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Volkswagen Golf V - EGR valve failure - Magrithea

OUr Golf failed to start about 2 weeks ago which we thought was a battery problem. Wouldn't start with jump pack so called Green Flag who diagnosed EGR valve problem but got the car started.

Taken to VW dealers for investigation a few days later - they say that the electronic memory has been wiped (how?) and they can't do anything. The car is fine at the moment but for how long?

Any ideas on what needs to be done please?

Volkswagen Golf V - EGR valve failure - gordonbennet

Presumably its a Diesel, in which case take it to a Diesel specialist workshops for diagnosis by a mechanic.

VW dealer sounds about as much use as a chocolate teapot.

Volkswagen Golf V - EGR valve failure - Magrithea

Thanks gordon! Dealer next to useless I agree.

Will try and find a local specialist as car is out of warranty anyway.

Volkswagen Golf V - EGR valve failure - Tommk4

Perhaps the green flag chap did it when he checked the fault code? In some cases jump starting a car can do it as well but I'm not sure.

A common probloem with EGR valves is them getting gummed up with carbon deposits which stops them from opening and or closing properly, this is particulaly common in cars that do short trips on slower roads because the tendency or lower revs means the valve doesnt get a good blasting! I fixed mine simply by adding redex to a few full tanks of fuel and giving it a good blast on a motorway whenever I could.

Volkswagen Golf V - EGR valve failure - cws

In my experince, once the EGR valves are gummed up it's too late. I had the emissions light come up on a Mk5 1.9TDI we owned - cleaned it/erased the fault code and it was fine for a week but then the problem returned. A new EGR valve cured the problem and around £90 from VW.

Volkswagen Golf V - EGR valve failure - jc2

Dont know about VW ECU but many ECU will clear memory after a few starts if fault has been sorted.

Volkswagen Golf V - EGR valve failure - Collos25

Perhaps the green flag chap did it when he checked the fault code? In some cases jump starting a car can do it as well but I'm not sure.

A common probloem with EGR valves is them getting gummed up with carbon deposits which stops them from opening and or closing properly, this is particulaly common in cars that do short trips on slower roads because the tendency or lower revs means the valve doesnt get a good blasting! I fixed mine simply by adding redex to a few full tanks of fuel and giving it a good blast on a motorway whenever I could.

The Redex will not do anything its designed to be action neutral the blast down the motorway will

Volkswagen Golf V - EGR valve failure - Tommk4

The Redex will not do anything its designed to be action neutral

I dont understand that bit. Can you expand?

Volkswagen Golf V - EGR valve failure - Collos25

If it actually did anything then the makers of redex would be open to all sorts of claims.

Its sole purpose is to relieve you of money