Bro this video just saved my wallet, I usually do all my own repairs but I was worried about replacing my rear leaking gasket because of the manifold removal but after watching this video I have every confidence to do the work myself. I was dreading having someone else work on my car short of dropping the engine. A++++++ on the detail and clarity of this walkthrough
I never would've been able to change my alternator if it wasn't for your other video with this car. I also had the same oil leak, so I might as well do this repair as well. Thank you for these videos!
2002 Infiniti I35: Very intimidating process, BUT it all worked out nearly perfect for me mainly following this video. Only thing I would advise if you can get away with not having to disconnect the coolant line (I had to) on the right you'll be fine. I installed 6 new spark plugs, 6 coil packs, 2 new valve covers & gaskets, 2 camshaft sensors and mass air flow sensor. Figure do it all while you're under there oh yeah and clean your throttle body.
Great video, thanks. I especially like that you don't mind admitting your mistakes, it says a lot about the kind of person you are. It also reminds viewers to pay attention to those details.
I took my 2002 Nissan maxima se 3.5l 6 speed manual to a mechanic shop for this service. They charged my $800. Car was running extremely well before I brought it to them, after I got it back there was a huge easily visible oil leak, steam /white smoke shooting from the engine, service engine light is on and it barely starts now. I'm towing it to my brothers trusted mechanic on Monday and hopefully they will be able to fix it properly. Thx for the vid bro I wish you were in my city I'd definitely be happy to pay you for your proper services
Of course. The back one can be tricky. That’s why I put a little bit of silicone into the valve cover grooves to help hold the gasket in place before reinstalling it.
Great video! I used to own a Hyundai accent and wow, it was so easy to work on and almost repair free Nissan might be a great car but I just got the van (Quest). It's insane what is required to just change a spark plug!
Thank you buddy, I found this very helpful. I have a 2004 Infiniti I35 and it would of cost me close to $1,000 just for labor. It’s crazy how our mechanics/technicians pray on us hardworking citizens who barely have enough to get by. The dealerships are worse! They print me a $2,500 bill, and said it’ll take up 15hrs of labor. Smh... They wouldn’t even let me bring my own parts. When I asked why it was so high, they said because it’s a luxury car that’s why. I had to buy theirs. I’ll probably never own another Nissan product ever again. Thanks again!
Luttie Tune will do. I do have other videos up on my channel. If you are looking for something specific I may be able to help you out, just let me know.
I appreciate you for getting back with me bro. I need to reset idle for my throttle body sensor. I have an 04 Infiniti I35 same engine. I was cleaning it while it was still attached to the manifold. The RPM is jumping a little between 1000-2500 but not badly. It’s not really affecting my driving just a little distracting.
Luttie Tune sure, there are quite a few steps involved but I will write them here so that you can get this done. You will want to perform this stuff after the car has sat overnight. There are 3 different procedures that need to be done. I will list them as 1,2,3 and the steps will be listed as A,B,C, and so on... Please read the last procedure carefully BEFORE starting the entire thing. As it is very time bound. 1. Accelerator Released position: a. Make sure Pedro is FULLY released. b. Turn ignition ON (don’t start the car) wait at least 2 seconds. c. Turn ignition off, wait at least 10 seconds. d.Repeat these steps for a second time. e. Take key out of the ignition when you are done with the second go around. 2. Throttle valve closed position: a. Make sure pedal is FULLY released. b. Turn ignition ON. Wait 3 seconds. c. Turn ignition OFF. Wait at least 10 seconds. Make sure you hear the throttle valve operating sound. (Tip: if you do this inside the garage with the passenger window open, you can hear the valve move) d. Remove key from the ignition. 3. Idle air volume learn: a. Make sure pedal is FULLY released. b. Turn ignition ON, wait 3 seconds. c. AFTER you wait the 3 seconds above, WITHIN 5 seconds FULLY depress the pedal 5 times smoothly. d. Wait 7 seconds, then FULLY depress the pedal to the floor and HOLD IT. After about 10-12 seconds the Check engine light will switch from steady to a blinking light. CONTINUE TO HOLD the pedal still and after about 9 seconds the light will go back to steady. e. Release the pedal FULLY and start the car within 3 seconds. f. Allow to idle for 20 seconds. g. Lightly rev the engine several times to confirm the idle speed returns back to normal. h. After several revs and the car returns to normal idle, the relearn is complete. Hope this helps!
Bead of silicone on the head is unnecessary and not recommended on the factory service manual (FSM - found by googling "NICO altima FSM") I'd forgo it but it surely doesnt hurt if installed properly. Great tutorial here. The FSM does require a bead of anaerobic liquid gasket maker on the cover itself at the corners near the front of the engine, and a bead of RTV on the outside of the gasket at the same location -see FSM for exact location, and untightening and tightening sequences and tourques.
