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ab_slack
Well-Known Member
Once again we are having problems with our 99 Ranger with 3.0L.
The exhaust manifold has a closed off port on the driver side of the engine. Below is a picture of it. This is an old pic from when we first found the leak. The circle shows a point where the cover was leaking exhaust and it was making quite a bit of noise.
What is the port for? What is the cover? Can a replacement cover be gotten for it?
We have several times over the past couple years tried to seal that and it never lasts more than a few weeks before it starts making noise again. Gasket material or any type of sealer fails. The problem seems to be that the cover plate has become warped/weakened. So the far edge of the plate where the original leak started doesn't really compress on any gasket material.
Last attempt we tried putting a clamp over the entire part to hold it down but we couldn't get it to sit well on that problem spot. It lasted longer but the issue came back.
We have thought about welding the plate on but besides it being tight area to get to we are concerned that any weld on the manifold could end up rusting away relatively quickly as we have seen on welds in mufflers leaving us little option than replacing the manifold.
The exhaust manifold has a closed off port on the driver side of the engine. Below is a picture of it. This is an old pic from when we first found the leak. The circle shows a point where the cover was leaking exhaust and it was making quite a bit of noise.
What is the port for? What is the cover? Can a replacement cover be gotten for it?
We have several times over the past couple years tried to seal that and it never lasts more than a few weeks before it starts making noise again. Gasket material or any type of sealer fails. The problem seems to be that the cover plate has become warped/weakened. So the far edge of the plate where the original leak started doesn't really compress on any gasket material.
Last attempt we tried putting a clamp over the entire part to hold it down but we couldn't get it to sit well on that problem spot. It lasted longer but the issue came back.
We have thought about welding the plate on but besides it being tight area to get to we are concerned that any weld on the manifold could end up rusting away relatively quickly as we have seen on welds in mufflers leaving us little option than replacing the manifold.
