My girlfiend's '99 Protege LX (1.8L) has an intake leak at the intake manifold to the head. I think the manifold gasket may be the culprit. I removed the fuel-rail/injectors and unbolted the upper part from the VICS - but I couldn't get the upper manifold off. There are two studs on the VICS and two on the head that will not allow me to remove the upper manifold. They both get in the way.

I'm trying to replace the manifold gasket today - so any help would be greatly apprecaited!

 

It took a bit of wrestling - but it can be done! I unbolted the support bracket from the bottom of the block and then had to wrestle the intake manifold off. The EGR tube was holding the lower part of the manifold in place - but I finally wriggled it out. It was still a PITA - but better than removing the whole intake!

The gasket seemed to have fallen apart on its own - a whole chunk was missing between cyl 2-3. Very odd. But it fixed the vacuum leak and the "Too lean" P0170 code!