1997 q45 valve cover gasket job?

[NickY33]

So I really need to get my VCGs replaced, my cars leaking up a storm on my garage floor, I need some advice guys!

I went to a couple of local shops just to get a rough estimate on how much it would cost to have both of them replaced-the average was 350-350 bucks... at that rate, I was considering trying to do it myself and save a S*** ton of money.

I have never personally messed with the engine myself, but I have a buddy who was going to help me replace them- I searched online to try finding a step by step procedure on replacing them, no luck :/ Anyone on here have any suggestions on the best way to approach this job or know of any online resources? I would greatly appreciate it!

Nick

[Q451990]

I would check out the factory service manual first... www.nicoclub.com/FSM/

Also, I would use OEM gaskets...

Good luck!

Heath

[qship96]

$350 is actually a pretty low price to have the job done by a pro. Either way,be sure to replace the sparkplugs as part of the job to save hours of future labor.......

[NickY33]

thanks! I checked the service manual, didn't find anything useful, but my last resort might just be biting the bullet and forking over the dough...I dont know the last time the spark plugs have been changed, the car recently misfires every so often... spark plugs DEFINITELY are going to be changed, i dont know when the previous owner changed them or if at all, maybe that will help?

[BadQ45t]

that is NOT a sh#$ ton of money, frankly that is a steal provided this is a real qualified mechanic. The issue is there is a ton of plastic to remove to get in there to begin with. I agree you should also do the spark plugs and you should seriously consider the coil packs while your in there if this is a car you plan to keep for a long time.

[NickY33]

its a good deal but granted, the stuff adds up. Going by the shop tomorrow to get an estimate on doing the gaskets and spark plugs all together-Ive only owned the car for a year and a half, bought it at 155k miles, currently has 178k, for the most part it runs fine, previous owner had all the maintenance receipts for it. I really hope to keep it a while, the coilpacks are going to have to wait for now though (college budget unfortunately)

[S13xCrazy]

There are times that I feel like I am one of the only guys that get down and dirty on VH41's

Don't be scared to do it, it's a piece of cake. I think it took me an hour to do it total.

1) Remove main engine cover - 4 10MM bolts
2) Remove passenger side engine cover - 4 10mm bolts
3) Remove coilpack plugs
4) remove the 8mm bolts holding them on
5) Pull coilpacks out
6) Unbolt all of the 10mm bolts holding it on
7) Pull off any hoses going to the valvecover (my car is covered in snow right now or I would go check it out)
8) Remove valve cover
9) Put new gaskets in, use a little ultra black gasket maker where needed
10) Put together.

The only hard part is getting the gasket to stay in the valvecover while you put it on. I always use a little ultra black on the valvecover side to make it stick

The VH41 is a super simple to work on - They gave us TONS of room in the bay!

[3Q Jay]

vcg on fgy33 is cake compared to g50 and of course i have done both.

do pass side first to give yourself confidence.

you won't get the driver's side off unless you remove the upper plenum or cheap out and cut a bracket off.

of course, i recco to remove the upper plenum (have the upper to lower gasket on hand and some vacuum hose) so that you can clean it, the tb, and the egr tube real good.

[NickY33]

wow! thanks for the info and advice guys, im thinking about knocking out the spark plugs and knock sensors as well with a friend of mine next weekend, any major suggestions for that?

[S13xCrazy]

vcg on fgy33 is cake compared to g50 and of course i have done both.

do pass side first to give yourself confidence.

you won't get the driver's side off unless you remove the upper plenum or cheap out and cut a bracket off.

of course, i recco to remove the upper plenum (have the upper to lower gasket on hand and some vacuum hose) so that you can clean it, the tb, and the egr tube real good.

Don't mean to butt heads, but you don't NEED to remove the upper plenum. You just have a little less room to play with. I did not pull mine off when I did it the first time.

[NickY33]

so for the last 3 and a half hours, ive successfully taken off the passenger side spark plugs, was going to try taking off both sides, but now im working on the drivers side... oh my god... its a nightmare! what is the best way to even get to the valve covers to remove them and take the spark plugs out!?


***after putting everything back together, started my car, and the damn TCS and SLIP light came on... havent tried all the remedies yet, i know my alternator and battery are fine, im going to try re connecting the battery tomorrow

[oldmako]

What an interesting thread. Sorry I'm late to the game but I just got out and as you know they don't allow us to use computers in the big house.

A few dimwitted and entirely unnecessary comments....

