Removing air intake manifold

[Slicedbread]

I would like to know if removing the intake manifold is pretty tough work. I have a 98 Dodge avenger v6 and I got some check engine light codes that pointed to "multiple cylinder misfiring detected" and "cylinder no. 1 misfire detected" which is a sign that the sparks need to be replaced. Unfortunately half of my (and cylinder 1) plugs are under the intake manifold so some sort of removal is required; a nearby mechanic quoted that it would be about $190 just for labor (2 hours) which seems a little long when looking at the repair manual. I was wondering if this was two hard of a project to attempt for a newby or is it doable? The parts are readily available for around $100 (wires, distributor cap, plugs).

I do want to learn how to do this stuff but I would also like to keep my car.

 

[OS]

kind of a freakish setup just to get at plugs.

it depends if your car has coolant flowing through the manifold and/or paper gaskets.

Even with all those though, it mainly just adds more time/labor/pita.

ed, you may also need to remove the intake snorkel/throttle body.

ed again, also you need to find out if the fuel injector/rail/lines are on the manifold piece you need to remove.

you should buy one of those $15 haynes/chilton manuals to get some pointers.

 

[Slicedbread]

I do have the haynes manual, but I as I have never done this before I fear I will f' up.

As far components it says remove:
Air intake duct, accelerator cable, cruise control cable.
All hoses,vacuum lines, wiring harnesses and cable brackets from throttle body and intake manifold.
Remove securing support bolts
Disconnect EGR Pipe
Remove manifold
Cover passages
Remove traces of gasket material.

The highlighted step seems a little vague and troublesome to me.

 

[nakedfrog]

Same thing on my Chrysler, gotta take it off to do the plugs. Argh. I'm just gonna pay someone.

 

[giantpinkbunnyhead]

That seems like standard operating procedure for removing an intake manifold. It's not difficult... just a matter of re-connecting everyting you disconnected and on many cars everything only fits in one place. But the thing to watch out for is the gasket... usually removing the IM ruins the gasket and will require you to have another on-hand, and preferably some gasket sealer, unless your particular manifold has ring seals which alleviate the need for a gasket.

You can't really f anything up, unless you manage to drop something down the intake openings when you have the manifold off. Thats why I always put masking tape over the exposed openings.

Or, find a buddy who knows how it works and "watch and learn".


oh yeah, to change the plugs on the left cylinder bank, I either have to remove my supercharger or my left front tire and wheelwell guard. So, it could always be worse!

 

[Raduque]

You have to remove the intake on most FWD cars with V6 engines, unfortunately. Slicedbread: label EVERYTHING you take off the throttle body and intake. They make colored caps that you can put over the vacuum lines so you can remember what goes where.

 

[mwmorph]

Its not hard and its a little bit hard to fvck up too bad.

Jut look at whats connected to the manifold. remove them so yuo can move it.

1. Unbolt the thing and all supports. You may have to unbolt the Throttlebody and remove the intake first.
2. Unbolt the EGr, save the metal gasket.
3. Try to lift off the Mnifold. This way you can tell which hoses and connectors you have to unplug. You probably dont have to unplug all of them.
4. unplug hoses and connectors. label them Masking Tape + Sharpie otherwise its a real pita ifyou had to remove a lot of cables.
5. Lift off intake manifold. While youre at it get a new intake manifold gasket. and put it on there, not needed but nice to just replace it since you wont remove ti too often.