EGR Vacuum Regulator Solenoid
WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 32 other vehicles, including the 2002 Mercury Sable, 2002 Mercury Mountaineer, 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis, 2002 Mercury Cougar, and 2002 Lincoln Town Car. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
Vacuum regulator solenoid is an electromagnetic device used to regulate vacuum supply to the EGR valve. EGR vacuum regulator solenoid contains a coil which magnetically controls the position of a disk to regulate the vacuum. As the duty cycle to coil increases, vacuum signal passed through the EGR vacuum regulator solenoid to the EGR valve also increases. Vacuum not directed to the EGR is vented to atmosphere. At zero percent duty cycle (no electrical signal applied), EGR vacuum regulator solenoid allows some vacuum to pass, but not enough to open EGR valve.