# Intake Manifold Leak **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** pontiac, repair\ **Created:** [September 10, 2008, 4:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intake-manifold-leak/19401 "2008-09-10T16:34:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![boilerpa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/59ef9b/32.png) [@boilerpa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/boilerpa)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 4:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intake-manifold-leak/19401/1 "2008-09-10T16:34:20Z")
I was recently told I have an intake manifold leak on my 2002 Pontiac Grand Am. Is this something that I can do myself? Does it take special tools? I am comfortable changing my brakes, oil, and other average repairs but this sounds out of my league. Plus there’s the issue of doing more harm in the end. I was quoted $725 to reseal the lower intake. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intake-manifold-leak/19401/2 "2008-09-10T16:39:37Z")
The mechanuicals are not that complex, but there are a number of sensors and you could easily damage them and be out a whole lot more. I would take the car to a good independent mechanic and make sure he uses the NEW IMPROVED gasket. I’m assuming this is a GM car. I had it replaced on my V8 Caprice and it cost only $256 in 1998. The car ran great afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 5:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intake-manifold-leak/19401/3 "2008-09-10T17:27:02Z")
Find a service manual (book store or online) and read through the procedure. Then decide whether or not you want to do it. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 5:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intake-manifold-leak/19401/4 "2008-09-10T17:32:31Z")
It’s NOT really complicated…just that there are a lot of parts. There is a aftermarket gasket kit from felpro that fixes this problem. If you never done a intake manifold before get a manual. There is a sequence order for tightening the bolts. This is important. ---
**Author:** ![AlanY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f4b2a3/32.png) [@AlanY](https://community.cartalk.com/u/AlanY)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/intake-manifold-leak/19401/5 "2008-09-10T19:53:44Z")
It depends on the engine. There is a 2.2L 4 cylinder and a 3.4L V6. If you are talking about the V6, there are a good number of parts to remove and metal coolant lines are a pain to remove. You might have to tilt the engine forward to gain better access to the side closest to the firewall. There is a special tool to hold the tilted engine safely in place. It might not be absolutely necessary to tilt the engine but if you don’t, the job might take a bit longer. Besides the intake manifold gasket kit you might also have to get an o-ring to reseal a metal coolant tube (at the flange) and perhaps a seal set for the fuel injectors among other things. It’s a good project that you don’t want to rush through. Set aside plenty of time and label everything. I couldn’t agree more with mcparadise’s advice to get a manual to read through the procedure first before deciding to tackle the job. Even if you decide not to do this job, the manual will useful for future jobs.