Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Check Engine light and intake manifold gaskets

I just paid $116 to have the dealer tell me why my check engine light was on. They said that my intake manifold gaskets (upper and lower) were leaking. They said that they only leak when the engine is cold - I am not sure if they verified this or are just speaking from practical experience. I never noticed any problem or change in performance or start-up. I have two questions:

1) Could I have diagnosed the Check Engine light problem myself or could a non-Ford Dealer garage do this?

2) What are upper and lower intake manifold gaskets? Are they referring to then intake plenum with the short and long runners or is there a manifold underneath this? Can I replace the gaskets myself? (They want an additional $220 to do the job.) I don't have a lot of time but I do most of my work myself (brakes, CV joints on my Probe once, etc.)

Thanks - Dave

Oops - almost forgot: I have a 98 SVT.

It's silver with midnight blue leather and I put green neon lights underneath. (My wife wanted to divorce me but my 3 year old son loves them.) I also rewired the AC so that I can switch the compressor on/off whenever I want, no matter where the air is coming from. I conservatively estimate that these mods add about 75 horsepower at the crank.

Dave

If the neons were yellow, you'd be at +100 crank hp.

Answers to questions:
1) Anyone with an OBD-II scanner can give you the codes (I have a PC based OBD-II program myself), and 90% of the time they (or the collective thinking of CEG) can diagnose the problems using the codes. As a metter of fact, CEG has a better track record than most dealerships at solving tough problems. Go to the Group Buy section - the Cougar guys are running a group buy for the scanner a lot of us have ($75). Did the dealership give you the actual code? With that, we could run a BS check on their diagnosis.

2) The big manifold you see under the hood is the upper. There is another intake under that (has fuel injection in it, etc.) that is the lower. I have never done it myself, but I don't imagine it's too difficult, especially if the dealer wants $220 (about 3-4 hours standard labor).

Welcome to CEG. Where in Philly are you?

Thanks for the help. My neighbor has a gas station so I am sure that he could have gotten the codes for me and the CEG could have told me what they mean. I took my car in for the heater blower resistor recall and thats when I found out that it would cost to $116 to have the Check Engine light checked out. I almost told them not to bother but since I was already there I had them do it.

Anyway, I actually live in Berwyn but I say Philly so that the CEGers around the world know what I am talking about.

If anyone has any tips on upper and lower intake manifold gasket replacement, I would love to hear them.

Dave

Most dealers are clueless, especially on the Contour. Especially more on the SVT. Just for future reference. And most garages only charge ~$60 or so to check CELs (whatever their minimum labor charge is, usually 30 minutes). I almost fell out of my seat when I saw Conshohocken Ford charged $110.

First of all, it is now John Kennedy Ford and no longer Conshohocken Ford. Second of all, how did you know which dealer I went to? Are you psychic? If so, please fix my car with your telepathic powers.

The sign said that as of June 2001, they charge $110 and it takes 1.5 or 1.7 hours. I questioned the guy but he said that the codes don't tell the whole story and they have to do additional diagnosis blah blah blah. Anyway, they reset the check engine light but they said that it would probably come back on after a cold start. I guess I will find out.

Dave

dealers dont even know what a Contour is. they call them escorts. they recognize escorts and focuses no problem but no clue what a Contour is. i would take my problems to someone who knows what they are talking about. Dealers have absolutely know idea. i have been screwed many times with mine. they even take my car for joy rides when they are done.

Tonight's lottery numbers are 6 - 24 - 18 ... I can't see the rest ...

I mentioned Conshy Ford (OK, John Kennedy Ford, but JK didn't pay me anything to call it the new name) because that's where I go (only when I have to). The car was there yesterday getting heater blower resistor pack replaced (under recall/warranty).

Your CEL will most likely come back on. If you want, I can hook up my OBD-II stuff and get the actual code for reference. I'm not sure I'd know what to look for to confirm a diagnosis leaky manifold gaskets though.

The $110 is forcing everyone that gets the "O2 sensor is bad" code (30 sec diagnostic) to share the costs in the "Bank 1 Lean" code (usually a little tougher to track down the culprit). Conshy Ford is OK by Ford standards, but I've seen less that stellar workmanship out of them. Like reused axle bolts (supposed to be one time only) found when doing the 3.0. Or trying to sell me a new front lower control arm (at $750 with labor ) when the spring guard recall parts were knocking around and they couldn't figure out why. And overtorquing my lugs when rotating the tires. I don't pay them any more money - other places can do the work better and cheaper.

There is nice write up by Lance on rebuilding the intake manifolds and all the injector seals in the FAQ section. It gives part #s, prices, and tons of detail.

I thought a lot of that was 95 MY only, with the different injectors, etc. than the SVT.