I can't seem to find a stray plug on the 03.

 

it looks something to do with a vacuum not entirely sure tho.. maybe someone will reread this and answer!

 

So here is the new million dollar question? What is this!?

 

oh god my engine looks bad.... sniffle sniffle

 

Looks like an EGR sensor, not sure though.

 

My EGR doesn't look like that though.

 

My EGR doesn't look like that either. I am pretty sure that it is an EGR valve though. I see that metal tube that appears to hook into the exhaust manifold. I am thinking that 2000 Montes are different than 01 and up. The electrical connectors that go to my egr valve go into a large wire harness. Maybe the '00 didn't splice into the wire harness and used the connector (like in the pics) and the later models still have the connector but it is not used and was just not taken out of the equation and it is still present. Maybe it was not cost effective for GM to have it fully removed.

 

If this this is the case, its a mid year change in the EGR system, because my '00 does not have the extra piece to the EGR either (the left bit attached to the Engine cover bracket). Perhaps there were two EGR configurations in these cars.

 

I see your EGR with the loop for your engine cover

 

What is the A.I.R system? Only reason I ask is when looking through the fuse box in the engine compartment, I noticed that there is a spot for the relay but no relay in there. Looks like it has something to do with emissions. Did these cars either come with the EGR or A.I.R systems for emissions but they both do the same thing?