Lol. This is too much. This channel is NOT for people who work as professional mechanics. Black RTV is fine and has been fine for YEARS. I leave it to the viewers discretion if they want to use it or not.
Nice video really helpful.. if i dont have a torch ranch can i use the power drill torch same are you are using .. i have dwelt 12v battery drill it has 1 to 11 and the the hammer .. please let me know thanks
You can, however those generally struggle to loosen tough bolts. They certainly can be used to spin bolts back in but follow up with a ratchet to make sure they are tight
Got a 2002 Infiniti i35 that needs a valve cover gasket replaced . Search around shops and it cost a lot of $ to get fixed . Luckily made phone calls and found a family member with good mechanic cheap price . Hopefully the engine didn't cause damage
Good Afternoon Helping Handing, outstanding. So I have a bit of oil at the front by the dipstick safe to say Valve Cover Gasket. My questions: 1.) I need to do this and change my spark plugs and coils, do I need plenum gaskets for the Spark Plugs and Coil area?? 2.) Also I need to remove the ABS Module, any pointers on getting the module off while I'm doing the Gasket, Plugs and Coils?? Thanks in advance look forward to hearing from you. Marty
1. You can change the spark plugs while you’re doing this job. Changing the coils isn’t necessary. The plenum gasket is reusable but you can replace it if you would like. 2. Forgive me but I need to refresh my memory on how that abs unit is mounted.
Ok after trying to familiarize myself with where that abs unit is located on these cars. It appears to be down behind the engine on the passenger side as I am sure you know already. Removing the upper intake manifold will make reaching around the engine a bit easier. They usually aren’t held down by many bolts, maybe a few at most. I think removing the brake lines will put up the most grief. You will want to invest in the correct wrenches for removing flare nuts. It is called a flare but wrench. I’m going to bet the sizes are 12mm or 10mm. Sorry I can’t really offer much by ways of instructions, I simply have not needed to pull one off before.
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair Good Morning HHAR, thanks a Mill for the detailed response! Two last question, you mentioned rubber hoses @ (17:55) being brittle could break, 1.) How do I know which replacement hoses to buy is there a one size fits all ( this real help here)?? 2.) Lastly, how do you clean the Valve Covers once removed, can you spray paint them, soap & water, what??
BEMarty Three You can order that specific part from the dealership or you can simply take the hose down to the parts store and just match up the size and buy about a foot and a half and cut it to length. That’s what I do on these every time if they break. Will cost you about $2-3 max. As far as cleaning the entire valve cover (top and bottom I assume?) you can use brake cleaner to clean out the oil inside. Or soap and water. You can clean it with anything really. You can spray paint the outside if you would like with high temp spray paint.
Geez I remember when cars were so easy to work on. This is an awful ton of work to get the rear valve cover off. Having to invest in tools, sockets, and tips that will rarely get used is a pain. Having to remove the plenum to get to the rear gasket, to me, put this in the almost not serviceable category because while one would rather not pay someone to do the job, there are way better ways to spend the day than dealing with that mess. With all the lines and hoses, you could be looking at spending even more money if one were to break of split. Which could delay getting back on the road. And if it's your only car, you're in trouble. I can't even imagine how much it would cost to have someone do the job.
Hey Helping hand Auto Repair, where are you located. I might just bring my car in for service to replace the valve covers, coil packs, spark plugs camshaft sensors, mass air flow sensor and anything else we find while the car is in the shop. Thank you in advance.
thank you! this is the exact video I need to fix my baby that I got from day one. could you let me know if the coolant has to be removed before this process? thank you!
I need to do this on my wife's 2002 i35. Thanks for all the detail. I did have one question. Do you or they recommend any gasket sealant on the intake runner?
You are correct in that the i30/35 is essentially a Maxima. However your 2001 i30 has the earlier 3.0 liter V6. So while the process is pretty similar, there are glaring differences that will not be the same.
Thank you for the video!! I have a i35 2002 and there is oil leaking from the seal by oil dip stick up by the yellow pull handle. Is that this gasket? Thanks in advanced if you can answer this!
Hey. Thank you for this video. I'm currently in the process of doing this. I believe there's a little bit of coolant in my oil from k the looks of my valve covers. I'm thinking the head gaskets are blown but I performed a compression test and it surprisingly did well. I'm not sure what to do. Is it possible for coolant to get in through the Intake manifold somehow?
I don’t recall if there are any coolant passageways in the intake manifold. I don’t believe there are if memory serves. A compression test won’t tell the complete story, a leak down test would also be a good idea to further pinpoint a specific cylinder.
