1996 Ford Crown Victoria Intake manifold

EKIMK

MEMBER
1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
112,000 MILES

I have just replaced my second intake manifold at a cost of $1,600 and only after 26,000 miles. I have 2 concerns: 1) I know Ford built a piece of garbage here, but I thought they fixed it after the first recall (which I did not qualify for). 2) The first manifold, when it blew, I could see the rip clearly through the outside of the plastic. This second one, I was told, was a small crack on the inside and barely visible when the manifold was hot (I did not see it). I also had a hose leaking coolant on the top of the manifold. How do I know the hose wasn't the problem and not the second manifold? I have the second manifold in storage.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

1 Reply

2CARPRO JACK

MECHANIC
11,533 POSTS

The updates to the manifold were an aluminum crossover in the front where the alt bolts up, and a metal hose fitting for the heater hose on the pass side rear of themanifold. It sounds strange that the manifold would only last that long. Without the manifold installed, so that a pressure test can be done, there isnt any real way of telling what the original leak was. May have been the hose, or there is a hard line under the intake that leaks as well