BLKGT07

Just wanted to post a little update for anyone interested. I completed this process a few weeks ago (Quite the extensive and frustrating task haha). I ended up getting the CEL again a few days later and finally gave up and brought it to subaru. Either my intake manifold gaskets were ok or I had multiple leaks because when they did a smoke test on my car the leak is coming from below the TGV gaskets. In order to replace these they need to take apart everything I already did and more and they estimate its a 7+ hr job. Bottomline, estimated cost of $900+ so heads up to anyone who can get a smoke test done first.. might be worth it to make sure which gaskets are leaking before tearing your car apart and finding out you had an additional leak.

thanks so much for the explanation and the great pics! I think this will help alot, will probably be attempting this weekend. thanks again

KSAL, Any further insight on how you removed that bracket of death? I attempted to replace these gaskets once and couldn't clear enough space to even attempt to take the drivers side out and replace. Had the car at subaru this morning and they want $675 bucks to replace the gaskets. I just can't imagine paying that much so i may be attempting this yet again. Also since you so recently just did this... what did you do with the coolant resevoir on the passenger side of the intake manifold? did you just disconnect everything and remove it or did you figure out any tricks for that? thanks for any help you can provide.

So I pulled everything apart today, can't get the old gaskets out of the manifold, any suggestions other than dental pick? Thanks