I changed the KS and had the TB off but getting to all the EGR stuff just looked like to much. It looked like I would have to have a lift to get under the car to get to some things. Is it possible to clean the tube without a lift? How much time are we talking about? If I use PB blaster, will stuff come apart OK or will I get into trouble? Just looking for advice.

 

you wont need a lift just ALOT of patience. the best way is to go ahead and pull the upper intake manifoldd if you want to get to all the egr stuff. a lift would do you no good anyway. the only pain when removing the UIM are the support brackets and egr bracket becauce you cant see any of the bolts you have to feel 2 inches below the bottom of the uim on either side. there will be 2 12mm bolts that hold the brackets on and 2 more that hold the EGR in. give youreself the whole day though to attempt this project and although gloves help dont wear them becauce youll never find the bolts with them on. hope this helps

 

Well a little more than I want to take on now. The car runs fine, gets 24 mpg. What will happen if I don't fix it for a while?

 

absolutley nothing EGR's suck anyway in theory there supposed to lower combustion chamber temps but in when its all said and done they cause more knock retard and higher intake temps and over time make your intake look like its been smoking crack for 50 years straight my advise look for a EGR simulator and be done with it

 

And where might I find such a device?

 

Took me just a few hours to remove/clean my EGR tube this weekend. It was filled solid on both ends.

 

yup pretty much the only way to get to it...whole manifold off. i tried just intake and TB but couldnt get around to those 2 bolts...sux

 

You don't have to take the manifold off, that's just a lot of extra unecessary work.

 

I am in the same boat. Can't cough up the courage to open the sucker up. I also got all the gaskets (TB, IAC and the two for the pipe) last Friday but then chicked out. I too have the dreaded P0400 code on my 1999 SE with 78K miles.

 

To clean the EGR guide tube, you do not have to remove the TB. It's alot easier than you may think. Just remove the IACV (three 12mm bolts and 4 wire connections), and then remove the two 12mm bolts from the top of the EGR tube with a socket. Remove the bolt on the bottom that is behind the other EGR tube with a 12mm wrench and the other 12mm bolt with a socket and an extension. Just feel with your hand for the hard to see bolt and then put the socket/extenstion on it and use the ratchet out where there is room to move it.

 

My writeup says to get the TB gasket as well and to remove the TB and clean it from behind the butterfly place. I will get to the IACV (clueless there as well) and take it from there. In the mean while, any pix to assist me? In all the EGR threads, someone's photobucket album (evilEGR) is mentioned but I cannot get to the album as it asks for a log on. I am logged on as me and no dice. I did my complete brake job with assistance from the pix on motorvate.ca but no writeup on the EGR system there.

 

The TB is separate from the EGR. You don't have to do them at the same time unless you are in the clean happy mood. I didn't take any pictures while I was doing my EGR this weekend, but this thread has a few: http://forums.maxima.org/forumdisplay.php?f=9
You can do it all from the top of the car, you will probably see once you dive in and start to do it.

 

maybe for u..it seems VERY necessary for me being that i have short patience. and if u have ever played that game OPERATION...u know what i am getting at. thanks for your opinion though. very inspiring
guess it would make sense if i had a FREAKIN extension big enough at my house though so yeah, with PROPER tools....maybe unnecessary. THANKS FOR YOUR INSPIRATION THERE BUDDY! (cracking a beer...feeling newly inspired about 10 minute shortcut)

 

I have cleaned out a bunch of these over the years, and I have always found the hole on the back of the upper intake manifold is clogged as well. Removing the throttle body is very simple, and allows you to clean out this hole where the tube connects to the UIM. Clean your IACV while you're at it too.

 

If you can search, you can look for a thread I started on this. You might find some good info there. As others have said, you do not need to remove the UIM to do this. It's a lot of work, but worth it from the standpoint of KNOWING what to do if it occurs again. I also have pictures you should be able to see here:
http://target.new.photos.yahoo.com/s...60762373221081