Big Jim
Hard-core CEG'er
I thought I would pass on what I learned today.
P1518 is IMRC (intake manifold runner control) stuck open.
If you have this code, take enough apart before buying an IMRC box to confirm that the linkage between the two banks of secondaries is in place. My story is as follows.
If the 1st retaining clip, the one on the bellcrank where the IMRC cable attaches, that holds the linkage rod between the two banks of secondaries breaks, eventually the rod will jam the bellcrank partly open, setting the above code.
The other end of the rod is easy to see, but the one at the bellcrank is nearly impossible to see unless you remove the throttle body.
When my check engine light came on and I pulled the P1518 code, I could tell that the cable wasn't moving. I could not see the linkage disconnect, so assumed the most likely cause was the IMRC box, and bought one. When I went to install the box, I found the clip broken and the linkage out and jamming the butterflys open.
It was at night, so I tried tying the rod in place. It lasted about 10 minutes of driving and fell off again, jamming the butterflys open again.
Much to my surprise, the local ford dealer had one in stock so I picked it up this morning and set about to install it. I had no trouble getting the old one out, but could not get the new one in position to press it into place, even with the throttle body removed. After several attempts, including making a tool to hold clip while trying to press it in I determined that there was not enough access without removing the upper intake manifold.
So off the manifold came. Access was still awkward, but good enough. The new clip installed, the rod back int place.
But with the intake off, I couldn't see putting it back together without cleaning it. Cleaning it loaded up whatever cylinders with open valves with cleaning fluids. Not wanting to hydraulic the engine I pulled the plugs (very easy with the intake off) to crank the engine over and blow out the cylinders. Good thing I did, as one cylinder seemed to be completely full. I'm glad I had a pile of rags over the spark plug holes or the junk would have made a mess of the engine compartment.
Since I'm less than 1000 miles short of the 240,000 mile service, new plugs went in.
It was too late to obtain new intake gaskets, so I was very careful with them, gently wiping them down and cleaning the mating surface on the upper intake. The old gasket looked fine, and all went back together well. The throttle body gasket and EGR gasket also were fine and reused.
So for the want of a $7.50 retainer clip (and overpriced at that), I ended up spending the morning pulling the upper intake, cleaning the lower intake, replacing plugs, and replacing the clip. Be prepared for all that effort, but the IMRC box is fine.
P1518 is IMRC (intake manifold runner control) stuck open.
If you have this code, take enough apart before buying an IMRC box to confirm that the linkage between the two banks of secondaries is in place. My story is as follows.
If the 1st retaining clip, the one on the bellcrank where the IMRC cable attaches, that holds the linkage rod between the two banks of secondaries breaks, eventually the rod will jam the bellcrank partly open, setting the above code.
The other end of the rod is easy to see, but the one at the bellcrank is nearly impossible to see unless you remove the throttle body.
When my check engine light came on and I pulled the P1518 code, I could tell that the cable wasn't moving. I could not see the linkage disconnect, so assumed the most likely cause was the IMRC box, and bought one. When I went to install the box, I found the clip broken and the linkage out and jamming the butterflys open.
It was at night, so I tried tying the rod in place. It lasted about 10 minutes of driving and fell off again, jamming the butterflys open again.
Much to my surprise, the local ford dealer had one in stock so I picked it up this morning and set about to install it. I had no trouble getting the old one out, but could not get the new one in position to press it into place, even with the throttle body removed. After several attempts, including making a tool to hold clip while trying to press it in I determined that there was not enough access without removing the upper intake manifold.
So off the manifold came. Access was still awkward, but good enough. The new clip installed, the rod back int place.
But with the intake off, I couldn't see putting it back together without cleaning it. Cleaning it loaded up whatever cylinders with open valves with cleaning fluids. Not wanting to hydraulic the engine I pulled the plugs (very easy with the intake off) to crank the engine over and blow out the cylinders. Good thing I did, as one cylinder seemed to be completely full. I'm glad I had a pile of rags over the spark plug holes or the junk would have made a mess of the engine compartment.
Since I'm less than 1000 miles short of the 240,000 mile service, new plugs went in.
It was too late to obtain new intake gaskets, so I was very careful with them, gently wiping them down and cleaning the mating surface on the upper intake. The old gasket looked fine, and all went back together well. The throttle body gasket and EGR gasket also were fine and reused.
So for the want of a $7.50 retainer clip (and overpriced at that), I ended up spending the morning pulling the upper intake, cleaning the lower intake, replacing plugs, and replacing the clip. Be prepared for all that effort, but the IMRC box is fine.