Original Poster says...."I have never personally messed with the engine myself", then says a qualified mech can do the entire big, messy, nasty job for 350. If you said "grab a book and an ipod and RUN the thing to the mechanic. Sit inside, stay warm and clean, enjoy some relaxation and let him d!ck with all that it entails and have the added benefit of knowing that HE knows what he's doing and has all the tools and experience necessary that that it won't STILL be leaking a month later for....350? Then go to the head of the class!
This is a no brainer to me.

Three and half hours later, only the EASY starboard side is done.....Hmmmm. 350.

ONE busted coil clip, stripped 10mm bolt, improperly installed and or torqued spark plug, and / or thrown code would easily have justified the 350.

Maybe a pair of skilled guys could do both sides in an hour.

Back to Jack Daniels.

[NickY33]

Oh yeah, definitely a no brainer, but i just couldnt spend that money on it knowing that i could try doing it myself. I didnt screw anything up THAT bad, car still runs great; the TCS and SLIP is the only aftermath. As everyone else has said, its apparently not that hard of a job, i know this. If i had a little more time i would try it again, but at this rate, im probably going to take it to the shop. Thanks for the advice.

[oldmako]

Not Raggin on you Dude,

But, this isn't a one hour job and you're working with aluminum. There's a lot of shinola going on under that hood and ALL of it is expensive.

My back would hurt for a week after that job, so for me....I'd go out and hold up the Mini Mart and get my hands on the 350. Screw up just one of the coil pack connectors and you're in a world of hurt. That engine is old and all that stuff is terribly brittle.

Plus, I have the benefit of having read a mess of threads on these cars in my 5 years of ownership and there are plenty of peeps who do more harm than good, or at least accomplish little after an afternoon of wrenching. I think very hard before I get Cro-Mag with mine.

Enjoy the car. They are sublime when right. Mine has almost 200K and I still love it.

[NickY33]

good stuff man, car is at the shop as i type this, was able to talk to my guy and talk him down to THREE hundred even, spark plugs on the drivers side and valve cover gaskets on both sides, AND clean out the throttle body included! DEFINITELY worth it! cant wait to get it back tomorrow!

[NickY33]

greeeaat. so got the car back, and the TCS and SLIP light are off, and supposedly everythings good to go, BUT when im at stop lights, the car idles at about 500 rpms and shudders, the rpm gauge moves very slightly, goddamit problem after problem!

[naes]

greeeaat. so got the car back, and the TCS and SLIP light are off, and supposedly everythings good to go, BUT when im at stop lights, the car idles at about 500 rpms and shudders, the rpm gauge moves very slightly, goddamit problem after problem!

Did you get this problem fixed? The rpm problem I'm speaking of.
I need to get my VCG replaced also. Burning oil! I need to call up some local shops or maybe try the dealer?

[NickY33]

unfortunately not yet, going to get more info this week, its annoying the s*** out of me! car LAGS like no other too despite a throttle body cleaning and new spark plugs...

[naes]

There are times that I feel like I am one of the only guys that get down and dirty on VH41's

Don't be scared to do it, it's a piece of cake. I think it took me an hour to do it total.

1) Remove main engine cover - 4 10MM bolts
2) Remove passenger side engine cover - 4 10mm bolts
3) Remove coilpack plugs
4) remove the 8mm bolts holding them on
5) Pull coilpacks out
6) Unbolt all of the 10mm bolts holding it on
7) Pull off any hoses going to the valvecover (my car is covered in snow right now or I would go check it out)
8) Remove valve cover
9) Put new gaskets in, use a little ultra black gasket maker where needed
10) Put together.

The only hard part is getting the gasket to stay in the valvecover while you put it on. I always use a little ultra black on the valvecover side to make it stick

The VH41 is a super simple to work on - They gave us TONS of room in the bay!

would this work for a 99 Q? i called several local shops around my area & i've been hearing different things. They told me they would have to also pull off the upper intake or the plenum or the throttle body. Do any of these things need to come off for the job to get done? someone lmk asap! bringing my car in next week to get this done & don't wanna over pay.

[famaskillr]

I just started my VCG replacement. And its not just pulling a few bolts. On the driver side i disconnected 11 plugs. Go ahead and pull the whole intake system out. All the way down to the air filter carage. Take the intake off and you still cant get the driver side off. There is a bracket towards the front dri verside of the intake... Bolted from the bottom... With steel vacuum line infront of it... And this is where i have made it with my limited tool base. I will update in a few days on progress. As alot of the engine is aluminum, im no rush. I am also replacing the control arm bushings as 10 years of caked oil has destroyed them(liquid filled). Fun fun..