So a few months back I got the dreaded CEL on the dash. To make a long story short it was a vacuum leak traced to the rubber boot on the back end of the intake plenum that connects to the PCV valve. I found a replacement elbow and all was well again, or so I thought.
Month later I got the CEL again, again traced it to a vacuum leak this time it was the other end of the aforementioned PCV tube. This end like the other is impossible to see without tearing half the engine apart. When I attempted to replace this elbow however I ran in to a problem. When I tried slipping the elbow on the plenum fitting it felt like it was moving. I got a small inspection mirror, contorted my body until I could get a tiny glimpse of the fitting. It definitely appeared as though it was loose in the plenum. Today I broke down and tore the plenum off to repair the "loose" fitting.
Turns out it was NOT loose, however there was a smaller diameter piece of plastic tubing sliding in and out of the fitting. I've attached photos. I also attached photos of the old PCV tube and the "updated" replacement tube, you can clearly see the differences. Sorry for the long post, but if this helps anyone else I'll feel better.
BTW, if anyone knows whether or not that piece of plastic tubing sliding inside of the fitting is normal let me know, I don't think it is.


I know the thread says PVC instead of PCV sorry.