So took the car in today and had the idler tensioner replaced (to stop the whining) and had the missing exhaust manifold bolt replaced.

After the work had been done got told by the mechanic that the exhaust is blowing from where the exhaust manifold meets the cylinder gasket (if I remembered that rightly)
How serious of a problem is this?
If its quite serious then I think I'll need to book it in again. Also ballpark figures on what this fix is going to cost me

I haven't really felt much blow on the exhaust since having the bolt replaced but I do trust this mechanic, so believe him when he told me this.

Thanks for the help

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1 way to sum up the 197 is like sex, you build upto the best bit and when it eventually happens it only last a few seconds but you always want to do it again!
Poor Orange Si is hurt. Started first time after sitting for 3 weeks and with virtually no petrol in it

i guessing you mean he said its blowing from the exhaust manifold gasket, the gasket between the manifold and head?

if so then its a pretty easy fix, just a case of popping the manifold off and putting a new gasket on and bolting it back on

the dounut(sp?) is another place it could be blowing from, its where the downpipe meets the manifold

unsure on a ball park figure to fix, i dont think either gaskets are expensive to buy, it might be labour that could bump the price up

well he is good on labour. So shouldn't be to bad. It was the first one, as that is pretty much what he said.

Well just that and suspension (because the previous owner just cut the old springs ) and its sorted out, and then I can save for the plans

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1 way to sum up the 197 is like sex, you build upto the best bit and when it eventually happens it only last a few seconds but you always want to do it again!
Poor Orange Si is hurt. Started first time after sitting for 3 weeks and with virtually no petrol in it

the gasket between the head and the manifold is an easy one to sort pop to ford and get the metal gasket, if your confident enough try it yourself

I'd think I'll have a look at the haynes manual a few times first as I wouldn't be able to get it into the garage until the 9th anyway.
see if I can do it before I'm back at work.
I'll just get covered in oil/grease like I did outside pc world this morning

If not he can do it, its a garage that specialises in Fords so it'll be a very quick job for him to sort

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1 way to sum up the 197 is like sex, you build upto the best bit and when it eventually happens it only last a few seconds but you always want to do it again!
Poor Orange Si is hurt. Started first time after sitting for 3 weeks and with virtually no petrol in it

patern gasket is about £6/£8, its not a hard job and the manifold nuts should be bronze so should come undone if soaked in a bit of WD40 or something, manifold down pipe can be a bit of a pain to get back together without a hand too hold it. May be worth asking the garage for a price first as shouldnt take them more than about 1/2 to an hour to do

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Will

always remebers to re-locate manifold using the guiding sleeve (can be bought from ford for 82p.)
blows like a bugger without it.

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L333SYA - Ford Cougar 2.5 V6
RR - TBC

andy whats that?

when i did my gaskey i never used any guiding thingy, mine was fine

if the garage want to charge you silly money for a few hrs work i'll do it for you foc , you just get the parts

it's referenced in the haynes manual. It goes on furthest right stud and locates the manifold when refitting. It may not have been causing my problems (could be the bolt i put in furthest LEFT instead of a stud/nut combo (for some reason i lost one).
Either way, recifying the problem this week, new studs and bolts = £27 from ford.

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L333SYA - Ford Cougar 2.5 V6
RR - TBC

ooo i see, i never read the haynes to remove my manifold, might be why i missed it

yeah for some nuts and studs they aint cheap

well if I fail at it (quite likely) and the garage wants too much I may take you up on your offer

Now time to wait for me to post. I dropped the exhaust! help

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1 way to sum up the 197 is like sex, you build upto the best bit and when it eventually happens it only last a few seconds but you always want to do it again!
Poor Orange Si is hurt. Started first time after sitting for 3 weeks and with virtually no petrol in it

Ok definitely not paying the garage what they want for it Not if its a simple thing to do.

What is the part or parts called that I need?

Now to go and wave my 1.4 goodbye. I don't want it to go

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1 way to sum up the 197 is like sex, you build upto the best bit and when it eventually happens it only last a few seconds but you always want to do it again!
Poor Orange Si is hurt. Started first time after sitting for 3 weeks and with virtually no petrol in it

what did they quote you to have the work done?

the only part you'll need is the exhaust manifold gasket, but imo while the down pipe is disconnected i'd replace the donut(sp?) as well

so

-exhuast manifold gasket
-downpipe donut(sp?)

we were talking a little over 100 and the part was second hand. It was more with a new part.

Asked about getting the springs and shocks being replaced. 160 and the springs and shocks are all second hand. 200+ for new springs and shocks. Just standard ones.

The car is going to cost me what it cost me to buy
oh dear

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1 way to sum up the 197 is like sex, you build upto the best bit and when it eventually happens it only last a few seconds but you always want to do it again!
Poor Orange Si is hurt. Started first time after sitting for 3 weeks and with virtually no petrol in it

£100 to replace your exhaust manifold gasket?! with a second hand one?! wtf?!!

yeah thats what I thought...

If it hadn't been for asking beforehand the price of the part I probably would have booked it in.
Lets hope that I'm not getting in over my head trying this.

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1 way to sum up the 197 is like sex, you build upto the best bit and when it eventually happens it only last a few seconds but you always want to do it again!
Poor Orange Si is hurt. Started first time after sitting for 3 weeks and with virtually no petrol in it

its easy honestly, just take your time and read the haynes if you've got it near by

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Some people are like slinkies. Not really good for anything, but bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs!

From the moment I picked up your book until I laid it down, I was convulsed with laughter. Some day I intend reading it.

I'll be picking one up tuesday as well as the parts if all goes to plan and giving it a go.

Why do I need to check the nuts, I will do it, just need to know what I'm looking for with them

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1 way to sum up the 197 is like sex, you build upto the best bit and when it eventually happens it only last a few seconds but you always want to do it again!
Poor Orange Si is hurt. Started first time after sitting for 3 weeks and with virtually no petrol in it

_________________

Some people are like slinkies. Not really good for anything, but bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs!

From the moment I picked up your book until I laid it down, I was convulsed with laughter. Some day I intend reading it.