Removing the Valve Cover

[tommyschoolbruh]

Somebody please help explain this to me because I'm a total noob. My valve cover gasket is leaking so I decided I'd fix it myself.

Today when trying to remove the valve cover... it just broke. I've alread found a replacement for 30 bucks, but I need to know how to finish removing the old one. It is the most stubborn thing I've worked on thusfar.

Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ChopstickHero]

how does a solid metal valve cover just break?

 

[tommyschoolbruh]

good question, i have no clue how something that can take those temps would break, but it did. when calling around to find a replacement all the people asked the same question "why do you need this, did it break?"

so apparently it's common.

how does a solid metal valve cover just break?

 

[Kansei]

good question, i have no clue how something that can take those temps would break, but it did. when calling around to find a replacement all the people asked the same question "why do you need this, did it break?"

so apparently it's common.

! wow, that's a new one for me. I've never heard of a valve cover breaking.. did it break when you were trying to pull it off or something?

 

[ChopstickHero]

post some pictures of the broken valve cover!

 

[JOMO]

Would also like to see some pics. Never heard of this happening.

 

[Brian MP5T]

Remove Coil Pack
Remove All Bolts that hold it down
Remove Cam position sensor
Remove Gasket
Replace gasket in new cover
Replace Cam position sensor
Replace bolts
Blah Blah.

 

[Brian MP5T]

Polish The Cover Before It Goes On!

 

[Alpinejwl]

does it require a new gasket?

 

[Brian MP5T]

does it require a new gasket?

Not if you are carefull with it.

Be sure that the small metal spacesr do not fall in the engine. YThey are in the gasket.

 

[tommyschoolbruh]

yes it needs a new gasket, that's why i was trying to take it off.

i'll try and post pics tomorrow when i get the replacement, but i can describe it right now. if you're looking at the engine from the front of the car, it's broken in the front left corner where i was trying to pry it open. all bolts and etc were removed, one thing i think i forgot about was spark plugs though.

so here's my noobness, the spark plugs is why it wouldn't budge right?

 

[Kansei]

yes it needs a new gasket, that's why i was trying to take it off.

i'll try and post pics tomorrow when i get the replacement, but i can describe it right now. if you're looking at the engine from the front of the car, it's broken in the front left corner where i was trying to pry it open. all bolts and etc were removed, one thing i think i forgot about was spark plugs though.

so here's my noobness, the spark plugs is why it wouldn't budge right?

If you had the coils and spark plug wires removed the spark plugs themselves shouldn't have been an issue.

 

[Blue_Speed]

Heres a nice write up on how to take off the cover....http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32015

 

[tommyschoolbruh]

Heres a nice write up on how to take off the cover....http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32015

thanks alot

 

[Brian MP5T]

yes it needs a new gasket, that's why i was trying to take it off.

i'll try and post pics tomorrow when i get the replacement, but i can describe it right now. if you're looking at the engine from the front of the car, it's broken in the front left corner where i was trying to pry it open. all bolts and etc were removed, one thing i think i forgot about was spark plugs though.

so here's my noobness, the spark plugs is why it wouldn't budge right?

The old one probably just needed to be hit with some RTV or simply tightend down.

 

[Brian MP5T]

You Should not remove the sparkplugs.

The Cover has 11 Bolts...

 

[tommyschoolbruh]

yeah guys, i just missed one of the bolts in the middle. $30 eff up.

everything is on and appears to be working except for now the battery charge light is staying on, even though the battery is fully charged. the temperature guage says the car is overheating even though it's not hot at all. and the airbag light comes on time to time.

wtf is this crap? i didn't even touch the electronics.

 

[Brian MP5T]

Ummm. Code Reader...

 

[Puckpimp71]

Old thread bump, but anyone know what the valve cover bolts should be torqued to? Also is RTV recommended with the gasket?

 

[Kansei]

Old thread bump, but anyone know what the valve cover bolts should be torqued to? Also is RTV recommended with the gasket?

I don't know but be careful until you get the right numbers, those bolts are fragile! (I broke one so I'm screwed in that respect)