Thanks for the Great Video, I have nissan maxima 2008 and with Service Engine Soon its showing P0300 and P0301 code. Also shown the car to one of Mechanic and he mentioned repair on both Gaskets due to oil leaks everywhere so he quoted approximate 600$. So will he change only valve gasket cover or both the Gaskets shelf itself. Not able to reach out to him, but will fixing this Gaskets valve Gasket cover resolve the SES codes as well ? Any thoughts ?
Well P0301 relates specifically to cylinder 1 misfiring. The cause of the misfire can be a few things. Worn spark plug Bad coil pack Bad fuel injector Oil soaked coil boot If you pull out the coil packs and find oil on the bottoms of them or oil in the spark plug holes, then you should definitely replace the valve cover gaskets and spark plug tube seals. They normally come as a kit with both in them. The P0300 *can* be a byproduct of the P0301 so when you’re done with the repair for the 301 code, delete the codes with a scanner and then drive the car to see if the P0300 code comes back. Hope this makes sense, feel free to ask anything else and I will try to answer your questions.
What about the tube seals? They are glued in and will destroy the cover if removal is done experience taught this to me. new covers are the only way to get rid of misfires due to oil in the tube areas
If you pull your plugs and have oil on any of them, then yes you need new valve covers. This engine had ZERO oil on any plugs. This is why only the valve cover gaskets were done.
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair Once you disturb those tube seals which are as old and hard as the gaskets you just replaced they will leak and cause misfires in the near if not the immediate future and do it all over again. I don't need the practice myself...
@@cathygambill1554 lol. Hey it’s not always like that. I don’t understand why they would even make the tube seals like that in the first place. It’s pretty dumb.
Hey i have an 07 max its smoking after sitting for 2 months not sure if its the valve cover gaskets. It was leaking from power steering before and i dropped coolant changing radiator. Doesnt seem like it leaks but smoke from engine after 20 mins still
Smokes from the mufflers? Or smoke is coming off the engine? If it is coming off of the engine/exhaust manifolds, then there is a high chance that oil has dropped down onto the exhaust and is now burning.
How hard would this be for someone doing this for the first time? I have a 1995 Maxima which has the 3.0 engine. Shop wants to charge $500 for both valve cover. But I can get the part for $20-$40. I'm scare I'm going to take the thing apart and not be able to put it back together. Also does torque spec really matter especially the intake manifold?
This would be a 7/10 on the difficulty scale for a first timer. This video also is a different engine than what’s in your 1995 Maxima. Those have the earlier 3.0L engine and the engine in my video is a 3.5L. The 3.0L is a harder job IMO. The throttle body/coolant hose area is a real PITA to work around. Don’t get me wrong, it’s doable, just time consuming. You can follow this video loosely to guide you through the “steps” of what needs to happen. However please understand that engine shown in this video won’t have the same connectors and wiring harness and bracket locations.
Hey dude i’m redoing my valve cover because that elbow piece broke. Do the valve elbows connect to each other??? or does that go into the manifold, experiencing leaks and trimmed fuel
what i mean by that is in replacing the bank 1 valve cover, does the elbow go back into the intake manifold or does it connect around to the bank 2 valve cover
Man, appreciate your video! I got it all buttoned back up--wire harnesses and hoses. Everything--I'm pretty sure--still checking. While I was in there, replaced the spark plugs and coil on plug/boots on the packs. When I fire it up, idles real rough. Drove it around the block. Missing a lot of power. Service engine soon light started flashing. Got it back in the garage. From what I can tell, seems like a misfire on cylinder(s). Or could it be a vacuum leak? I know might be hard to say, but appreciate any thoughts you might have.
Going to borrow a code reader tomorrow. See if I can narrow it down. Are iridium plugs okay? Using these www.autozone.com/external-engine/spark-plug/ngk-ix-iridium-spark-plug-4469/937722_0_0
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair Thanks. I'm pretty inexperienced, but maybe have a vacuum leak. Can hear a whistling noise intermittently. Code is general cylinder misfire P0300. Man, not sure where it is coming from. 0300 is a pretty general code, and could be a lot f things, but had no problems before changing plugs and fixing these gaskets. Appreciate any thoughts you might have.
Could I have tightened the upper intake manifold down incorrectly? Guess I could have. I tightened all 5 bolts/nuts to the 180 in-lbs, and made sure the two in the back in the bracket were solid. I also used a new gasket. Worth taking off and reseating it maybe... When I hit the accelerator, I can hear the whistling noise grow.
