Hello guys! Im new here and new to the whole car thing. I just saved up for my first car which is my 2002 tl-s. I got it in perfect condition for 200,000 miles, but all it had was an exhaust leak. I figured that the old gasket was bad so i wanna change it but tbh idk where to start. Can someone please walk me through step by step? Thanks in advance! ohh and btw im 17 if anyone wanted to know.

 

17yr old? Well its going to be a little bit hard for DIY if you don't have much experience around Cars.


You will need to jack up your car and Look for the J-Pipe (The Exhaust tube that connects both headers into the Cat) that must be un-done in order to remove the problematic header from the Head.


So step by step DIY quickie:


1.- Remove Upstream Oxygen Sensor
2.- Remove the bolts on the J-Pipe from the Cat (Must be 3)
3.- Remove the bolts holding the J-Pipe into the headers
4.- J-Pipe comes down
5.- Remove headers Heat Shields (2 Bolts)
6.- Remove headers from Heads
7.- Remove old gasket and install the new one
8.- Reverse procedure to Finish.




But are you completely sure its a Header Gasket leak?? Its not pretty common for it to leak.


Hope that helps you out.

 

thanks for the guide ill try it as soon as the sun comes up! and im not really sure if its the gasket thats making it leak but i guess ill find out, also im not completely alone i have my brother who can help me but i really want to do it myself.

 

^ That's the Spirit! It isn't very hard to do just very time consuming! Good Luck on the Work!

 

Before anything try to pin point the exhaust leak, highly doubt its the exhaust manifold gaskets since its not a common problem with these cars.
Is the check engine light on ?
Try posting a video of it.

 

the check engine light is on but there is really no problem on with the engine that is visible. i tried to pinpoint where the leak is from and its coming from right in between the engine and the header.

 

I would scan it for codes first, Auto parts do it free of charge.
Got a feeling the oxygen sensor is not installed or loose but Im just guessing there.