So I'm trying to change my intake manifold gasket because its leaking coolant, I've gotten all the connections and bolts undone on the top part with RE-EGI printed on it (According to the mazda shop manual), but the damn thing won't come loose. I've really been tugging at it, enough to rock the whole engine but it's not even moving. What stupid mistake am I making

 

There are 4 12mm nuts and a 12 mm bolt on the passenger side holding the upper part of the manifold to the lower. There are also 2 10 mm bolts underneath the RE-EGI box on the driver's side of the engine (by the rats nest/purge valve area). These are the only things holding it in place except for the OMP linkage, accelerator/CC cables, vac lines, couple wires/connectors and the 2 small coolant lines. Where do you see the leak from? The SE doesn't have coolant passages/o-rings on the intake like the 12A does. If you are seeing coolant on the top of the intake it is probably one of the small coolant lines the run to/from the intake (for the thermowax system). You do not need to remove the intake to change/tighten these, but it may be easier to get to the back one with the intake off, though.

Kent

 

Rubber mallet.

~T.J.

 

The most common leak is the hose that runs from the back of the waterpump housing near the coolant temp sensor. Easiest way to get to that hose is to pull the alternator and move it out of the way, takes about 5 minutes. Sometimes you have to remove the throttle body which is held in place with 4 nuts because that hose travels underneath the top portion of the intake runners and underneath the t/body. If its the rear hose it's pretty straight forward and you should not have to remove anything to replace it. rx7doctor