Valley pan kicking my a$$

[hon2bmw]

I must really love my car, or my decision not to use it as a daily driver.

I'm still hunting for the solution to my rough 2-1 downshift and have pretty much exausted all the normal "remedies."


TCM software update
fluid drain/refill
Heat exchanger replacment
MAF sensor


After reading some posts by members I consider to be knowledgeable I came to the conclusion that maybe its not the transmission, and maybe its an issue between systems.

I've had a slight miss while idling since I got the car. It was barely noticeable but has gotten more pronounced over time. I decided its possible that I may have a slight vacuum leak given the symptoms, as well as the age/mileage of the car and the fact it I don't see much in the vehicle history as far as intake gaskets that was provided by the previous owner (3" thick binder.)

SO, I decided I would try to replace the intake manifold gaskets to see if it helps at all. I was also loosing coolant slowly over the course of a few weeks so figured if I was in there I might as well do the valley pan anyway.

Which then turned into a complete cooling system replacement and electric fan conversion.

I started working on Monday this past week and have been putting in an hour or two every night after I get home from work. So fare so good, unfortunately/fortunately there have been some items I was not expecting to need to replace that have needed attention, so luckily I have a friend at my local dealer who has been assisting me with finding the correct parts.

Parts arrived (missing electric fan/shroud which were ordered seperately)

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/peteex/IMG_0323.jpg

Day one, start disassembly:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/peteex/IMG_0324.jpg

Day two more disassembly,:

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/peteex/IMG_0325.jpg

Day three, yet more disassembly, waiting for parts, now you can see the problem, notice the green pile of crusty stuff under the rear pipes:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/peteex/IMG_0326.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/peteex/IMG_0327.jpg

Day four (today) finally got down to the valley pan, replaced and started reassembly, the offending O-rings from the pipes:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a138/peteex/IMG_0329.jpg

I'm hoping to get the water pump back on tonight, and possibly start on cleaning and replacing everything on the Intake manifold tomorrow, I am hoping to have everything buttoned up by Monday. My fan/shroud should get here by Tuesday, so hopefully she will be back on the road by Wednesday if I don't run into any trouble with the new fan setup.

updates to follow.

[motorade1]

I noticed you removed the IM without removing the flange or spacer, if you will, on the front of the IM. The gasket between the IM and that flange was what was causing me trouble and creating a significant vacuum leak on my 03 with 104k miles. It was hard, brittle, cracked and leaking. I would change it if you havent done so recently.

[Only1Balto]

Good pics and info here. Need to do my VPG as well. U could've just left the injectors in the mani couldn't u of?

[Only1Balto]

Did u get everything done?

[hon2bmw]

Yes, I refilled and bled the coolant this evening, I replaced every gasket, rubber hose and sensor as I pulled everything apart. Unfortunately, I am still getting the rough 2-1 downshift after the car is warmed up completely, and I still have a slightly rough idle. I'm pretty sure my engine mounts are on their way out, so that might account for the rough idle, the last thing to try on the transmission is to raise the idle parameters to see if it addresses the issue.

[Only1Balto]

Sorry to hear the results weren't better. I'm sure you'll figure it out though- and that everything you replaced could only help. I need to do mine as well. All intake gaskets, CCV, and VPG.