I picked up a vacuum gauge from harbor freight and teed into the line coming immediately out of the intake manifold. It sits at a solid 18 in. Hg. The engine is struggling so much though that when I hit the accelerator, the needle does not snap back to zero. It drops slightly and bumps up to 25 or so, then settles back at 18. It seems that I can rule out vacuum leak? Maybe fork for new coils? I am going to replace the PCV valve probably because it wouldn't hurt, but not thinking it will solve this problem.
Derek Smith you’re welcome. Let me first rephrase what I said earlier. You are correct by people saying the entire valve cover needs to be replaced. This is true ONLY if you have oil leaking down into the spark plug holes. If there isn’t a drop of oil down on the spark plugs/coil pack boots, then you’re good to just replace the outer valve cover gaskets as shown in this video. If you do have oil on your spark plugs/coil pack boots, then you will need to replace the entire valve cover with new ones because the tube seals are very well embedded into the center baffle of the valve cover.
Any reason why you didn't change the whole valve cover on both sides? The spark plug tube seals will eventually leak and they are not replaceable. Had the rear vc done on my 2003 Maxima for that reason and now need to do the front.
It would depend on what direction that diagram has the person looking at it. If it has you standing looking at the engine then left would be the back and right would be the front. If it has you looking from the back of the engine, then left would be the front and right would be the back. Hope this makes sense.
HELP..........Hi Helping Hand or anybody who can help me out. I followed this video to the smallest detail as that 10mm bolt on the back of the bracket was killer, but we got it off. My question HH or anybody if you remember, I'm ready to remove the Intake manifold, but it won't budge on the right side like yours did in this video as yours lifted smoothly to right and rested. Mines lifts off the foundation (mating surface), but it's so much attached to the right side it seems like that there's much more I need to remove, but I removed only the things you did in this video. Do I need to remove more hoses on the right side, I don't want to force anything drop anything or break anything lol.. Infiniti I35 2002--HELP.........................................
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair Simple enough, but your method seem like the easiest without removing all the additional hoses i.e. coolant, clamps and sensors like they did in some of the other vids.
Bro this video just saved my wallet, I usually do all my own repairs but I was worried about replacing my rear leaking gasket because of the manifold removal but after watching this video I have every confidence to do the work myself. I was dreading having someone else work on my car short of dropping the engine. A++++++ on the detail and clarity of this walkthrough
Thanks. Good luck sir.
What a gentleman he apologized for the wind. A natural occurrence.
😏
I never would've been able to change my alternator if it wasn't for your other video with this car. I also had the same oil leak, so I might as well do this repair as well. Thank you for these videos!
2002 Infiniti I35: Very intimidating process, BUT it all worked out nearly perfect for me mainly following this video. Only thing I would advise if you can get away with not having to disconnect the coolant line (I had to) on the right you'll be fine. I installed 6 new spark plugs, 6 coil packs, 2 new valve covers & gaskets, 2 camshaft sensors and mass air flow sensor. Figure do it all while you're under there oh yeah and clean your throttle body.
You did the right thing. Always do the “while you have it all apart” items as well with that intake plenum out of the way.😊
Looks complicated but once u get in there its quick and easy i did a 2015 qx60 it took about two hrs first time
I like the way you describe how to do this in laymen's terms. Great job!
Great video, thanks. I especially like that you don't mind admitting your mistakes, it says a lot about the kind of person you are. It also reminds viewers to pay attention to those details.
Lol yep, thanks sir.
I took my 2002 Nissan maxima se 3.5l 6 speed manual to a mechanic shop for this service. They charged my $800. Car was running extremely well before I brought it to them, after I got it back there was a huge easily visible oil leak, steam /white smoke shooting from the engine, service engine light is on and it barely starts now. I'm towing it to my brothers trusted mechanic on Monday and hopefully they will be able to fix it properly. Thx for the vid bro I wish you were in my city I'd definitely be happy to pay you for your proper services
Appreciate that. Bet they crushed the gasket and torqued it down out of place causing the big oil leak.
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair thanks for the reply. Do you think a compitent mechanic will be able to fix it properly?
Of course. The back one can be tricky. That’s why I put a little bit of silicone into the valve cover grooves to help hold the gasket in place before reinstalling it.
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair also do you think that $800 was a rip off? If it was fixed properly would $800 be fair?
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair thanks for the replys man I'll message you when /if I can get it fixed up properly
Thank you for the video. It boosted my confidence in doing the repair by a factor of 10.👍
Thanks. Good luck.
Great video! I used to own a Hyundai accent and wow, it was so easy to work on and almost repair free Nissan might be a great car but I just got the van (Quest). It's insane what is required to just change a spark plug!
Thanks bro i couldn't have done the rear one without your video. U da man!
