Emissions-Vacuum limiter question

[Blaise]

Hey guys. In going through my engine and cleaning up the intake, I discovered that one of the vacuum lines had been blocked with a ball bearing. This is part of the EGR emissions system. Interestingly, I passed smog without trouble.

Here are a few photos of the part:

<table><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/blaisedesco ... site"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_UZQuuBHQvx4/TBfTX ... estion.jpg" width="160" height="160"></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/blaisedesco ... >Emissions question</a></td></tr></table>

According to the EGR removal article here, this is part #8….the vacuum limiter.

“This part lives near the oil filler cap. It's a mechanical device responsible for holding up the idle under abrupt release of the gas pedal. It will disappear in a lambda conversion.”

http://www.firstfives.org/faq/ljet/lamb ... 0Equipment

On my California car, the plumbing for this is a bit different, but I imagine that the function remains the same. In my case, the large (vacuum?) line that feeds into the throttle body, also T's off into an air slide valve that is part of the temperature sensor assembly. I am still learning and not sure how all this works.

Do you guys have any idea why this line was blocked off? Should I keep it blocked?

I could experiment with it. Based on what I read, it sounds like it only controls the throttle when the gas pedal is abruptly released.