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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: spudboy6 on 05 January 2013, 22:24

Title: Exhaust manifold cracked ?
Post by: spudboy6 on 05 January 2013, 22:24
so have a tucking noises from under the car on cold start so thinking my manifold is cracked ,

So wanting to whip it off and crack test it over the next week or so.

Its only a 1.8 8v adz SPI , anyone got any tips on removal , I have access to a ramp so shouldn't be to hard , and also having problems choosing gaskets , does the manifold have one big gasket or 4 individual ones ?

Lastly if its cracked can I weld / braise it up ?

Cheers :)
Title: Re: Exhaust manifold cracked ?
Post by: Turbotezz on 06 January 2013, 08:21
sounds like the same prob with the AGG. Dropping my manifold off today. Easiest from underneath, drop the down pipe off for access. I have individual ones from Euro.
Title: Re: Exhaust manifold cracked ?
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 06 January 2013, 09:12
My AGG had two cracked manifolds in the time i owned it.  Poxy thing.  :angry:
Title: Re: Exhaust manifold cracked ?
Post by: CJA321 on 06 January 2013, 09:59
Dont weld it. Really hard to make the welds last on manifolds, you have to heat them then weld some special way iv been told. Iv allways just replaced  :smiley:
Title: Re: Exhaust manifold cracked ?
Post by: Screech16v on 06 January 2013, 11:16
Welded a few manifolds before you need to use special rods for cast,drill the ends of each crack,v groove along the cracks and really get it clean then heat the whole area up,weld it and if your lucky it wont crack whilst its cooling,so can be done but a pita sometimes.
Title: Re: Exhaust manifold cracked ?
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 06 January 2013, 11:21
Not worth the hassle.  Replace it.
Title: Re: Exhaust manifold cracked ?
Post by: spudboy6 on 06 January 2013, 11:28
sounds like the same prob with the AGG. Dropping my manifold off today. Easiest from underneath, drop the down pipe off for access. I have individual ones from Euro.

Are the individual and single long manifold gaskets the same then just split up ?
Title: Re: Exhaust manifold cracked ?
Post by: spudboy6 on 06 January 2013, 11:31
Not worth the hassle.  Replace it.

Seems the feeling is replacement , so do you buy second hand ones I presume ? Just don't want to buy another bad egg .

And I need to confirm its tossed first really , hard to find this blow as only happens when stone dead cold for 3-5 mins then goes away , is present under front of the car area mainly by the wings and in the bay ,

Title: Re: Exhaust manifold cracked ?
Post by: VW BUSH on 06 January 2013, 13:08
Cracked manifolds will show soot or vapour damage around the cracked area.
You can also use crack detector or ring it and listen for the tell tale noise.
No point welding it as there a millions in the scrap yards going for pennies :smiley:

New set of gaskets would be my first port of call
Title: Re: Exhaust manifold cracked ?
Post by: Turbotezz on 09 January 2013, 20:10
id do a new manifold at the same time, just done gaskets on my AGG and it was a mare!!!!

Yes, AGG gaskets are as you described and your symptoms are that of a cracked fanny mold
Title: Re: Exhaust manifold cracked ?
Post by: spudboy6 on 09 January 2013, 20:52
id do a new manifold at the same time, just done gaskets on my AGG and it was a mare!!!!

Yes, AGG gaskets are as you described and your symptoms are that of a cracked fanny mold

So individual gaskets.  How long did it take you and did you have any stubborn nuts ?
Title: Re: Exhaust manifold cracked ?
Post by: Turbotezz on 10 January 2013, 10:15
Total of 8 hours! There are a few hard to get to nuts, mainly the 2 at the top of the heat shield. Then you need to take out 3 of the inlet bolts as they hold the clamps for those 2 heat shield nuts.

you will need a good few extensions and a wobbly. Some nuts you will need spanners for. You will need to drop the 3 13mm bolts out of the gear selector thing so you can move it out of the way a bit to get the down pipe out.

As for getting the manifold out im not sure as i didnt bother
Title: Re: Exhaust manifold cracked ?
Post by: spudboy6 on 10 January 2013, 20:47
Have looked on the ramp underneath and can see a gasket all sooty but for 8 hours ill leave it ...
Title: Re: Exhaust manifold cracked ?
Post by: Screech16v on 10 January 2013, 20:50
 :grin: :grin: :grin:
Title: Re: Exhaust manifold cracked ?
Post by: Turbotezz on 11 January 2013, 20:01
could probably be done quicker but the 2 awkward heatshield nuts took about and hour and a half to get off!!!
Title: Re: Exhaust manifold cracked ?
Post by: sharki786 on 11 January 2013, 20:07
Its a cnut of a job. I had to do mine twice. Even got a used mani from khare bear. In the end gave up. Still got the same prob but everytime i put my car on the ramp i keep looking out for soot but theres none there. In the end found out that its the bloody alt belt lol. Before carring out of removal of the mani. Spray some wd40 on the belt and drive it. If the noise goes away then you know time for a new alt belt. :wink:
Title: Re: Exhaust manifold cracked ?
Post by: Turbotezz on 11 January 2013, 20:59
Its a cnut of a job. I had to do mine twice. Even got a used mani from khare bear. In the end gave up. Still got the same prob but everytime i put my car on the ramp i keep looking out for soot but theres none there. In the end found out that its the bloody alt belt lol. Before carring out of removal of the mani. Spray some wd40 on the belt and drive it. If the noise goes away then you know time for a new alt belt. :wink:

Alternator belt? Sounding like a blowy zaust manifold? What engine you running dude and exactly what sounds are you getting, this could be the answer I have been looking for for 6 months!!
Title: Re: Exhaust manifold cracked ?
Post by: sharki786 on 11 January 2013, 21:28
Agg bud. Try the wd40 but get loads of it on therem also in summer i never get the blowing only when the car is cold
Im getting a blowing manifold noise. Like a farty noise/ticking/clicking.
Title: Re: Exhaust manifold cracked ?
Post by: spudboy6 on 13 March 2013, 22:03
started to change my exhaust manifold gaskets this evening and what a cu*t of a job , very tight access between the inlet mani and the exhaust mani bolts , finaly got frustrated witht the last nut (top nut on cyl 3) and took the inlet manifold off and had the down pipe out , cant see any cracks so re-fitted and now waiting for an inlet manifold gasket and down pipe gasket but they were all shot to bits so hoping this was my manifold blow , but next time i have to do a manifold on one of them , i would rather just scrap the car !