The EGR valve in your Audi is an important component in the exhaust system. It ensures all the harmful engine emissions are removed from the vehicle while you drive. Without this valve, there is the potential for a number of issues to show up in the car, whether you drive it often or not.
If the EGR valve stops working, you need to get it fixed as quickly as possible in your Audi. A faulty EGR valve can cause a good deal of problems for your safety and the function of your Audi.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the things that you need to consider before you replace the EGR valve in your Audi vehicle. We’ll also review why it is so important to take your car to an Audi-qualified mechanic.
What is the EGR valve?
The EGR valve is the Exhaust Gas Recirculation valve. The purpose of using this valve is to help recirculate the emissions of the engine by returning them to the combustion chamber rather than having them go to the exhaust emission system. There are benefits to having this valve. The first one is that it helps to keep the temperature around the cylinder lower. The second is that it helps to limit the quantity of emissions produced.
All the gases of exhaust in a vehicle are dependent on the EGR valve to help manage their flow. This valve will work with the EGR system to function as designed. When the valve opens, it will allow all of the emissions to go into the EGR system, which can then properly control all of the emissions.
Common Signs that the EGR Valve is Not Working
There are several symptoms that you should watch out for to determine whether the EGR valve is working or not. Some of these include:
- Check engine light comes on: This light comes on for a variety of different problems in the vehicle, and it will illuminate when the EGR valve is bad. This warning indicator will come on right away when the valve is in an abnormal position, so heed its warning and bring your car to a trusted Audi specialist for inspection.
- Poor engine performance: When the EGR valve malfunctions, it will cause performance problems inside the engine. You may notice that it is harder to accelerate up to speed and you have less power than expected from your Audi. This occurs due to an incorrect air-to-fuel ratio.
- Fuel smell: Since the engine is going through more fuel, there are more hydrocarbons that exit out of the tailpipe. This can cause the smell of fuel to enter the cabin where you and your passengers will smell them.
- The idle is rough: The engine will also experience rough idling when the EGR valve stops working. This is often because the valve gets stuck either in an open or closed position. Depending on the position, there may be too much or too little exhaust that enters into the chamber and the engine will not run well.
- Failed Emissions Test: If you live in an area where you must legally get an emission test every few years, you may fail the emissions test due to a faulty EGR valve. Visit our Audi specialists to repair this component quickly so we can get you safely back on the road.
Escondido German Auto for Repair of Your EGR Valve
If you notice any of the above symptoms of a failing EGR valve, visit us as soon as possible. We will inspect and diagnose any EGR valve problems and advise you of the best course of action for repair. There is no need to try to fix the valve yourself when one of our expert Audi mechanics will have the necessary tools, training, and experience to perform this quickly and correctly.
At Escondido German Auto, we provide service on many different makes and models of cars to make things easy and smooth for our clients. We are happy to service and maintain these brands: Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Porsche, Sprinter, and Volkswagen.
Escondido German Auto proudly serves the residents of Escondido, Rancho Bernardo, and Valley Center, CA for all your car repair needs. Contact us today for an appointment.