Hi, Is a blocked egr tube common on the 1996 e320 sedan's, and would that cause idle surge? I took the egr valve out and it worked under manual vacume off the car, but when replaced I put vacume on the hose and nothing changed. I cleaned up the egr valve and the short tube and was wondering how hard a job it is to get that back tube off. The car had an egr code when it was checked.
Thanks,
Karl

Yeah that would cause the problems you are having.

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1986 300SDL, 211K,Dealership serviced its whole life
1991 190E 2.6(120k)
1983 300D(300k)
1977 300D(211k)

Do you know if that tube runs from the egr valve to under the intake plenum on the drivers side? Don't know how to shoot you a message though.
Karl

Funny, I was just coming to the site to gather information on the M104 EGR tube. I occasionally get the EGR flow code on my '95 C36, and am planning on cleaning it this weekend. I believe the C36 EGR tube runs around the back of the block (firewall side) and back to the throttle body, so it's a PITA to get to. Is the E320 similar?

Any tips for cleaning/removing this tube?

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Matt J.
'95 C36 AMG

Yes it is, sounds like yours is under the intake plenum like mine, and I cant get the plenum bolts out.

I'm yet to look at mine. So does the intake need to be removed in order to remove the EGR tube from the throttle body? It seems like I've read past posts where the pipe was simply unbolted from the throttle body and EGR, left in place, then snaked out using a speedometer cable in a drill. That way you get the crap out without the hassle of removing the entire tube. Does that seem feasible from what you've seen?

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Matt J.
'95 C36 AMG

The pipe goes to the intake manifold, not the throttle body. It is hard to get to on that side, 2 bolts, 10 mm I believe. On a 124 you get to the front bolt from the top and the rear bolt from below, not sure about access on a 210/104. The pipe can be cleaned on the car by disconnecting both ends. Removing the pipe from the car is considerably more involved. stevebfl wrote about this problem towards the end of this article - http://www.continentalimports.com/ser_ic20134.html and there's a wealth of information in the archives - search for "egr pipe".

...and the remedy is to replace the tube the new modified version.

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A Dalton

Deanyel, thanks for the link. Very helpful. If I perform that procedure, what happens to the carbon buildup that is plugging the port? I assume it will be broken up by the speedo cable, make it's way into the intake manifold and eventually into the cylinders. Isn't there a degree of risk involved with this method? I've heard of debris blocking intake valves from closing properly, it seems like that could potentially happen here.

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Matt J.
'95 C36 AMG

That's why you disconnect both ends. The blockage is typically on the intake side, near the end of the pipe, or actually in the intake. I've never been able to get a cable to go all the way through from the EGR side, there's a couple of 90 degree turns, so work from both ends, then blow it out with air pressure, some use a solvent. If it's blocked on the intake side you just dig it out as best you can with a hook, some use a drill bit. Those instrument pod pullers serve so many purposes. BTW there is an intermediary bracket on the rear of the pipe that has to be removed for good access to intake side.

I actually cut the pipe near the intake manifold.Ran the speedo cable up thru from the manifold side. Cleaned it right out .Used a rubber hose to reconnect the pipe to the piece left on the manifold.No more codes.

cleaned mine over a year ago and there didnt appear to be a blockage in the tube, like many here have said, my blockage was actually in the intake side. What a pain in the a** to get to on the w202

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1994 C280
2009 VW Tiguan
1993 Toyota X-tra Cab SE-5


1973 220D ... Gone, but not forgotten
1991 Alfa Romeo 164L Gone, wife MADE me forget it

2006 Hyundai Tucson... just straight out FORGOTTEN!