P2143: Exhaust Gas Recirculation Vent Control Circuit/Open
What to do
Expect a rough idle, hesitation, or smoke — recirculated exhaust arriving when the engine wants clean air. Worth attending to, because it is the sort of fault that gets attributed to the engine generally rather than to one valve failing to close.
What this code means
A fault in the circuit controlling the EGR vent valve. On a vacuum-operated recirculation system the vent is what lets the actuator release — vacuum pulls the valve open, and the vent admits air to let the spring close it again.
That makes the vent the half of the system responsible for the valve shutting, which is the direction that matters most. An EGR valve that will not open costs emissions compliance; an EGR valve that will not close costs driveability, because recirculated exhaust arriving when the engine wants clean air produces a rough idle, hesitation and smoke. So a vent fault tends to be felt rather than merely stored.
On purely electrical EGR systems there is no vent, and this code will not appear — which is itself a useful confirmation of which kind of system is fitted.
Likely causes
Start here
- Failed EGR vacuum solenoid · moderate
- Disconnected or leaking vacuum hose · easy
- Open circuit in solenoid wiring · moderate
Less common
- Corroded or loose connector · easy
- Stuck EGR valve · moderate
Symptoms
Components involved
Information, not instruction
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Have anything you intend to act on checked by a trained person against the manufacturer's own procedure for your vehicle. Nothing here replaces that procedure.
Community experience
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