1995 Nissan Maxima - Replace valve cover gasket, EGR Valve, hoses, clean IACV

[NutriaforBreakfast]

Project was to get rid of 14 year old hoses and stop valve coveroil leaks. I dont want to break down somewhere and have to takeoff the intake manifold to replace a hose if at all possible.

Was able to change out the valve cover gaskets on my car. Thankgoodness for that 8' long 2x6. Otherwise my buddy couldnt have gotten hishands between the the plenum and the firewall without laying overthe engine with the board. There are 2 bolts for the mounting bracketand 2 bolts for the EGR tube (there are also some fat washers to install)

Are there any special tools to take out those support bracket bolts? After my hands heal, I am taking on the 98 Maxima ( wife's). Also hasanyone been able to tighen up the back valve cover bolts by the firewall without removing the plenum?

My car started idling great after I cleaned out my IACV. There wasa lot of tar and crud in that thing. It was the first time I cleaned it.

The morons at the auto shop said I needed a new engine in 2006 becauselow compression made it idle bad. They didnt even try to check this device.Whats funny about this is the resistance /voltage readings on the multimeter were ok on the IACV but it didnt work right because of the tar.

Replaced the EGR valve and gasket even though the old one was still working. This is not easy to do. When you do replace it, make sure theEGR pipe to the intake manifold squares up ok or you will have to loosenthe 1 1/8" bolt again by the EGR valve.

Replaced the PVC valve and the grommet going into the valve cover.Be sure to replace the grommet while the valve cover is off. I nearlydropped it back on the valves and I had the cover bolted back on.

The emmissions hose connecting the valve covers was totally brittle!! I never saw a hose this worn out. Replaced it with heater hose even though the hose is crimped about 15% rather than totally open.

The fuel hose they sold me at the Nissan dealership fit on there tight-really too tight cause I bent the fuel rail a little bit trying to pull in onboth ends. Next time I will take off the fuel rail I think or find a little bigger hose.

kd

[maxhopper]

Good job tackling all that!

There are 2 bolts for the mounting bracketand 2 bolts for the EGR tube (there are also some fat washers to install)

Are there any special tools to take out those support bracket bolts? After my hands heal, I am taking on the 98 Maxima ( wife's). Also hasanyone been able to tighen up the back valve cover bolts by the firewall without removing the plenum?

I used a ratcheting wrench to get off the bolts on the back of the plenum. Stick a finger behind them to keep them from falling down. It's tricky a hell getting the EGR gasket and washers back in, it just takes patience and a good bit of time.

As for tightening the bolts on the valve cover without removing the plenum, there's only one way I can think of. That would be to remove the bolts from the front and rear motor mounts and use a jack under neath to tilt the top of the engine forward. It probably wouldn't be a whole lot of room, but it could be doable.

[NutriaforBreakfast]

Thanks for the suggestion. Maybe I can invent a tool for thevalve cover installation/take off. The windshield is kind of oldand scratched so may be I could break it out and remove the"cowl" (supporting the windshied wipers)! That would be abetter angle to get to those bolts.I would beout $50 for the insurance replacement then.

Special thanks to my friend Craig who helped me with thisproject. He hates my Maxima but loves his 87 Ford Thunderbird.His car though has zero zip compared to mine though. He keepsforgetting he gave up his transmission at about 100K where mine keepsgoing strong. As long as he can get to something easy he'll keep it.

I was hoping the 98 might just need tightening rather thanreplacing.