Oh, what a day...

[SolidState]

I decided I was going to change the VSS today with no if, ands or buts....

well, I tried.

I started from the top. Iknow several people here swear you can't do it, but another knowledgable member said to try it. I got the intake off (first time), and dropped one of the idle air bolts down one of the intake runners. Easy enough to retrieve though. After wrestling with the intake and getting it off, Ijumped up and had a look. I removed the manifold heat sheild, and was able to feel my way around, but after working at it for an hour or so, I decided it wouldn't work. HOWEVER, if my car didn't have all the EGR junk, the situation would have been ALOT different, and I am sure that I could have done it from the top.

So, under the car I crawled. I already have repacement bolts and gaskets ready. Surprisingly, three of the four bolts on the manifold to y-pipe flanges came off with relative ease, after a healthy dose of liquid wrench. BUT, the forth one has presented a bit of a problem. Not only will if not budge, but I managed to round the nut. I have NO IDEA what to do know, so I put it all back together.

In the end, I worked on it for about 10 hours, and all I got accomplished was a fuel filter change.

Now, there is a known problem with the IAB and it has surfaced. Sopme idling trouble, and surging when at speed. But it is intermittent. Plus, my intake gaskets are bad...

So, in the end, I didn't get my VSS replaced. I am a little bummed.

Any ideas on how to deal with this rounded nut? Are the manifold studs hard to replace?

 

[SHO_Driver]

That wasn't my car but I feel for ya. I usually heat up a nut like that with a propane torch before trying to loosen. If you have a torch, heat that sucker up then put a visegrip on tightly. Tap on that, it should open.

 

[Mike Kopstain]

If the idle problem just surfaced, it's the intake gaskets. As far as the VSS goes, I'm sorry you couldn't get in through the top. At least you got the intake off and on without trouble. It's much easier the 2nd, 3rd, 4th,10th, etc times.

 

[SolidState]

I thought it might have been the intake gaskets...it runs alright, just when you turn it on, it seems to acts a little funny...like it idled TOO high after I while..

I really tried from the top, mike. But the exhaust manifold is right there. Everything was blind, but like I said, if the EGR stuff was there, it would be a breeze.

But things look good from the bottom....after I cut the bolt off and then replace the stud.

Thanks alot

 

[poissonverte]

They guy i saw who did mine went through the wheel well, and from underneath.. Needless to say he had a nice lift to work with..

 

[PAracer]

I did the VSS a couple of months ago. Went in from the bottom. Hope I never have to do that again. I have also heard that it can be done through the right wheel well, try that.