I just pulled out my PCV valve in an attempt to replace it. The old grommet is completely brittle and slightly broken around the edge. Does anyone have a clue as to how to get this thing out without it breaking and falling into the hole?

It's an 88 4runner 6 cylinder so the area is in a really tight spot. Please help.

 

You could take a shop vac or better yet, a carwash vacuum cleaner nearby the hole when you remove it so any pieces will get sucked out instead of falling in.

 

I just grabed the valve with pliers and pulled carefully. I listened for cracking and made sure I pulled up and not side to side and it came out without issue. In other words, very carfully.

 

Is the entire thing brittle? Or did it just break around that lip with the tube still sticking out?

Mine broke at the lip but was as hard as a rock leaving very few options for taking it out. It was stuck REALLY well and refused to come out. I actually came here and vented quite a lot about it
A small spray of WD-40 and a LOT of elbow grease and the thing eventually came out.

 

If it has already started cracking then you will probably not be able to get it out without it falling apart and into the engine. So you might as well pull the intake plenum and do it the right way. And no vacuum is going to fit there. The replacement is $6 from toyota.

:bounce2:

 

Well I really did a number on this thing. The plyers ended up pulling the entire lip off the grommet and the remaining portion has gotten wedged even further into the hole.

It looks like I'm going to be removing the intake...