Thank you for creating and posting this video, I just purchased a used CX-7 and only a week after the purchase the "Check Engine" illuminated and it was the P0401 code. Your video was extremely helpful to me allowing me to clean the EGR myself and saved me over $400+ having the repair shop do it. Thank you and I really appreciate the video.
Have you checked the car with an OBD2 scanner? The seller may have reset it before selling it. It need some time for the code/check engine to pop up. If this is the case shame on the dishonest seller.
This is an excellent video. What would make it better, might be showing the speeded up (2x) sequence at normal speed, and breaking this up into two parts - assembly and disassembly. 2x the hits, and a little more digestible a piece at a time. Nonetheless, even as is, a great primer on how to do this that no factory repair manual can fully replicate.
Good job. Some more advice to others. I had PO401 code on 2004 Mazda 3S. First thing I tried was to "tap" the plastic motor drive head several times with large screw driver handle. This seemed to dislodge some crap in the valve and the EGR valve seems to be working fine for now. If code happens again I try to remove the motor head on the valve without removing whole valve from car (far less work than removing whole EGR valve. Then clean and exercise valve piston/ motor head the best I can and reassemble. Don't want to remove whole EGR valve and pay for new valve if I can avoid it.
I see that you are both a Master Videographer and very good tech. When the shop says they cleaned something and charge $150, I never realized how much STUFF must be removed and replaced to get to the part! Good Job!
Thank you, I appreciate the kind words! Honestly I doubt most mechanics would have even cleaned the part. Id imagine most tecs would just say F it and replace the part. If the part cost about 350, well 400 because the shop has to make money on the part, then 2-3 hours labor... this diy repair could easily turn into a 600-700 dollar repair job at a shop.
I have a 2007 cx7 it doesn't have spark plug wires like the kind with distributed caps, instead it has ignition coils and the wires that go to that are all taped up, so if one of those is bad you have to splice another one on
@OldSoulMillennial, Thank you so much for the video! I need to make the same procedure myself and was wondering how hard it will be. I'm just curious about if the cleaning fixed the problem. I saw you checking the car with a OBD2 type scanner right after the fix. However, removing the battery reset all sensors and it needs some driving for the error to pop up again. I believe either way you still need to clear the error after fixing it and for sure you have to drive the car for 30-40 miles. Just curious if the error message/check engine reappeared after some driving. Thank you!
was wondering I have a cx7 2.5L auto and the throttle is too sensitive from stop it's like you apply 5% throttle and it goes to 50% throttle open. any ideas? throttle position sensor? acclerator pedal?
Thank you for creating and posting this video, I just purchased a used CX-7 and only a week after the purchase the "Check Engine" illuminated and it was the P0401 code. Your video was extremely helpful to me allowing me to clean the EGR myself and saved me over $400+ having the repair shop do it. Thank you and I really appreciate the video.
Have you checked the car with an OBD2 scanner? The seller may have reset it before selling it. It need some time for the code/check engine to pop up. If this is the case shame on the dishonest seller.
This is an excellent video. What would make it better, might be showing the speeded up (2x) sequence at normal speed, and breaking this up into two parts - assembly and disassembly. 2x the hits, and a little more digestible a piece at a time. Nonetheless, even as is, a great primer on how to do this that no factory repair manual can fully replicate.
You have to clean the tube. It's a small diameter and that's what gets plugged and restricted on these. Valve cleanings are essential as well.
I can only imagine how your knuckles are going to be after this job. Great work by the way and thank you so much for sharing.
Good job. Some more advice to others. I had PO401 code on 2004 Mazda 3S. First thing I tried was to "tap" the plastic motor drive head several times with large screw driver handle. This seemed to dislodge some crap in the valve and the EGR valve seems to be working fine for now. If code happens again I try to remove the motor head on the valve without removing whole valve from car (far less work than removing whole EGR valve. Then clean and exercise valve piston/ motor head the best I can and reassemble. Don't want to remove whole EGR valve and pay for new valve if I can avoid it.
I see that you are both a Master Videographer and very good tech. When the shop says they cleaned something and charge $150, I never realized how much STUFF must be removed and replaced to get to the part! Good Job!
Thank you, I appreciate the kind words! Honestly I doubt most mechanics would have even cleaned the part. Id imagine most tecs would just say F it and replace the part. If the part cost about 350, well 400 because the shop has to make money on the part, then 2-3 hours labor... this diy repair could easily turn into a 600-700 dollar repair job at a shop.
The valves aren't what get clogged it's the tube.
Thank you for your video, really helped me.
No problem, hope everything worked out
I have a 2007 cx7 it doesn't have spark plug wires like the kind with distributed caps, instead it has ignition coils and the wires that go to that are all taped up, so if one of those is bad you have to splice another one on
@OldSoulMillennial, Thank you so much for the video! I need to make the same procedure myself and was wondering how hard it will be.
I'm just curious about if the cleaning fixed the problem. I saw you checking the car with a OBD2 type scanner right after the fix. However, removing the battery reset all sensors and it needs some driving for the error to pop up again. I believe either way you still need to clear the error after fixing it and for sure you have to drive the car for 30-40 miles.
Just curious if the error message/check engine reappeared after some driving.
Thank you!
Could you you use some MAF cleaner in the plastic part?
was wondering I have a cx7 2.5L auto and the throttle is too sensitive from stop it's like you apply 5% throttle and it goes to 50% throttle open. any ideas? throttle position sensor? acclerator pedal?
I know older video, but how long overall did this service take you? Estimating is fine.
Just cleaned mine on a mazda 3 only takes an hour if that.