OK, i wasn't able to check the EGR converter (do i need A special tool for this?), but now the temperature gauge reads at the maximum possible level. It happened while i was driving, so i came home. It doesn't appear as though car was overheating, but I only went around the block and it's 47 degrees...

What does this mean? My car hasn't been warming all the way up since this started. Will it hurt the car to put off the repair for a while? can i get stranded because of this?