elliottdisgrace

Hey everyone, recently purchased a 1990 Cherokee Laredo that is in great shape but needs a few things. One of these items is a VGR valve for the straight 6 4.0, which seems difficult to find through normal channels (ebay, carparts etc). I know there is a way to bypass it but I'm hoping I can track down a replacement and try that first as I'm still learning my way around the XJ and don't want to give myself any more problems before I really get a hang of it. I also know these valves are rare due to it being a renix era only part, but I'm hopeful if someone has one laying around they are reading this forum, thanks!

Edit: Typed VGR instead of EGR in title

Saudade

You mean EGR? If so, best of luck. Look in local salvage yards. Keep cruising ebay, craigslist and others.

Are you sure yours is bad? Did you check the solenoid and related vacuum lines? Are you subject to smog testing?

Check out this website http://cruiser54.com. You find lot's of good info on maintaining your Renix.

cruiser54

I likely have some used ones.

what's the issue pointing you to the EGR valve?

robsjeep

No longer made part. Not to many new left, except in some personal stash or lost forgotten on some shelf. No retailers I am aware of have them, no aftermarket ones either were made I know of. They are an obsolete part for a three decade old truck, as later jeeps soon eliminated egr's.
This forum is good source as some here do have, or know of a stash, (usually used egr, rather than new). If not that, wreckers will have them, I think it is 1990 and back xj that has them. You can do nation wide search here....

you can even request part to be pulled and shipped if yard is not local to you. Inventory turns over often,


link to website, search by state, zip code, radius etc....

https://row52.com/Search/?YMMorVin=Y...e&Distance=500

Good Luck

ps if no smog test needed, a failed egr can be blocked off to prevent leakage. a leaky egr should not be thrown away, given their scarcity. I believe they can be rebuilt, some places do rebuild other make and model egr's and other no longer available car parts. I expect one day someone will provide rebuild services for retail. Your leaky egr maybe a valuable core part, so hold on to it. also there maybe a rebuild place that can repair your egr, but bet it is not cheap.
Some shops do rebuild all sorts of old car parts that were considered disposable when broke. egr'a, vacuum spark timing canisters, smog pumps, etc...

cruiser54

I still wanna know why.

elliottdisgrace

First of all thanks for taking the time to reply I appreciate it. I took the Laredo to a garage I trust after I first bought it and the tech said it was leaking when he did a smoke test and also the valve itself failed to hold a vacuum (obviously) and recommended I look for a new one. That’s what led me here.

cruiser54

Excellent reason!!
But, there are 2 places the EGR can lose vacuum.
Through the diaphragm when it's activated by the vacuum line.
And, it can leak where the pintle seals exhaust gasses from the intake manifold.
So, for sure I would plug the vacuum line to the valve.
Ask the mechanic if the smoke test he did showed leaking between the EGR into the intake manifold.

robsjeep

My EGR failed when the valve seat of it fell out. It was always open, biggly like open. Really messed up the manifold vacuum! that in turn fooled the injection brain in detecting manifold pressure. what a mess. I finally found it with a smoke test. But then the fun began, to find a replacement EGR! (I gotta smog the jeep every couple years, Id be exempt by now but years ago CA State Rep. Lieber (Democrat) got a bill passed forever putting my jeep in the state smog test program, rather than being exempt after 30 years of age. She had to have a two officiers in a squad car parked in front of her house do to the death threats. Idiots here relected her anyway. ugh!

cruiser54

Elliott, what state do you live in?
Are there drivability issues with your Jeep?
Do you perform the work on your Jeep for the most part?

elliottdisgrace

I live in Michigan, so luckily the XJ doesn’t have to pass emissions testing. The only drivability issue is it has a pretty rough idle and will stall out just in the driveway or coasting up to a stop sign for example. Will usually stop happening once it’s been running for a bit. I’m hoping to do most of the work on the XJ over time but as of right now it’s mostly the garage.

cruiser54

Place to begin is my website. www.cruiser54.com
Complete Tips 1,3,4, and 5 first.
Make sure your intake manifold bolts aren't loose.

I wouldn't waste another minute on replacing the EGR valve. In fact, remove its vacuum source and plug the hose.

74Plb

My 1990 XJ's egr valve failed in much the way robsjeep failed. I made a sheetmetal plate and sealed mine off. The Renix monitor still tells me that the egr valve is open but I beg to differ!

cruiser54

There is absolutely no downside to ditching the valve. Might be some plates available to purchase since almost all EGR valves of that era shared the same pattern.

74Plb

I would think that with the bad egr valve and blocker plate installed it would pass a visual check. For vehicles over 25 years old there's no smog requirement where I live though.
Or just block the hose and leave the egr valve in place? I don't know the PCM LOGIC but it doesn't seem to affect the way my 90 runs.
74Plb

cruiser54

ECM could give 2 *****.

This all depends on where the leaks are. Vacuum diaphragm of the EGR? Plug the vacuum to it.
EGR pintle not closing completely? We gotta look at that.