I scraped snow allllll the way to work this morning, and when I went to start my car after work, it was LOUD! Not no muffler loud, but much louder than normal. And it was intermittent. The noise seemed to be coming from under the driver's seat, and it was almost like it was being transmitted to the cabin more than the outside world. I looked under the car and nothing was hanging.

Car runs perfectly normal apart from that. Thoughts?

TIA!

 

Do you hear hissing or leaking?

 

sounds like you might have a small hole or something in the midpipe... maybe even a small leak at one of the connections from the little bump. If I remember correctly, anything like that (even small) will make the exhaust louder.... might wanna wait for a second opinion on it though.

 

Nope...but I'll double check. I also didn't see any steam escaping from underneath. I'll double-check that, too!

 

I do have a tail-lamp on order from the dealer so I'll be there soon enough I guess. My big fear is the system coming apart mid-trip. I've heard unmuffled rotaries (IMSA GTU FTW!) and they are uh kinda deafening.

 

I doubt your exhaust will "come apart mid-trip", if you don't see any visible damage or parts coming apart (you never said anything about that though).

 

There is a spring-joint between the cat and catback - hitting a big drift with the muffler COULD have pulled it apart, and it's right below the seat.

S

 

if you are already scraping snow, springs are certainly not going to help that issue. I personally would not drive my vehicle over areas where I cannot see the ground. you don't know what the snow could be hiding.

sounds like you ran over something and cut a hole in your exhaust. get it on a lift and do an inspection.

 

Easy to say living in Alabama - but for those of us who live in the north who drive this as a daily driver, that's about impossible. I personally try to drive my wife's SUV in the snow, but that's simply not always possible. I hate this time of the year tho with all the snow chunks and crap that you have to go over - just go slow and pay attention.

 

Boffam, this exact thing happened to me a couple of months ago. When I parked the car, it was fine, but at the end of the day, it sounded like I had an exhaust leak. I could also feel a vibration in the car, especially at idle. It turned out to be snow that had been packed into the space between the exhaust and one of the cross-braces under the exhaust. The hot exhaust melted the snow, then over the course of the day it froze up into a solid block of ice that was touching the exhaust. To fix this, I got under the car and pushed the ice out with a prybar. Alternatively, you can just park your car somewhere warm over the weekend, and assuming you have the same problem I did, all the ice will melt and the sound/vibration will go away.

Hope this helps.

 

Very true. The 8 wasn't a DD for me anyway and there's no way on earth it would even come out of the garage during the winter if I lived up north. I cringed when I came out and saw dust on it from sitting in the garage. I can only imagine what I would have done if a snowflake came anywhere near it.

 

Yep - that's me everyday - cringing at not just snow, but salt! And not just outside, but inside too - basically, you have to do the best you can during the winter and then give her a good top to bottom cleaning once spring rolls around. Still, for me, a blast to drive year-round...although when it's really bad out (like yesterday - 14 inches of snow) it sleeps in the garage...

 

I'm glad people drive in the snow and salt.

It means there will be more parts avaiable when they become rust buckets.

 

some of us dont have a choice.

the 8 is my only car.

 

^Holy crap. If they predict 6 inches of snow here in central AL, a state of emergency is declared. There are fist fights (no joke) over water, milk, and bread. Matter of fact, to give an insight, we actually got 7 inches back in 93. I went to the state archives and had to go back almost 100 years to find when it snowed that much.

I feel for you living up there. Definitely not a fan of cold weather here. The thing about AL is if you don't like the weather, wait 1 week and it will be different. Back in early Jan. the high here in Montgomery was 36. Three days later it was 56. The old joke about going from heat to a/c in the same day is real.

 

You knocked some bolts loose underneath the car, no big deal. If you exhaust is off, you'll definitely notice it with the rotary engine!!! The exhaust could be vibrating off another part.
________
Syanna

 

Here is another posibility. My brother-in-law once drove his Thunderbird through some standing water once. The sudden cooling of the water cracked the catalytic converter. There might not be as much cooling effect with snow, as it would melt and move away. But, I see it as a possibility.

 

I had exact same experience with a rock. I would say this is your issue.

 

Wow! That must have been it, since it was normal this morning after the drive home and a night in the garage.

I'm continually amazed that no matter what quirk or strange occurrence one experiences with their cars, someone, somewhere, has experienced the same thing. It was the same with the 944 boards when I owned one. At least now, when someone searches "loud" "exhaust" "snow" they will get a hit...

 

I concur doctor.

 

That's why the good lord provides galvanization. Real men live where the snow flies.

 

Driving to my parents home my pipe decided to 'burst' from the exhaust manifold in my beater. Thank god it happened in a town I have to pass through. The tow truck driver used some wire and patched it back together but man it was still deafening. Got wierd looks when I reached the city.

I fortunately have a winter beater but no garage for the 8. Plus the beater is definetly a cash hog.

 

They will get a hit with the search but often the member has to surf through pages of crappy advice and $hit-chat before he finds the one important post that's relevant... I think mods need to keep informational threads a bit cleaner.

 

WINTER BEATER is all I have to say saves u gas, miles being put on ur car, and the peace of mind that if u slide into a ditch who cares just drive through it and spring will b here b4 u know it.....thats whati did and just think a month and a half and its ready to rock again..........

 

No thanks...I've owned too many beaters that ended up being total money pits, and I drive far too many miles a day to trust a beater...good snow tires and careful driving works better for me.