It’s incredibly straightforward. Whatever your garage has quoted, if you own a 2001 Saturn SC2 or similar model and you need the EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) valve replaced, do it yourself. In my case, the replacement part at Canadian Tire cost about $240. And the garage – Active Green & Ross – wanted $400, plus tax.

I’m very grateful to Youtube user thef150, who made and posted a video on how to change the part. He does a great job of showing and explaining what to do. If you’re going to do the replacement, watch this video before you go to the automotive store for parts. He’s got tips on what you should pick up to help you do the best job possible.

Here are some photos of the replacement I did. The EGR is tucked in the middle. It’s the component with the wires running out its top; a plastic clip holds the connectors together:

EGR with its cables disconnected. Various pipes have been removed to make access to it easier:

Components lay in wait (air filter and pipe leading to the throttle body):

Old EGR valve:

Where the EGR valve hooks into the exhaust system:

Old vs New:

New vs Old, from another angle. Jetta and Saturn in the background: