2001 Buick LeSabre Intermittent P0405 Code

[Ruptoo]

Over the past week I've had my "Service Engine Soon" light come off and on. One day it'll be on while driving, the next it won't. Just got to scanning it today and it's showing a P0405 code. Went to check the EGR valve plug and wiring (those look fine) and noticed that the top black plastic part of the EGR valve moves up and down when pressed on. Has anyone experienced this or have any recommendations?

 

[JPolito]

I mean, if you search for this code it literally says either the sensor is bad or the wiring is bad. The error code is pretty much saying that it's broken. I don't think that plastic part is supposed to move. The part is like $63-80 on RockAuto but you could look for a super cheap one at a junkyard if there's one nearby.

If you go the junkyard route, you can look up your EGR valve on O'Reilly's website (this one should fit your car) and find other vehicles that use the same one to narrow down what cars to pull it from in the yard:



Looks like a bunch of 1995-2001 Buicks use the same one, plus numerous Chevy/Jaguar/Pontiac/Olds models. You'd still need to buy a gasket if you do that.

Other than that the installation looks super easy. Like it just bolts off and onto the top of the engine:

"How to Replace EGR Valve 2000-2005 Buick LeSabre"

 

[Buick City Bert]

The EGR on the 3.8 is very easy to replace.
Good thing, because if you buy an after market one you may do it annually.

My 1997 Lesabre was at commuter car status and I got the code, with car bucking and spitting at idle (valve stuck open), bought a Standard Ignition Products replacement (made in China) EGR at Advance Auto with a lifetime warranty, came with a gasket. Was not cheap, like $185.00 back in 2014 when the money was better. 2 bolts and an electrical connector right up top under the hood. A year later and I am here in Maine coming home after 2nd shift in February, about 10° F outside, and as I roll into an intersection it starts bucking and spitting and the check engine light comes on, you guessed it, EGR stuck open, had the receipt, got the replacement, 2 bolts and a connector all set. For another year, then it was always around 0° that the new one would stick and that was it all done and ready for another warranty job. Changed 4 EGRs, got really quick at it before the last one (maybe because I went on 1st shift?) seemed to hold up.

 

[DrivenDaily]

20-25% ratio of acceptable parts doesn't seem like acceptable parts to me.