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I (we...) did the full " intake refresh" after seeing a fault message for the rear knock sensor. On the immediate schedule was a dash to NorCal (from SoCal at the time) for a SITP event. I managed to change the knock sensor in situ, but sacrificed a little extra blood and flesh in the process. The evidence at that time was that -all- the wiring under the intake was in about the same condition (deteriorated), almost undoubtedly due to oil and cleaners used in the valley. Then subsequently saw a hall sensor fault, and a decision was made to do the whole thing. For the most part the rubber hoses under the manifold were due for replacement, based on the softening/swelling observed during the rear knock sensor replacement.
In parallel, Rob & Greg were developing a powder-coat color that closely matches the original silver intake manifold color, so the stars aligned closely. Mine was suffering from the typical paint flaking and discoloration on the intake and cam covers, and was ready for restoration/recovery. I had no coolant leaks but the oil filler was dribbling into the valley from a leaky base and/or hoses.
Also in parallel, the tailpipe NOx numbers were slowly increasing, a sign that there were blockage or spray pattern problems with individual injectors.
The car was almost twenty five years old at the time of the work. It led a very sheltered (literally) life, in garage and underground parking almost exclusively. The fuel injection harnesses are still very flexible, although the wiring laying in oil and cleaners in the valley had suffered significantly.
With a long cold, dark winter coming up, the decision for me was mostly "Why not?" The result was an attractive engine bay that held fewer mysteries to me. And was presumably going to be more reliable - if I didn't mess anything up. I thought it possible that something had failed and I would find missing power, but apparently everything was pretty good - except the flappy butterfly valve, which had seized closed in gooey deposits. Of course, there were rubber and plastic things that looked like imminent trouble. Oh, the injectors were in need of cleaning, for sure.
If you have no greater issues to address, have the time, have about $2000 to spare, I think it's a good project. I have little mechanical experience, but I'm naturally slow and careful. Having a car that matched Dwayne's tutorial may have been required.
11-13-2017, 08:50 PM
