad fuel pump.

Answer 2

EGR on your car is most probably vacuum assisted and not electronic. The valve is always closed during startup. It only opens during heavy acceleration to keep the engine from running lean and overheat.

Your problem is most probably a loose wire leading to your fuel pump. Take off the rear seats and check the wire leading out of the top of the tank.

Answer 3

if the egr is bad,for instance clogged, it will make the car run rich. To determine excatly if the egr is working you would have to use a scan tool to read the voltage. If you rev the engine and the voltage reading for the egr does not change, then you know the egr is to be replaced.

Answer 4

Another fairly inexpensive thing to check would be the oxygen sensor--a bad reading can make the engine run too rich--most people recommend changing it every 50 to 75 thousand miles.

Answer 5

Sounds like the fuel pump to me! Might also explain the rich condition too...

Answer 6

See what error codes there are. They should give you an area to start looking.