Hi Guys, I have a 2004 Mitsubishi animal with 98k on the clock that has developed an intermittent problem.

The problem first occurred a few months ago where the engine idle was low (300-500RPM), lack of power and starting up from cold would take a minutes before I could rev at all, full throttle would result in hardly any increase in revs.

After reading this site I blanked off the EGR valve (just blanking plates egr valve still connected) and problem solved, however recently the problem has returned. As sometimes she runs great and have no problem but then the power goes and the rough idle starts.

Any one have an idea of what the problem could be?

Thanks Alex

hi mate do u have any eml ?

Hmmmm..... Does it take a while to crank/fire when starting from cold? Will it rev past 3k under load? once it is running and warm does the idle recover to normal (800-1krpm)? When was the last time you changed your fuel filter?

Have you unplugged the electrics from the EGR and taped them up,and removed the vacuum pipe and capped the vacuum pipe.
Sounds like the car is trying to tell you the EGR is blocked.

Whats an eml mate? sorry for my incompetence haha

And no she usually start fine even with the idle problem, and yep rev fine although a bit slower then normal and with a lack of power. and changed the fuel filter recently as well with no improvement.

And no i havnt removed the electrics and vacuum pipe, is this importance even tho it is blanked off?

Eml....engine management light

Yes mate very important, the Engine Management now thinks the EGR is blocked and has put it into limp mode,go and unplug the electrics and the vacuum hose and bung up the rubber vacuum hose and then try and see how it runs.

Is the EGR cooler still fitted,as this is the main reason for blanking the EGR.

There is no warning lights on the dash.
ok will blank the hose and disconnect the wires when i get back home.
And yes the cooler is still fitted, should this also be removed?

the egr will bring up an error code but will not throw up the light

yes i would blank the vac hose disconnect the wires and remove the cooler in its entirity

Ok, thanks for the advice, have blanked the vac hose and diconnect the wires now but havnt removed the cooler yet!

I have also notice that when the engine is playing up on a rough idle then runnung the air con will revert it back to normal, anyone have an idea as to why?

not sure about that one switching on the ac will make the ecu increase the revs to cope with the extra demand the ac compressor needs may be the increase in rmp helps smooth ya tick over out.

do u have a eml on?

nah there is no eml at all just a loss of power and very low idle. Could a sensor be playing up?

could be,

Bloody sensors