No problem
Thank you buddy, I found this very helpful. I have a 2004 Infiniti I35 and it would of cost me close to $1,000 just for labor. It’s crazy how our mechanics/technicians pray on us hardworking citizens who barely have enough to get by. The dealerships are worse! They print me a $2,500 bill, and said it’ll take up 15hrs of labor. Smh... They wouldn’t even let me bring my own parts. When I asked why it was so high, they said because it’s a luxury car that’s why. I had to buy theirs. I’ll probably never own another Nissan product ever again. Thanks again!
That’s exactly why I make these videos. I’m glad you found it helpful.
Please upload other helpful projects when you get the chance.
Luttie Tune will do. I do have other videos up on my channel. If you are looking for something specific I may be able to help you out, just let me know.
I appreciate you for getting back with me bro. I need to reset idle for my throttle body sensor. I have an 04 Infiniti I35 same engine. I was cleaning it while it was still attached to the manifold. The RPM is jumping a little between 1000-2500 but not badly. It’s not really affecting my driving just a little distracting.
Luttie Tune sure, there are quite a few steps involved but I will write them here so that you can get this done. You will want to perform this stuff after the car has sat overnight. There are 3 different procedures that need to be done. I will list them as 1,2,3 and the steps will be listed as A,B,C, and so on...
Please read the last procedure carefully BEFORE starting the entire thing. As it is very time bound.
1. Accelerator Released position:
a. Make sure Pedro is FULLY released.
b. Turn ignition ON (don’t start the car) wait at least 2 seconds.
c. Turn ignition off, wait at least 10 seconds.
d.Repeat these steps for a second time.
e. Take key out of the ignition when you are done with the second go around.
2. Throttle valve closed position:
a. Make sure pedal is FULLY released.
b. Turn ignition ON. Wait 3 seconds.
c. Turn ignition OFF. Wait at least 10 seconds. Make sure you hear the throttle valve operating sound. (Tip: if you do this inside the garage with the passenger window open, you can hear the valve move)
d. Remove key from the ignition.
3. Idle air volume learn:
a. Make sure pedal is FULLY released.
b. Turn ignition ON, wait 3 seconds.
c. AFTER you wait the 3 seconds above, WITHIN 5 seconds FULLY depress the pedal 5 times smoothly.
d. Wait 7 seconds, then FULLY depress the pedal to the floor and HOLD IT. After about 10-12 seconds the Check engine light will switch from steady to a blinking light. CONTINUE TO HOLD the pedal still and after about 9 seconds the light will go back to steady.
e. Release the pedal FULLY and start the car within 3 seconds.
f. Allow to idle for 20 seconds.
g. Lightly rev the engine several times to confirm the idle speed returns back to normal.
h. After several revs and the car returns to normal idle, the relearn is complete.
Hope this helps!
This dude always has the videos I need.
Thanks for the video I think I'll try to do it myself cyl #5 has oil on the spark plug
Thanks for the video. Really helpful to work on my Nissan Altima 3.5se. 👍👍
Thanks for such great videos. (single mom/hates going to repair shop due to disrespect)
Of course.
Good stuff, thanks for taking time to make this video!
Great video I'm doing this on a 2005 Nissan Altima 3.5L today.
Bead of silicone on the head is unnecessary and not recommended on the factory service manual (FSM - found by googling "NICO altima FSM") I'd forgo it but it surely doesnt hurt if installed properly. Great tutorial here.
The FSM does require a bead of anaerobic liquid gasket maker on the cover itself at the corners near the front of the engine, and a bead of RTV on the outside of the gasket at the same location -see FSM for exact location, and untightening and tightening sequences and tourques.
Lol. This is too much. This channel is NOT for people who work as professional mechanics. Black RTV is fine and has been fine for YEARS. I leave it to the viewers discretion if they want to use it or not.
BATTERY POST REMOVAL
He does very good job
Nice video really helpful.. if i dont have a torch ranch can i use the power drill torch same are you are using .. i have dwelt 12v battery drill it has 1 to 11 and the the hammer .. please let me know thanks
You can, however those generally struggle to loosen tough bolts. They certainly can be used to spin bolts back in but follow up with a ratchet to make sure they are tight
Great video easy to understand well done
Thanks!
Got a 2002 Infiniti i35 that needs a valve cover gasket replaced . Search around shops and it cost a lot of $ to get fixed . Luckily made phone calls and found a family member with good mechanic cheap price . Hopefully the engine didn't cause damage
No damage will occur to the engine UNLESS it is ran low on oil because of the leak.
Thanks for sharing
Great video ,I like it 👍🏼
Good Afternoon Helping Handing, outstanding. So I have a bit of oil at the front by the dipstick safe to say Valve Cover Gasket. My questions:
1.) I need to do this and change my spark plugs and coils, do I need plenum gaskets for the Spark Plugs and Coil area??
