Martsford

Hi Guys,
I'm hoping someone on here will be able to shed some light on a very annoying problem I'm having with my Focus, I recently replaced the exhaust system on my car as the old parts had gone way past their use by date, The new exhaust has been on for about 2 months now but it sounds like it's still blowing from the back end of the car, I've checked all joints and there's no air leaks anywhere, and this may sound daft but when I turn right the sound of the exhaust blowing goes away.

I've been thinking today that it is a slim possibility the exhaust system is resting on the heat shield on the underside of the car, until I turn right when gravity does it's bit and moves the pipe off. Is this likely to be the cause????

Thank you in advance for any help, it is greatly appreciated.

Mart

Hobomassiv

not sure bud but im using my parents fiesta atm and its got a similar sound.

They had the exhaust done locally with pattern part and it sounds a bit blowy.

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Sometimes cheaper replacement exhausts sound a bit louder.As it got a drain hole in the back box.

Martsford

I've been under the car a couple of times, at first I found there was a small air leak between the middle pipe and back box joint which I covered up with a bit of exhaust bandage. I initially thought it was still blowing through this but I've since been under the car again and it's air tight.

I'm hoping the weather is fine over the weekend so I can get the car on some ramps and have a good look at it, I've felt all the way round the new exhaust and can't feel any holes anywhere, and as I said in my first post it's getting really annoying, if I wanted my car to sound like a boy racers I would of bought a big bore sports exhaust system.

Just seems really strange that it's blowing apart from when I'm turning right. Which is leading me to think it is in fact resting on the heat shield of similar, and gravity is pulling it away when I'm cornering.

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Does the car have a flexy on the front pipe.

Martsford

I'm guessing you mean the part of the pipe that looks like a coiled re-inforced pipe, (don't know how else to describe it) If so, Yes it does, could it be this that's blowing?

MikeyRobbo

Back when i worked in the garage we had a customer come back about 2 weeks after we fitted the centre pipe and back box complaining it was blowing. It was air tight all along! It turned out the cat was part collapsed resulting in deep tinny sound as it vibrated through the system making it sound like it was blowing!

Martsford

Thanx Mikey, I will have to have a look properly and look at replacing the part if required.

MikeyRobbo

Get it up on a ramp and give it a good tap around the casing, if it rattles its fucked!

Martsford

Ok hopefully if the rain keeps off for long enough I'll get under it and give it a tap. Thanx all for your advice.

Martsford

Might sound a dumb question, but the cat is the part the sits just in front of the engine, or is the car the part thats under the car the looks like the coiled pipe.

MikeyRobbo

It will be a big bulge in the system, either on the mainfold or the centre section, the coiled part your going on about sounds like the flexi.

Martsford

Ok, I'll pop the bonet later when I get home and give it a tap but I did have the bonet open yesterday and rev 'd the car and the blowing sounds like its coming from the back, or doesn't it make any difference where the noise is coming from if the cat is fucked.

tommytwotanks

yes ive had this, probably poor quality/cheap import or wrong part, when i had quick shit fit one on a escort i had at the time, it didnt sound right, they said that i need to let it settle down over a few hundred miles, the following week i went to another branch who said it was the wrong back box, which they changed free of charge

it's all to do which not wanting you to leave without spending money and the bonus scheme, so they fit anything that is near enough

MikeyRobbo

Its hard to explain the sound, it sounds like a deep rattle that starts from under the car and makes its way through the system, giving it a deep raspy sound. This doesn't necessarily mean you car is gonna be the same!

Martsford

Yeh well the sound I'm getting is a deep roar, as if there's a gaping hole in the back box. Unless like I said when I'm turning right.

Oranoco

Shitty pattern part?

Martsford

Hi guys, just a little update, I've popped the bonet on the beloved focus and give the cat a tap all the way round and can't hear anything other than a solid metal on metal thud. And just to confirm with myself more than anything I started the engine and revved the bollox off it using the accelerator cable in the engine compartment and couldn't hear anything out of the ordinary coming from the front end, I've just noticed from revving the engine by pumping the pedal there's no blowing sound when its stationary but there is what sounds like the exhaust kicking back, (that's the best way I can think of explaining it) I think I'm going to look back to the purchase of the back box just to confirm its the right part for my car cos I have slight suspicions its the wrong back box on there.

Martsford

Just been under the car again and had a good look as to what the blowing sound could be and I've found the culprit - the heat shield is resting on the middle pipe silencer. Will have to try and find a way to reattach it to the underside of the car, any suggestions considering the shield has corroded where it was once held to the car.

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Remove the clips and if its rotten round them use big washers then put the clip back on.If that info is no good just rip the fooker off and chuck it.

Martsford

I like the sound of the 2nd option in your reply Glen. Might just do that.

tommytwotanks

doesn't the heat shield have to be in place to pass MOT

GVK.

If you take off the clips (use a 24mm socket) get some 'repair washers' and fit them over the corroded part of the shield.

Martsford

Just been and bought some repair washers, anyone know how to get the clips off, do they screw off or pull off?

Martsford

Managed to reattach the heat shield, as originally thought this was the cause of the blowing sound coming from the rear of the car, (exhaust) But after going out in the car, its still sounding bolloxed, getting really annoyed with it now, I've checked the Cat and there's no rattle, can't feel any gas escaping along the exhaust line. I specifically bought the right middle exhaust and back box for my car but I'm now beginning to think I've been ripped off and have actually got the wrong exhaust.

would a 1.6 exhaust system sound like it's blowing on a 1.8 model car?