P1404 Trouble Code

'Tis the season for trouble codes, I guess...

The car is a 1999 SL1 (8V 1.9L etc).

P1404 reared it's ugly head this morning upon driving to work and upon
LEAVING work, it has disappeared. AutoZone could read the code but couldn't
tell me what it was so some internet research yielded that it might have
some to do with the EGR system.

Does anybody have any advice on this code? Should I consider it a priority?

Thanks.

NG

 

I had my older Chilton's manual out for the other post, my book (1991 thru
1998) says P1404 is the EGR Pintle Position (system) and the fault
description is "Circuit Fault". I don't know anymore than I did - don't
know if this was helpful - maybe someone else will chime in...

 

The first thing to do with that code is to clear it and see if it
comes back. Quite possibly, some debris is restricting the pintle from
closing all the way. This will set that code. Many times this carbon
or whatever will clean itself out and everything will be back to
normal. You may have to remove the egr valve and clean it out. While
you've got it off make sure the pintle moves freely. Try clearing the
code first though and see if it comes back.

 

Thank you guys for the info. We cleared it while at AZ and I'll open it up
tomorrow and try to clean it out. Should I use any particular cleaner for
this task? I've cleaned the throttle body out once already and used carb
cleaner, which I found out later is a bit too abrasive but worked nicely.
Should I expect the same black grime that was in the intake and on the TB
plate?

Thanks.

 

This code indicates that the EGR valve pintle did not reach the learned
closed position, probably because it was blocked with carbon. The PCM will
try to open and close the valve several times to dislodge it, and if the
valve is still staying open too far, code P1404 sets.