Vauxhall Meriva egr valve??

Hi I have a meriva 1.6 life 53 reg paid 4k for it at 22000 miles had it for 6 months had numerous problems since buying. Recently had car juddering but showing no faults then exhausts emissions light came on took into local garage and reading came up egr valve fault.
He did a quick check said hopefully its just the valve that needs replacing would be about 250-300 quid. But if the problem is worse its gonna start getting costly. He put some sort of oil down the valve the light went off and it drove as normal but he did say it was only a short time measure.
What I want to know is how much is it to replace valve?
What happens if more than a replacement is needed?
I have to top-up oil every 2-3 weeks is this normal? Or anything to do with the valve?
Also and i do know i have been conned when i bought it but when i first saw the car on the forecourt my brother took it for a test drive and the light was on then. We asked what it was he said its no problem i'll get it sorted when i picked it up 3 days later the light had gone. Could the garage have done the same temporary measure to save fixing it? So was the car fit for purpose when I bought it?
Any help is much appreciated, Laura

Hi there egr valve is a very common fault with most vauxhalls and also very easy to fit if you need a how to do guide let me know you can pick one up from vx them selfs for bout 100 or ebay for around 50 or even better a scrappy for 20. and the oil how much is it taking vx say anything up to 1 litre of oil for every 1000 miles there is also a self diagnostics you can do which will tell you what fault you have. Here is how you do it
might work on yours might not let me know

With keys out of ignition -
press both brake & accelerator pedal at same time and keep them pressed to the floor....

insert key and turn to 2nd click - ignition on but DONT START THE ENGINE

Keep both pedals pressed throughout the procedure....

the EML will flash just like previous models using the paperclip

You will probably find the light flashes 10 times first then a pause then another number, a pause, another number, a pause then another number of flashes.

I say 10 times for the first one as 10 flashes = a ZERO on the fault code and most engine related faults range from P0001 to P0999

If for instance u have the following sequence

10 flashes
pause
3 flashes
pause
10 flashes
pause
10 flashes

this equals 10,3,10,10 which in turn equates to 0,3,0,0 or P0300 which in turn is "Multiple cylinder misfire"

10 is the only number that becomes another number
1-9 flashes remain a 1-9 code if that makes any sense

Have a go and let me know how u get on.... if u cant find the cause of the code - do a google with the words "Vauxhall and Pxxxx" (whatever the code is) and see what it comes up with.

I've heard that on some Vauxhalls you can remove the EGR valve, fasten the valve up somewhere but leave it connected to the ECU. Then fit a blanking plate over where the ECU valve goes and it will solve this kind of problem.

Apparently you need to leave the EGR valve connected otherwise a fault code will be logged on the ECU. Also after doing this you would need to get the EML light switched off.

As I said this is just something I have read about, I don't know if it actually works and it may affect other things such as your emmisions or fuel consumption.

Click this link for the Vauxhall Mechanics forum, you'll get some good advice there.

or you could just clean it

i wish i could dupe people into putting an egr valve on for £150-200 labour!!!!
dont bother with a second hand one laura- there a £100 quid and they are as common as dogshit, takes 5mins if that to fit. burning oil is a little more suspect, get a garage you can trust that sounds like he knows what he's talking about.

personally id get rid if its burning the oil and isnt leaking it on your drive

kind regards