2001 PT EGR question - crazy ridiculous situation!

[alexjbriggs]

Hey guys - have a question/need advice

First off -
2001 pt cruiser touring edition (non turbo of course)
108,000 miles
Automatic

Ok, here's the quick version of the story hehe.

Driving a couple months ago and car dies/wont start. Take it in the shop, the timing belt snapped. Got that replaced, but they (shop) still couldnt get it running right. It would drive fine until you let off the gas/idle and die (kept telling them cam timing was off but they wouldnt listen). Anywho, they couldnt figure it out and gave it back. We took it to another shop and they diagnosed as bad PCM. I replaced the PCM, still wasnt running right. Took it to a different shop and the new working PCM spit out codes for bad MAP sensor. They replaced the MAP sensor and STILL wasnt working right. Please mind you, i continued to tell the shop(s) the cam timing was off based on what i read through these forums. FINALLY the checked the timing, and it was 1 tooth off. The fixed this, and its run perfect the past 2 days (yes, this whole ordeal has taken months).

Anywho, i was driving today and Check Engine light came on again, of course. Ran up to autozone and code read P0401 (EGR flow insufficient). Did some research, and some say the valve may need replacing while others say it could be "clogged".

My question is, is it possible that it could be just "clogged", or does it always need replacing? My other question is (which explains better why i explained the whole story), is it possible that while replacing/fixing any of the above problems that the shop could have messed with/clogged/somehow tampered with something that could be causing this code to come about?

I dont really notice any of the symptoms yet that ive read you could notice with a bad EGR. I'm just really not sure what I should do. I don't want to have to put anymore money into this if I don't have to (if its something that can just be cleaned), or especially if it could be the shop's fault id like to take it back and have them fix it for free if this is the case.

Thanks guys!!

[CREWZIN]

Welcome to the forum.

Here's my theory. Only the 2001 and 2002 had a special EGR pipe attached to the upper manifold in the back. It's held on my two different size nuts (8mm & 10mm) and has to be seated just right.

I think they (last one who worked on it) didn't get the pipe correctly seated into the back of the manifold. That would cause a leak in the EGR system and probably set off the code.

[alexjbriggs]

Hey thanks for that, crewzin!

That makes perfect sense, and definitely sounds like it could be the case. I'm going to give the shop a call on monday and hope they are willing to let me bring it in and look at it to see if that might be the issue.

I really appreciate the help man. Its just so frustrating. There just didn't seem to be anything wrong with my car until that day the timing belt snapped, and then out of no where 20 sensors, 10 valves, 30 doo hickeys, the PCM, etc etc ek freaking cetra is all bad. Just doesn't seem like a coincidence to me. I just feel like these shops made things much worse than they were perhaps due to lack of knowledge and not knowing when to admit they aren't sure what they are doing and that we should take the car elsewhere. Or maybe I just have that bad of luck, I don't know.

I also forgot to mention when shop A changed the timing belt, they broke off a valve correlating with the AC, so the AC did not work until the agreed to fix it for me.

I love my PT, but i've never had so many issues with a car before. I have always maintained my cars well. So either i'm just hitting a very unlucky streak, certain mechanics didn't know what they were doing, or this PT is just a lemon, haha.

But anywho, thanks again for the help, you very well may have saved me some money, and after putting well over $3000 in to this since the timing belt ordeal, that really means a lot. So thank you, and thank you to this community!

[CREWZIN]

Lets hope that might be your problem. Good luck.

[NightWing]

Were these Chrysler Dealer shops?

[LNBNDN]

alexjbriggs it could also be the egr valve . i just happen to have one. i need to get ride of . the same code came on my2002 i had i bought one at napa for 96.00 dollars. i also have picture and reciet . i traded it in for 2004 dream cruiser put never got to change it . will sell at good price .if you need one let me know . it wont fit my 2004 dream cruiser thanks ////////

[alexjbriggs]

@crewzin

Thanks, i sure hope so. I'll report back once this is resolved. Maybe it will be of some use to someone else in the future. Thanks again for your help.

@nightwing

Nope, not dealers. The first shop was actually "tuffy's" which isn't a full shop...mainly just do oil change, tires, ac, brakes, other basics. They were right down the road from where I originally broke down and they said it "wouldn't be a problem", so I guess that was my mistake, and will take it as a lesson learned. The second shop was a full service shop, that my father actually knew the owner. My father is military, and the shop is the shop that works on their government contracted vehicles for the air force base, and the owner claimed he had worked on many PTs in the past. Somehow I think he may have been stretching the truth.

I would have taken it to a dealer if I knew this would all turn into this big of an ordeal in the first place. If I had of, it may have been a simple timing belt replacement and nothing else, which would have been a little more expensive for that, but probably cheaper in the long run.

@LNBNDN

I appreciate the offer! If I do end up needing a replacement valve, i will definitely get in contact with you. I should know monday. I'll keep you updated. Thanks!