2.) Also I need to remove the ABS Module, any pointers on getting the module off while I'm doing the Gasket, Plugs and Coils?? Thanks in advance look forward to hearing from you.
Marty
1. You can change the spark plugs while you’re doing this job. Changing the coils isn’t necessary. The plenum gasket is reusable but you can replace it if you would like.
2. Forgive me but I need to refresh my memory on how that abs unit is mounted.
Ok after trying to familiarize myself with where that abs unit is located on these cars. It appears to be down behind the engine on the passenger side as I am sure you know already. Removing the upper intake manifold will make reaching around the engine a bit easier. They usually aren’t held down by many bolts, maybe a few at most. I think removing the brake lines will put up the most grief. You will want to invest in the correct wrenches for removing flare nuts. It is called a flare but wrench. I’m going to bet the sizes are 12mm or 10mm. Sorry I can’t really offer much by ways of instructions, I simply have not needed to pull one off before.
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair Good Morning HHAR, thanks a Mill for the detailed response! Two last question, you mentioned rubber hoses @ (17:55) being brittle could break, 1.) How do I know which replacement hoses to buy is there a one size fits all ( this real help here)??
2.) Lastly, how do you clean the Valve Covers once removed, can you spray paint them, soap & water, what??
BEMarty Three You can order that specific part from the dealership or you can simply take the hose down to the parts store and just match up the size and buy about a foot and a half and cut it to length. That’s what I do on these every time if they break. Will cost you about $2-3 max.
As far as cleaning the entire valve cover (top and bottom I assume?) you can use brake cleaner to clean out the oil inside. Or soap and water. You can clean it with anything really. You can spray paint the outside if you would like with high temp spray paint.
Geez I remember when cars were so easy to work on. This is an awful ton of work to get the rear valve cover off. Having to invest in tools, sockets, and tips that will rarely get used is a pain. Having to remove the plenum to get to the rear gasket, to me, put this in the almost not serviceable category because while one would rather not pay someone to do the job, there are way better ways to spend the day than dealing with that mess. With all the lines and hoses, you could be looking at spending even more money if one were to break of split. Which could delay getting back on the road. And if it's your only car, you're in trouble.
I can't even imagine how much it would cost to have someone do the job.
Hey Helping hand Auto Repair, where are you located. I might just bring my car in for service to replace the valve covers, coil packs, spark plugs camshaft sensors, mass air flow sensor and anything else we find while the car is in the shop. Thank you in advance.
I live in the Bay Area.
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair Thank you but I am all the way in NYC. Don't think the car will make it there. Thanks again
Sorry I am not closer.
thank you! this is the exact video I need to fix my baby that I got from day one. could you let me know if the coolant has to be removed before this process? thank you!
I need to do this on my wife's 2002 i35. Thanks for all the detail. I did have one question. Do you or they recommend any gasket sealant on the intake runner?
Mark Eden No. don’t use anything on the manifold other than the gasket.
Hi Mark. did you get the Valve cover changed? If so how difficult. any advice for a newbie? Sealant use??
How many hrs should one plan for this job?
I would say 3-4 hours.
Is this is the same as a 2001 infiniti i30, The i35 is just a different model of the shell of car, right?
Wait, im probably wrong
You are correct in that the i30/35 is essentially a Maxima. However your 2001 i30 has the earlier 3.0 liter V6. So while the process is pretty similar, there are glaring differences that will not be the same.
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair hey thanks for clearing that up much appreciated!
No new intake manifold gasket?
They are reusable
Thank you for the video!! I have a i35 2002 and there is oil leaking from the seal by oil dip stick up by the yellow pull handle. Is that this gasket? Thanks in advanced if you can answer this!
Think I just answered my question lol that would be a yes.
Justyn Holder Yes. You will want to replace both valve cover gaskets. The part will come with both gaskets for each cylinder head.
Did you ever change valve cover gaskets? I have the same car 02 I35
Hey. Thank you for this video. I'm currently in the process of doing this. I believe there's a little bit of coolant in my oil from k the looks of my valve covers. I'm thinking the head gaskets are blown but I performed a compression test and it surprisingly did well. I'm not sure what to do. Is it possible for coolant to get in through the Intake manifold somehow?
I don’t recall if there are any coolant passageways in the intake manifold. I don’t believe there are if memory serves. A compression test won’t tell the complete story, a leak down test would also be a good idea to further pinpoint a specific cylinder.
