chazglenn3 Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 I was driving to work this morning and decided it was a good time for a wide open throttle blast. Just prior to the redline, the engine made a strange noise, and now it is considerably louder than it has been. The exhaust note is louder just aft of the engine on the drivers side. I wonder if I blew out a gasket of some kind. I can't see any damage, but it is certainly much noiser than it was before. Ideas? Happen to anyone else before? Charles Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadillac STS Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 catalytic converter????? exhaust leak of some sort? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldoman95 Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 is it a whining noise? does it get louder upon motor acceleration? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chazglenn3 Posted October 16, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 Yes, I think it is an exhaust leak of some sort. It sounds like it is coming from directly ahead of the catalytic converter. Almost right near the rear manifold oxygen sensor, but maybe a little closer to the drivers side. Major bummer. It was fine before I romped on it. At least it still drives fine, just noisier. Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chazglenn3 Posted October 16, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 is it a whining noise? does it get louder upon motor acceleration? No, it is not a whining noise, it is a louder exhaust type of noise from the front instead of out the tailpipes. Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldoman95 Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 from the way you describe it i could sugest you look at the exhust from underneth.. where the header conects to the cat there are 2 bolts. that area rusts fairly easily, cause you have a 96 i can imagine yours will have that problem too. if theres a leak there the exhust could be louder closer to the drivers side cause thats the side it runs on. if the noise is coming from under the hood on the pass side and gets louder on revving, it could be a pully. had that prob on my eldo. tensioner was bad. made a bad whining noise when i accelerated. as far as repairs. just get new pipes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chazglenn3 Posted October 16, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 Thanks, I'll have to get under it and check the pipes out. Is there any sort of gasket between the pipe junctions that could have blown? Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldoman95 Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 possible they break down too. you can get a heavy duty ruber one aftermarkert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chazglenn3 Posted October 16, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 I'll look into it, thanks. By the way, I am born and raised on the south side of Chicago. I replied to your other post about being cold. It is getting to be that time of year in the Midwest...bundle up Charles Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldoman95 Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 off topic again but man, todays been colder than any day yet. gonna be a long winter this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regis Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 Fortunately it only sounds like an exhaust leak. When you hit the gas hard it knocked out a section of rust. Since it's getting cold it shouldn't be too hard to see the leaking exhaust. I punched a hole through one of my mufflers a few years back doing a WOT. Sounded real mean at first and I liked it for about a week and then the hole got bigger. Ugly sound. "Burns" rubber " I've never considered myself to be all that conservative, but it seems the more liberal some people get the more conservative I become. " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 I think there might be a "doughnut" gasket where the exhaust pipe meets the manifold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chazglenn3 Posted October 16, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 I think there might be a "doughnut" gasket where the exhaust pipe meets the manifold. That is the area the sound is coming from...it seems to be right at the manifold/exhaust pipe junction. If that is what it is, can I get one at the local Autozone, or will I have to go bend over at the Cadillac dealer? Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adallak Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 you will easier "see" the exhaust leak if someone power brakes on a hoist while you are watching from beneath. be careful! The saddest thing in life is wasted talent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poobah Posted October 16, 2004 Report Share Posted October 16, 2004 I would take it to a muffler shop - no need to go to the stealership for an exhaust problem! From the responses so far, it doesen't sound like a major or expensive repair. Happiness is owning a Cadillac with no codes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted October 17, 2004 Report Share Posted October 17, 2004 I am sure you could get the "doughnut" at any auto parts store but as Poobah said, it will be easier to go to Midas or some such place and may not be much more expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chazglenn3 Posted October 17, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2004 Excellent idea! I will venture off to one of the muffler shops around here and see what they say. Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chazglenn3 Posted October 17, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2004 I decided to take a look underneath before I took it to a muffler shop. Eureka! I found two loose nuts at the catalytic convertor/exhaust pipe connection. Both of the top nuts were loose! So, I tightened them up and started her and the car rumbles just like it used to! I was just in the garage but I am getting ready to go out and drive it to see if that fixed it for sure. I was scared to crank down on the nuts too hard, as the bolts may be weakened from the heat...so I just snugged them up good. Charles Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poobah Posted October 17, 2004 Report Share Posted October 17, 2004 Be sure to go out and give it a couple of good WOT's (just to make sure everything is OK!) Happiness is owning a Cadillac with no codes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adallak Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 I decided to take a look underneath before I took it to a muffler shop. Eureka! I found two loose nuts at the catalytic convertor/exhaust pipe connection. Both of the top nuts were loose! So, I tightened them up and started her and the car rumbles just like it used to! I was just in the garage but I am getting ready to go out and drive it to see if that fixed it for sure. I was scared to crank down on the nuts too hard, as the bolts may be weakened from the heat...so I just snugged them up good. Cool. Perhaps makes sense to replace both nuts and bolts if test proves they were the culprits. The saddest thing in life is wasted talent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chazglenn3 Posted October 18, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 Test drive turned out great! The weather isn't agreeable to WOT blasts right now, however. The bolts look rusted in place, but I like the idea of replacing them, anyway. I am off work tomorrow, that might be a good project to take on. Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranger Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 I wouldn't take the chance of breaking one of those bolts. I'd just tighten them down good and leave well enough alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chazglenn3 Posted October 18, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 I see, Grasshopper...."if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Very wise advice. They look like they could break pretty easily, that's why I said I didn't crank down on them. I will go with your suggestion and leave well enough alone. Thanks Ranger! Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldoman95 Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 im back from the weekend... I Knew it! glad to hear of your success. have fun with er. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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