Ok I figured out the EGR tube/pipe is cracked of course! It can never be something simple. So the question is, how hard is it to replace? do I really have to drop the tranny or remove the intake? Any info anybody could give me would be much appreciated

 

please search.

 

Any way you look at it, it's a b**** of a job. I couldn't even get the two small nuts off the lower portion where it connects to the manifold, they are completely rusted. If it's just cracked, you may be able to get some muffler putty on the crack to get you by temporarily. That's what I did, it cut the noise down by 50% or more. I am just hoping it holds up until my car needs a starter or the tranny removed. This is the last big thing my car needs that I haven't already done. If I remember right, an independent shop quoted around $500 in labor only to replace the pipe. The pipe itself is $120 I believe. Let us know how it turns out.