check engine codes

I got a check engine code for a egr system fault. I have a 1992 22re engine. Anyone have any tips for things to look for in the egr system? The damn egr valve is expensive. I want to see if it could be another piece of the system before I buy a new valve. The engine idles high all the time. When the idle does come down I have real bad throttle response and a choppy idle.....help please........

hey i'm a toyota master tech out in ohio, i would first put vacuum to the egr valve and see if it stalls the engine, if it does take the vacuum off the valve and restart the engine if it will still idle that means the vavle is good , i would then move on to the egr vaccum switching valve and see if it is operating, its a twelve volt vsv, put voltage to it and see if you can blow through the valve the valve should be able to open and close if it doesn't thats you problem, make sure its not a gas temp problem email me the code maybe i will be able to help more