How to test EGR?

[tizzdizz]

I'm trying to help my brother troubleshoot a stalling problem. The vehicle stalls when at stop lights, and the problem is happening more and more often lately. It's behaving a lot like one of my old cars, which turned out to need a new EGR. It does have a CEL, which I'm going to try to get the trouble codes from tomorrow. Anyway, I, along with a couple other people we've talked to, are suspect of the EGR, but don't know how to test if it's good on these cars.

Another thought was an Idle Air Control Valve, or something of that sort. I know not all cars have one, so I don't know if that could be the case here.

The car is a 1997 Bonneville SE 3.8 Series II motor. The oxygen sensors were replaced before he bought it. It doesn't appear to have a misfire at this point. Thanks!

[tizzdizz]

He also just added:

"the gas gauge is often very inaccurate, and some times it doesn't stall for the entire car trip. Other times it stalls at every light."

[myfirstbonnie]

The first step would be to get the codes read. Report back here and we will be able to help you out.

[KL Mallender]

I can offer "AllData" information to members, it's about as thurough as info can get unless access to factory manuals are available, also..previous poster is absolutely correct that having codes "pulled" is essential to laying out the roadmap for repair, many local parts stores can do this for you, once you have code numbers you will be able to decipher the actual fault, many times(if not always) one CEL code will trigger another fault, get codes written down before you start, then have memory cleared, the first code reappearing will most likely be the errant circut to check, after that it's a standard "walk in the park", unless your around the dog walk area, always a land mine somewhere, lol good luck.

Kevin.