Thanks for the Great Video,
I have nissan maxima 2008 and with Service Engine Soon its showing P0300 and P0301 code. Also shown the car to one of Mechanic and he mentioned repair on both Gaskets due to oil leaks everywhere so he quoted approximate 600$. So will he change only valve gasket cover or both the Gaskets shelf itself. Not able to reach out to him, but will fixing this Gaskets valve Gasket cover resolve the SES codes as well ? Any thoughts ?
Well P0301 relates specifically to cylinder 1 misfiring. The cause of the misfire can be a few things.
Worn spark plug
Bad coil pack
Bad fuel injector
Oil soaked coil boot
If you pull out the coil packs and find oil on the bottoms of them or oil in the spark plug holes, then you should definitely replace the valve cover gaskets and spark plug tube seals. They normally come as a kit with both in them.
The P0300 *can* be a byproduct of the P0301 so when you’re done with the repair for the 301 code, delete the codes with a scanner and then drive the car to see if the P0300 code comes back.
Hope this makes sense, feel free to ask anything else and I will try to answer your questions.
About how long does this repair take? Thanks.
Bryan Algood SRT aside 2-3 hours if it’s your first time.
Thanks!@@HelpingHandAutoRepair
I have a 2003 Maxima with the same engine. Does it have rocker arms?
No.
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair Thank you
Can you replace only 1 valve gasket or should i do both?
They are normally sold in sets. Should replace both
Perfect
Do I have to reset the throttle body idle after removing the sensor?
No
Thanks bro!
Yep!
Same engine in the infiniti i35
Electric yes it is
How much shoul I charge for this service. (Florida US)
$200 labor for me.
What about the tube seals? They are glued in and will destroy the cover if removal is done experience taught this to me. new covers are the only way to get rid of misfires due to oil in the tube areas
If you pull your plugs and have oil on any of them, then yes you need new valve covers. This engine had ZERO oil on any plugs. This is why only the valve cover gaskets were done.
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair Once you disturb those tube seals which are as old and hard as the gaskets you just replaced they will leak and cause misfires in the near if not the immediate future and do it all over again. I don't need the practice myself...
@@cathygambill1554 car was sold to a friend and 2 years later and 40k more miles. No issues.
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair Wish I had some of your luck lol
@@cathygambill1554 lol. Hey it’s not always like that. I don’t understand why they would even make the tube seals like that in the first place. It’s pretty dumb.
Hey i have an 07 max its smoking after sitting for 2 months not sure if its the valve cover gaskets.
It was leaking from power steering before and i dropped coolant changing radiator. Doesnt seem like it leaks but smoke from engine after 20 mins still
Smokes from the mufflers? Or smoke is coming off the engine? If it is coming off of the engine/exhaust manifolds, then there is a high chance that oil has dropped down onto the exhaust and is now burning.
hey man what are the torque specs?
I think I say them as I work on them. However you could just google them. Sorry. This was awhile ago.
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair you’re all good bro appreciate the video helped a lot
How hard would this be for someone doing this for the first time? I have a 1995 Maxima which has the 3.0 engine. Shop wants to charge $500 for both valve cover. But I can get the part for $20-$40. I'm scare I'm going to take the thing apart and not be able to put it back together. Also does torque spec really matter especially the intake manifold?
This would be a 7/10 on the difficulty scale for a first timer. This video also is a different engine than what’s in your 1995 Maxima. Those have the earlier 3.0L engine and the engine in my video is a 3.5L.
The 3.0L is a harder job IMO. The throttle body/coolant hose area is a real PITA to work around. Don’t get me wrong, it’s doable, just time consuming. You can follow this video loosely to guide you through the “steps” of what needs to happen. However please understand that engine shown in this video won’t have the same connectors and wiring harness and bracket locations.
Hey dude i’m redoing my valve cover because that elbow piece broke. Do the valve elbows connect to each other??? or does that go into the manifold, experiencing leaks and trimmed fuel
what i mean by that is in replacing the bank 1 valve cover, does the elbow go back into the intake manifold or does it connect around to the bank 2 valve cover
What elbow?
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair the elbows on the valve covers, those are connected correct?
This video was awhile ago. Are you talking about the PCV breather hoses?
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair yes i think so
Thanks
Man, appreciate your video! I got it all buttoned back up--wire harnesses and hoses. Everything--I'm pretty sure--still checking. While I was in there, replaced the spark plugs and coil on plug/boots on the packs. When I fire it up, idles real rough. Drove it around the block. Missing a lot of power. Service engine soon light started flashing. Got it back in the garage. From what I can tell, seems like a misfire on cylinder(s). Or could it be a vacuum leak? I know might be hard to say, but appreciate any thoughts you might have.
Going to borrow a code reader tomorrow. See if I can narrow it down. Are iridium plugs okay? Using these www.autozone.com/external-engine/spark-plug/ngk-ix-iridium-spark-plug-4469/937722_0_0
Check engine light should point you in the correct direction. Those plugs are fine.
