Egr valve - expense?

[MRLUBBERLUBBER]

My Signum was chucking a loada smoke out from the engine compartment last night BUT no warning lights on the dash and running sweet as a nut. My mate who owns a garage is taking a look at it later but from what i've described to him he reckons it could well be the EGR valve, apparently a common fault on Signums and Vectras. Big job is it and what sort of expense am i looking at IF its the EGR valve? Anyone any ideas please? Thanks.

[MRLUBBERLUBBER]

Just to add, there's no black smoke chucking out of the exhaust.

[Dan_BlackSRi]

Its free to remove it and clean it (how2's on the site) and is recommended to do that before buying a new one.

[MRLUBBERLUBBER]

I didn't know you could do that but thanks for the advice blacksri

[Dan_BlackSRi]

I didn't know you could do that but thanks for the advice blacksri

This thread shows how to do it, and has good pictures also..

[morbid movie]

a lot of v6 vec b's have had the egr blanked off and gives better performance alledgedly
not sure about the signum but the engines should be similar
someone else may come along with a different response

[Dan_BlackSRi]

a lot of v6 vec b's have had the egr blanked off and gives better performance alledgedly
not sure about the signum but the engines should be similar
someone else may come along with a different response

I did that on my B, but you can't do that on the Vec C's (CDTi''s) as the ECU will chuck a benny.

[morbid movie]

thanks for that just wondering
the self clean seems a cheap easy option anyway better than being ripped off at the stealers

[merikiito]

Split turbo hose if the smoke was coming from the engine bay although that might have an effect on performance. Not sure how the EGR valve would cause smoke as its sealed is it not? I took mine apart the other week to check and it was fine but then I was doing high mileage motorway driving which helps keep it clean.

I think my money would be on a split hose, so check them first

also I remember my girlfriends car doing this as well now and again. She had a 120 CDTI Vectra C Estate with the DPF thingy which is also on the Signum. I think when this regenrated there was the odd bit off smoke. Could be wrong tho

[MRLUBBERLUBBER]

Thanks a lot for the advice/tips etc lads. I've left the car at the garage for further investigation. Bloke there reckons best case scenario is busted turbo gasket, worst case scenario the EGR valve. Quick note; the car was left ticking over for 20 mins in the garage, no fault codes, no black smoke coming from the exhausts, sounded perfect. Mechanic got lad in the car to floor it for a couple of secs, we saw a cloud of white smoke coming from the turbo or just below the turbo area, he repeated this and it did it again.