How to Replace an Exhaust Manifold
- 1). Open the hood and locate the exhaust manifold(s). First locate the valve covers then look directly below and you will see the manifold bolted to the side of the engine.
- 2). Loosen and remove the nuts that hold the heat shield on the manifold(s) using a ratchet and socket. This step does not apply to all vehicles, some do not have a heat shield.
- 3). Loosen the nuts that are holding the manifold(s) to the engine. The number of bolts will vary depending on the vehicle.
- 4). Pull the manifold(s) away from the engine.
- 5). Loosen and remove the nuts that are holding the manifolds(s) to the exhaust downpipe. These bolts are at the bottom of the manifold. There will be two or three bolts, depending on the vehicle.
- 6). Remove the manifold from the engine compartment. Make certain to remove the gaskets as well; there will be one on the engine and one where the manifold meets the down pipe.
- 7). Place a new gasket on the engine by sliding the studs through the corresponding holes in the gasket. There will one gasket per manifold.
- 8). Place a new gasket on the downpipe by sliding it on the tube. This is a donut gasket, so it will be properly seated by the pressure of bolting the manifold down.
- 9). There will be one gasket per manifold.
- 10
Place the new manifold(s) on the engine by sliding the studs on the engine through the corresponding holes in the manifold(s). Hand-tighten the nuts on the manifold(s) - 11
Push the manifold studs through the holes in the down pipe(s). Place the nuts on the studs and hand-tighten them. - 12
Torque the nuts on the down pipe(s) to manufacturer specification using a torque wrench. These specifications are listed in the repair manual. - 13
Torque the nuts that hold the manifold(s) to the engine to manufacturer specifications using the torque wrench. These specifications are listed in the repair manual. - 14
Start the vehicle and listen for any exhaust leaks.
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