Changing intake gasket on 5.3L Flex Fuel

[flainn]

Hi folks, I have a 2004 Tahoe, 5.3 flex fuel engine.

I need to replace my intake manifold gasket. Keeps running lean, throwing CEL, etc.

The challenge is unhooking the injectors. They have this "Connector Position Assurance" locking mechanism that I've read about, but I haven't been able to find any good instructions (or, better yet, an illustration) about how to undo them.

Does anyone have any advice for how you unlock these things? I couldn't get very far on the job the other afternoon, because I couldn't get a single injector unhooked.

Thanks!

 

[Brad_g]

I just changed out mine a couple weeks ago. If you mean the locking clip that keeps the wiring harness connected, that's pretty simple. You need to pull up on the grey part about a 1/4 of an inch and then the harness should pop off. I don't remember having to squeeze the connector or anything.

Hopefully you're not chasing the same gremlin I am. I have been through the intake gasket, fuel pump, filter, plugs and wires. Still stumbles and struggles to get to 45-50mph. Next I guess is the injectors themselves. I had the lean running problem also.

 

[flainn]

I'll give the injectors another try. It hasn't been as cold for the past week or so and the problem hasn't been happening.

Not sure if I'm chasing gremlins or not yet. I just did a lot of reading about the symptoms I'm experiencing -- rough running upon first start when it's below freezing, check engine light coming on, and bank 1 and bank to lean error codes -- and concluded that the intake gasket isn't sealing as well as it should be when it's cold. I hope that's all it is.

Thanks for your help.