Yes. ��
I remove the egr valve as well and spray carbon cleaner into the port on the upper manifold. If the passage is clear it runs out the open port where the egr was mounted. This way you know there is no egr obstruction through the lower passages, not just the upper plenum you removed.

 

If you read the TSB on cleaning the port (I'm sure its been posted here before - try searching), it basically says to try and vacuum up some of the crud. I didn't bother, I just used the drill by hand as recommended then sprayed the crap out of it with carb cleaner. While I had it out, I cleaned the throttle body, Idle Air Valve (which was also caked up badly), and the top of the intake manifold had tons of carbon buildup. Ran like a champ afterwards. You don't need to take the throttle body off the intake if you don't want to but it makes it easier to clean it. There is a youtube video on this that I used and that helped me.

 

Thank you.
I think I am beginning to understand that the block only has the porting that connects the porting in the upper manifold down to the EGR Valve. I had started to imagine that the block had a lot of porting to clean out as well as the manifold.

I guess I understand... if I don't please let me know. I will not get to this until next week as the van still runs fine. I want to do the work so I can clear the code and turn of the dash light.

 

 

Thanks,
I was just coming back to ask what sort of cleaner to use. I have seen various recommendations but just as many cautions and was begining to wonder what cleaner wouldn't kill a sensor or plastic if it got loose around the engine top.

 

Sea foam, GM Kleens, Honda upper end cleaner, etc. Doesn't matter to me, I've used whatever is in my shelf

 

I did the job yesterday and everything seems ok. I wish I had known that pulling the air intake duct was the key to getting access to the 2nd bolt on the throttle body... I just couldn't seem to get a tool on that bolt otherwise. None of the tutorials I read made a point of removing the air duct but it was a pain to do until I finally mangled it off. I'm just leaving a note here in case someone else is looking for tips: Pull the air duct off the throttle body. On my 16 year old auto it took some shoving as the rubber and plastic is very stiff. I don't think I would have gotten the throttle body and manifold disconnected otherwise.

 

Glad it worked out for you. Had no problems with any of the bolts without pulling any hoses or ducts. A 3 in extension on the socket worked. Usually a small or stubby flex ratchet sometimes makes it easy. If you pulled off the air duct then it would be good to clean the TB.