98XC70 Tune Up - Easy to Remove the Intercooler/Turbo Pipe?

[AJ1G]

I'm going to do a tune up on my 98 V70XC in the morning. Great tutorials here on the plugs/wires/and distributor cap remove/replace. However, I did not see any info on making access easier by removing the intercooler to turbo inlet hard pipe that is ever so conveniently run right over the top of the distributor cap. I did see some people complaining about how it really screws up access to the distributor cap area. Any reason NOT to remove it to help access? It looks easy enough to remove, the screw heads for the band clamps, luckily so on the turbo inlet end, should be an easy reach with a screwdriver or ratchet with the right size socket.

Chris, Stonington, CT
98 V70XC FWD 211K

[charlyW]

No reason to remove it to get access as long as you note the position of any plugs/connectors on it. Should be a 7mm socket or 1/4inch or a screwdriver

[AJ1G]

Did the tune up, pulled the pipe. Made it very easy to get access to the No. 5 plug and to remove and reinstall the new plug wires. The pipe connects to a rubber hose at the intercooler end and a short rubber hose coupling at the turbo. Easy peasy. Gave me an opportunity to check for oil from leaking seals at the turbo. There was a slight film on the metal pipe nipple inside the turbo end hose coupling, but nothing significant inside the turbo itself. If you take the pipe off, put a rag in the hole to prevent anything from falling in to the turbo while you are working near it. With the pipe out of the way and the airbox completely removed, very easy access to the bottom retainer screw on the distributor cap (and everything else at that end of the engine, including the ABS module - but for me that's a job for another day.)