Ive had my share of old vehicles with EGR's. yes, if the pintle does not close it will cause terrible idling and stalling. Is that's wrong with yours, only you can say. Far as it leaking vac, I just cant recall, but seem to think some will not hold vac using something like a mighty vac, it just doesn't create enough to hold one open. Their designed to open during high vac situations like when the throttle plate is almost closed like cruising 65 with hardly and gas pedal. I seem some be able to remove the EGR and clean the seat/pintle from its carbon so its fully seats when its supposed to.