1997 5.0 erg valve.

[997 xltawdshawn]

Hey yall
this is my first post...im.posting because I really dig this rig and want to fix it!
I have a 1997 ford explorer xlt awd 5.0.
I've been getting a CEL...the local shop (not the greatest) cleared the code and told me it was a catalyst issue caused by an exhaust leak on the passenger manifold...the exhaust leak is very audible.
I was told it wouldn't be an issue until it came time to smog it as I'm in california. they also mentioned a leaky rear main (wet not dripping) and a coolant leak at the passenger head.
well...the truck has been getting me around just fine. I regularly change the oil which it doesn't use (rear main?) but coolant is clearly going somewhere.
last week I noticed a rough idle after cold start, this went away momentarily and I continued on without incident. a few days later I noticed a slight hesitation around 45mph...only occasionally
yesterday I was driving and the check engine light began flashing...then stopped. so now it's flashing intermittently...
I won't be able to get the code read until tomorrow but I'm researching the truck and I'm thinking it could be the ERG valve and the hard line from the exhaust manifold that leads to the ERG?
any advice at all would be helpful...take it to the stealership??

 

[MDmounty]

I had an exhaust leak that was popping a code turns out I had a cheap header gasket that blew I put a new one in and it sounded much better with no codes. You could grab a couple adjustable wrenches and tighten down the egr tube if that is loose

 

[cbusse92]

If you do replace the valve, prep by spraying PB Blaster, Deep Creep, Kroil, etc. several days beforehand. Just did a manifold on my 97 5.0 today. Decided to do the EGR valve and tube while I was at it because they were both original with 150,000+ miles on them and I didn't want to fight the tube. Well I sprayed all the manifold studs and bolts every day for a week with deep creep. Didn't have an issue with any of them. Got to the EGR valve bolts and snapped one off. So don't be like me. Spray those bolts well every day if you're planning ahead of time. Now I'm in the process of finding a throttle body to intake manifold elbow because I cannot for the life of me extract the broken bolt. Luckily someone an hour from me has one up on ebay for $25, so I will have that tomorrow. But it's my number 3 vehicle, so I can afford to be without it for a bit.
Hope you have better luck than I did!