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair Thanks. I'm pretty inexperienced, but maybe have a vacuum leak. Can hear a whistling noise intermittently. Code is general cylinder misfire P0300. Man, not sure where it is coming from. 0300 is a pretty general code, and could be a lot f things, but had no problems before changing plugs and fixing these gaskets. Appreciate any thoughts you might have.
Could I have tightened the upper intake manifold down incorrectly? Guess I could have. I tightened all 5 bolts/nuts to the 180 in-lbs, and made sure the two in the back in the bracket were solid. I also used a new gasket. Worth taking off and reseating it maybe... When I hit the accelerator, I can hear the whistling noise grow.
I picked up a vacuum gauge from harbor freight and teed into the line coming immediately out of the intake manifold. It sits at a solid 18 in. Hg. The engine is struggling so much though that when I hit the accelerator, the needle does not snap back to zero. It drops slightly and bumps up to 25 or so, then settles back at 18. It seems that I can rule out vacuum leak? Maybe fork for new coils? I am going to replace the PCV valve probably because it wouldn't hurt, but not thinking it will solve this problem.
great thanks
I was told that on these engines you have to replace the valve covers themselves as well is that correct?
No. On some the the later VQ engines, they need to be replaced as an entire unit.
I have a 2008 so would that be One of the ones that need the valve covers? Thank you for all your help
Derek Smith you’re welcome. Let me first rephrase what I said earlier. You are correct by people saying the entire valve cover needs to be replaced. This is true ONLY if you have oil leaking down into the spark plug holes. If there isn’t a drop of oil down on the spark plugs/coil pack boots, then you’re good to just replace the outer valve cover gaskets as shown in this video.
If you do have oil on your spark plugs/coil pack boots, then you will need to replace the entire valve cover with new ones because the tube seals are very well embedded into the center baffle of the valve cover.
My 2000 nissian maxima has oil in my spark plug #5 do you have video for that?
The Valve cover gaskets need to be replaced
Any reason why you didn't change the whole valve cover on both sides? The spark plug tube seals will eventually leak and they are not replaceable. Had the rear vc done on my 2003 Maxima for that reason and now need to do the front.
funds of the customer weren’t able to do so. This car was being sold so they opted on just the gaskets.
Where are you located?
California
There is no "front"or "back" valve cover.
The diagram says left or right.
Can someone tell me which is which?
It would depend on what direction that diagram has the person looking at it.
If it has you standing looking at the engine then left would be the back and right would be the front.
If it has you looking from the back of the engine, then left would be the front and right would be the back.
Hope this makes sense.
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair I figured it out. When sitting in the driver seat is what they go by.
How much can a mechanic charge for this labor work ?
Probably 350-500
I figured thanks for heads up need this done on my i35
What does this repair cost?
At the dealership? Probably over $1,000. A local repair shop, probably around $650-750.
The task at hand
Lots of great comments. Bro you should unhook the battery 🔋 though just saying
30.20 is where the front starts
YOU A FUCKING LIFESAVER!!!
GREAT VIDEO VERY DETAILED AND I HAD NO PROBLEM AT ALL THANK YOU BRO!!!💯💯💯
Would this work on an 07 Maxima v6 3.5? I just got back from Jiffy Lube and their trying to clean me $1K lmao
Same engines. It would be similar but not exactly the same
HELP..........Hi Helping Hand or anybody who can help me out. I followed this video to the smallest detail as that 10mm bolt on the back of the bracket was killer, but we got it off.
My question HH or anybody if you remember, I'm ready to remove the Intake manifold, but it won't budge on the right side like yours did in this video as yours lifted smoothly to right and rested. Mines lifts off the foundation (mating surface), but it's so much attached to the right side it seems like that there's much more I need to remove, but I removed only the things you did in this video.
Do I need to remove more hoses on the right side, I don't want to force anything drop anything or break anything lol.. Infiniti I35 2002--HELP.........................................
Not sure since I’m not looking at your exact hang up. Just take a look at what’s still attached and take it off.
@@HelpingHandAutoRepair Simple enough, but your method seem like the easiest without removing all the additional hoses i.e. coolant, clamps and sensors like they did in some of the other vids.
It’s probably something simple holding it up. Just have to look closely.
Why is it that vq35 in sedans, especially the altima from my experience
That car has got high speed
Not sure what you mean. VQ35 is also in the 350z and that is quicker than these altimas for sure.
dont forget coil seals!!!!
What
You forgot to mention the 3, 12mm on the very back of the manifold 😑
I never forget. People just don’t actually watch the video and pay attention to it 😑