Here is an updated image after I replaced the IMRC.
Took me all but 5 minutes to do this.
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AND upon further inspection of the old part and the new part, the plastic piece where the vacuum hoses were attached was NOT held on by crimped metal tabs. The crimped metal tabs were holding on the metal end which held the plastic piece in place. The plastic piece that the vacuum hoses were attached to was broke at the top and bottom. (The only places it could break.) Very bad design in my opinion.
In my opinion the cause for the plastic piece to fail was because of the rust. The rust expanded and caused the plastic to fail and break from stress.
Here is two images of the old rusted, broken IMRC after removal.
You can clearly see in the images below where the plastic failed and broke. Circled in red.
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You can also see how the rust built up and expanded and obviously caused the part to fail.
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This was one of the easiest fixes I have ever had to do on this truck.
Here is how I did it.
1. Disconnected the negative cable from the battery.
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- 8mm bolt on my 2003 Ford Ranger
- Losen slightly, twist and pull the negative cable off.
2. Removed the 8mm bolt from the IMRC.
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- The bolt was slightly rusted but I was easily able to
- force the 8mm socket on and remove the bolt from the plastic
- intake manifold.
3. Unplugged the electrical connector from the old IMRC.
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- Gently so as to not break the tab off the electrical
- connector, pull the tab outward with your fingernail or
- a small screwdriver and pull gently on the plug not
- the wires.
4. Unplugged the vacuum hoses from the plastic on the IMRC.
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- Gently twist and pull the vacuum hoses off the IMRC one
- by one. Pull the front one off first then the lower.
- It is very important to remember which hose is which.
- Thoroughly inspect the vacuum hoses for cracks and breaks.
I reversed this procedure to install the new IMRC.
Too easy...