Manifold removal how too

[scott040479]

Today I've attempted to fix a blow in the exhaust by replacing downpipe gasket , well hasn't made any difference.reading various posts on here I've come to the conclusion I may have split the manifold as it started blowing after giving it a load of beans one day.
How do I get to the manifold to remove n check or to replace all the gaskets, do I do it from above or below, in English like I'm a five year old lol. Not to clued up on vw lingo, I've read a few posts but still scratching my head lol

[scott040479]

It's a 99 agu 18T bye the way

[vwblackmk4gti]

to easily diagnose a blowing exhaust leak, simply take a peace of toilet roll and start at the easiest place where you can get your hands. with the piece of roll simply place it near the area that you think is leaking, and see if the piece of paper starts to move (as it would if you held it an blew onto

Warning do it when vehicle is cold.

may seem daft but it works

[scott040479]

Sounds a gd idea but I can only really get up to the underside of the turbo then every thing else looks a blurr of pipework and I can't really see anything from above

[lord14]

just check your exhaust sections under the car if its none of them and you can feel nothing . then its most likely going to be the turbo gasket . from what i can remember you undo the top boost pipes metal one ?. then you should be able to see three bolts in the manifold directly down that holds the turbo on . then then all of the  manifold nuts . sometimes you can rest a screwdriver onto the manifold with your ear on it and then you can hear it alot louder:) if its there

[scott040479]

Do you mean the big metal pipe that runs along the back the engine which the dump valve is on?

[lord14]

yeh thats the boost pipe , once thats off you can get to everythink alot easier

[scott040479]

Cheers fella I'll have a gander tomorrow

[houston]

removing the manifolds a bit difficult but very straight forward, the bottom nuts are behind the turbos water line, if your gonna do it then invest in a wobble extension, makes the job a million squillion times easier. theres 13 12mm nuts and washers, dont lose any cos there 2 quid EACH from vw. if your gonna replace it then the turbo to manifold is 3 17mm nuts which youll need a spanner for one as you cant get a socket on.

once you have the top boost pipe off then its 2 13mm bolts for the heat shield and youll get a good view of whats wrong

itll be most likely that the manifold will have cracked and caused your blow, quite common

[Wayne]

Cracked manifolds sometimes make a ticking noise as well.