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CEL light came on last night on the way home. Get in the driveway, open hood and there is coolant spewing out of the iac. One of the bolts holding the iac to throttle body vibrated loose over the last 3 days and wham bam...coolant leak. So I tightened it back up (time for loctite), checked code...16 - EGR switch....cleared the codes. Took it for a little run...seemed fine. But I knew it wasn't enough of a run to fully know if it was good.
On the way to work, cel again. Pulled over just to make sure the bolt was still good, it was. no leaks or anything. The light went out, came on, went out...a couple times.
Anyway, so I'm not sure how important this is, after reading a bunch of posts I guess I dont really have to replace the egr, I can start by cleaning it (maybe just got coolant in it...the plug I mean?) But if that doesn't help, I can block it? How difficult is this?
Ahhh...I love my car...if it didn't have so many problems, what would I do with all my spare time? lol

If the last code is still the EGR, yes, it could be coolant on the connector. Just get some electronic cleaner at your part store, and give it a good spray.

And yeah...looks like the guy who sold it to you didn't do you any favors...did he? But, on a positive note (a few years ago I've been right where you are, with a Protege), once you finish fixing all those little gremlins, you're gonna be left with a car that won't give you a single problem for years.

Umm...stupid question...where exactly is my egr valve? I cant see it...but im not even sure what it looks like.

The only stupid question is the one that goes unspoken.

As for stupid answers... I don't know where it is either.

The EGR valve looks pretty much like a mushroom (somewhat similar to the fuel pressure regulator), and it's located behind the engine, not so far from the brake booster, physically attached to the intake manifold. You will easily find it because it's connected with a rigid steel pipe to the exhaust manifold.
On top of it you will see a connector, for the EGR position sensor (sometimes called the "lift" sensor). I'd recommend you test that sensor before replacing the whole valve.

I suggest you try a cleaner like SeaFoam and make sure your using High test gas so as to help clean the EGR. My car went from crappy idle and weak acceleration to running great after 2 SeaFoam treatments. You can YouTube SeaFoam to see how to use it. I waited till a light wind was going in my next door neighbors direction then SeaFoamed my engine. Ya I don't like my next door neighbor. Cleaning the EGR manually will work for sure.

I've read alot on here about seafoam but can't find it. Where do I get it from?

nevermind, I found it.
I'll be doing that tonight probably then.
Thanks for the tip!
H