Code 71...EGR System, Is this a bad code to get? *now with pic* Options

[95GTCelica]

O.K...After getting over the intial shock of finding out that I only need a paper clip to check the code on the check engine light I immediatly got on here to find out what this means. I got a code 71 and looked it up to find out that it means something is wrong with my EGR System. What could be wrong with the system? Is it costly? Should I be worried?

Still can't believe that the paper clip trick worked. lol saved me $80 at the mechanic.

This post has been edited by 95GTCelica: Oct 30, 2007 - 8:55 PM

[95GTCelica]

thanks for the reply... Well i started it up this morning and the CEL didnt come on till about five min later but it stayed on for the whole trip. Then after sitting there for about seven hours I started it back up and the CEL never came on. I got home and decided to break out the manual and check it out. When I popped the top to the EGR vacume modulator I noticed the filter was pretty dirty and almost disintegrated in my hand when I tried to pull it out. It looked like this...



Looks like it needs to be replaced...Should I? Or just leave it alone because it looks like some people would rather just not have this system because "they believe EGR reduces power output".

I mean i dont really like the idea of something under the hood not working properly.