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P0401 Severity
Once the vehicle's onboard system no longer detects the issue, most codes will disappear on their own. If your vehicle still has this code, however, it should be properly diagnosed to avoid a more serious problem.
For a proper diagnosis, RepairPal Certified shops have the equipment, tools, and expertise.
Moderate severity codes might not threaten the vehicle's safety or functionality immediately, but you should still get it diagnosed within a reasonable time frame to keep your car running well.
EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) systems are used to reduce the combustion temperature, thus reducing emissions. If the engine control module (PCM) does not detect the amount of flow requested from the EGR, it will set code P0401.
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OBD-II Code P0401 is defined as a Insufficient EGR Flow
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Restriction in the EGR passages, usually caused by carbon buildup
The EGR Valve is defective
Lack of proper vacuum or electrical signal to the EGR valve
Malfunctioning EGR Vacuum supply solenoid
Lack of proper EGR system feedback to the computer from the:
NOx gases are formed when the combustion temperature is too high (2500° F). EGR systems are used to reduce the combustion temperature, thus reducing NOx formation.
The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system recycles a small amount of exhaust gas from the exhaust system (usually no more than 10 percent) and mixes it with the intake manifold air entering into the combustion chambers. The addition of this inert (or non-combustible) exhaust gas limits the peak combustion temperatures to a range that is below 2500° F, where the formation of nitrogen oxide (NOx) is know to occur. In some cases where the engine is pinging and/or knocking badly from a severe lack of EGR flow, misfires can take place which allow raw hydrocarbons (HC) to be released from the tailpipe.
When the computer sets a code P0401, it means that the EGR flow monitoring criteria has not been met. The EGR monitoring criteria are a set of test values and are usually run during at least two different driving conditions—steady speed freeway driving and steady speed city driving.
The engine control module determines proper EGR flow in many ways:
The code P0401 is often not a problem with the EGR valve itself. Rather, the EGR system is not allowing enough EGR to flow back into the combustion process to sufficiently cool the peak firing temperatures. Once the code P401 has been retrieved with a scan tool, the freeze frame data should be documented and analyzed in order to determine what engine conditions were present when the code was triggered. It is recommended that the vehicle be driven in such a way as to duplicate the code setting conditions with a data streaming scan tool connected, so the behavior of the EGR actuating components and feedback sensors can be monitored.
If the NOx goes down when the EGR valve is raised (this test is most commonly performed on a Dynamometer), it is likely that one or more EGR passages or cylinders are plugged or very restricted, making the EGR only go to one or two cylinders. When this occurs, you may notice misfires and even have misfire codes along with the P0401. This can occur on vehicles that use EGR "runners" for each cylinder.