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rdjediknt
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Sep 14, 2005, 2:18 PM
Post #1 of 10
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Exhaust Leak Question
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Hello everyone, and thanks for taking the time to read this! I have posted before and just would like to say you all are great and I am thankful for the help. I just have a question about a problem I am having.
I have a 1995 Ford Contour SE 2.5 V6. 2 things I am noticing. First is that there is a hissing noise at the front of the car when I press the gas pedal and there are strong exhaust fumes from the front that I can smell inside the car with the windows down as well as if there was an exhaust leak at the front of the car. It also seems that as a result of this I have really bad gas mileage and a big loss of power. Second, it would seem that this causes the check engine light to turn on as well as it is off everytime I turn the car on, then after about 10 min of driving it will turn on. Would these be indicators of an exhaust leak, and how serious is this problem? Is there anything that I can check for? I intend on getting this looked at, but just wanted a heads up so I know what I am up against. Thanks for any help you can provide and have a great day!
(This post was edited by rdjediknt on Sep 14, 2005, 2:19 PM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 14, 2005, 8:48 PM
Post #2 of 10
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Re: Exhaust Leak Question
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Rule out obvious vacuum leaks and some things electrical that could be disconnected or burned out. Those cars are tight underhood as many are. These cars normally get great gas mileage and don't even make a smell from exhaust so if you smell anything something is wrong. Check for what you can see, the vac leaks, oil leaks etc., and get help if needed. If you can smell it it's not healthy. We want you back here - so do the right thing,
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rdjediknt
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Sep 15, 2005, 8:13 AM
Post #3 of 10
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Re: Exhaust Leak Question
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Thanks Tom!!!  You always have helped me and others on this site. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!! I had another look at it yesterday, and it seems to really be an exhaust leak from somewhere under the front of the car possibly the manifold. I drove the car, and tested with the windows up, and could no longer smell the exhaust fumes so it would seem that they are not leaking into the cab. When I am outside the car I can really smell the fumes, near the bottom of the front of the car. When gas is pressed, you hear the hissing like exhaust is leaking at the front of the car. There are no leaks by the way. Just so I can be ready, what would be your best educated guess on what the problem is? I am going to have someone look at this problem this weekend, but I just want a heads up on the problem and how much this may end up costing me as I am going to need to come up with the money. Given the worst case senario if the exhaust manifold is cracked or if you could forsee any other damage that this may have caused based on what I told you, what kind of dollar amount am I looking at paying? Thanks again for taking the time to read this, it is greatly appreciated!!!
(This post was edited by rdjediknt on Sep 15, 2005, 8:15 AM)
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DanD
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/ Moderator
Sep 15, 2005, 9:44 AM
Post #4 of 10
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Re: Exhaust Leak Question
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You may have a plugged catalytic converter and that hissing you hear is the exhaust trying to get out wherever it can. This may also explain the loss in power and mileage.
Dan.
Canadian "EH"
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rdjediknt
User
Sep 15, 2005, 10:04 AM
Post #5 of 10
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Re: Exhaust Leak Question
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Thanks Dan for you reply to my question! Is there a way that I can check for a plugged catalytic converter? Would this also explain why I smell the fumes at the front of the car under the engine? Thanks again for your time!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 15, 2005, 6:06 PM
Post #6 of 10
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Re: Exhaust Leak Question
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For any exhaust restriction: Put a vacuum gauge on manifold vacuum. Should read about the same at idle as at 2,000 RPMs (no load) if not something's off. Converter can be a restriction but so can a bad pipe or muffler. Tricky to diagnose what is the real problem. Shot in the dark - probably is the converter.
PS: Way back they used to make exhaust parts with double tube steel and the inside could collapse leaving no evidence on the outside. That usually happened when a car hit a puddle real hard and the history was easiest way to figure those out. I don't think any exhaust parts are made that way anymore.
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DanD
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Sep 16, 2005, 4:03 AM
Post #7 of 10
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Re: Exhaust Leak Question
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Like what Tom said with the vacuum gauge or with the car idling hold your hand close to the end of the tail pipe and then have someone mat the throttle as quickly as they can apply and release it.
You should feel quite a bit of pressure probably enough to push your hand back, wear a glove the exhaust gases can be very hot. If there isn’t a lot of difference then something is plugged.
Next would be to loosen off the exhaust in front of the converter, enough to allow the exhaust gases to escape easily. It’ll be loud but take the car for a road test and see if the engine power is back.
What I do here at the shop is measure the amount of backpressure in the exhaust system with a water manometer, there shouldn’t be any more then two to two and a half inches of water column. That would be the equivalent of air pressure to blow out a candle.
Dan.
Canadian "EH"
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rdjediknt
User
Sep 16, 2005, 7:38 AM
Post #8 of 10
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Re: Exhaust Leak Question
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Thank you very much Dan and Tom!!! This is some very good information and I will do this when I get home today. Like you adviced as well, I will take the car in as well, but I always like to know what I'm up against before I go in for repairs. Thanks again for the great service you guys have given me. I will update this forum with the results of what's wrong once I take the car into the shop and get a diag done. Have a great weekend!!!
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rdjediknt
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Sep 19, 2005, 10:34 AM
Post #9 of 10
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Re: Exhaust Leak Question
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All right guys, here is what they found. Tom and Dan, you were right on with your thoughts! It seems that this car has 3 cats in it and they found that the cat furthest to the back of the car was clogged. Once this was replaced the car ran like new! It also seems that this caused the check engine light to come on too, but they were able to clear that. Once again thanks for all your good help guys and this problem is now resolved!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 19, 2005, 2:38 PM
Post #10 of 10
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Re: Exhaust Leak Question
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We love to hear of success stories. Thanks for sharing yours,
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