Exhaust has become 'louder'

[RSteve]

Hi guys,

So I drove home from work earlier, minding my own business but I kept noticing a 'rattle' from the rear every time I changed gear, not only that but when I changed down gears the car seemed to sound alot louder.

I pulled up outside the house and turned the car off, I got out, reached in and listened as I fired her back up again and the exhaust seemed alot 'louder/beefier' that before. It's a standard exhaust, and has always been quiet, but sounded alot meatier than before today.

I had a quick peek underneath and it sounded quite blowey, and I smelt a kind of petrol/oily smell from it (but I wasn't sure if that was normal)..

Any ideas?

 

[dubdub]

When at high revs does it sound raspy at all if so it will be one of the joints mine was the manifold to cat gasket had gone

 

[stevescort172]

mine did this around the time we had the snow it was just getting louder and louder had a peek underneath and there was a split on the weld on the backbox bit.
the standard exhausts dont last long so your best off getting an aftermarket one if yours is on the way out.

 

[RSteve]

it does sound a bit raspy, and has previously done, but tonight it was more of a 'roar' when I fired her up than a 'rasp'.
How much we looking for an aftermarket one?

 

[stevescort172]

im pretty sure cs police can correct me if im wrong a standard one is around the 250-300 mark and the k tech i bought in december a supersport stealth was 250 so its best to get the aftermarket one will last longer, thats if this is your problem hopefuly could be what dubdub said which would cost around 40quid

 

[RSteve]

Yeah hopefully, anyone else have any ideas?

If there's any kind of hole/split in the system, how long would the exhaust hold up for, and what effect would it have on the car?

 

[RSteve]

Got to work this morning and it's about 3x as loud as it was last night, extremely noticeable when driving with windows down. It sounded quite beefy when going through a couple of tunnels!

I spoke to a friend at work and he said the worst thing that could happen is it falling off due to rust, if it's a hole then it won't effect the engine, but I'll lose a bit of power, is this right?

 

[Kam.]

its not going to damage the engine. Sounds like its simply rusted away..

 

[RedClio1.2]

I had that issue (Rattle and sounding different) I thought it was the exhaust but no. I look in the engine and my issue was because (Somehow) the Air filter housing had become undone. I had to replace it with a new one...

 

[stevescort172]

Got to work this morning and it's about 3x as loud as it was last night, extremely noticeable when driving with windows down. It sounded quite beefy when going through a couple of tunnels!

I spoke to a friend at work and he said the worst thing that could happen is it falling off due to rust, if it's a hole then it won't effect the engine, but I'll lose a bit of power, is this right?

mate was exactly same as mine you got a hole somewhere get under ya car and feel along the exhaust for blowing then you will find your prob.
remember the exhaust is really hot when engines been running a while so dont burn yourself

 

[Sanders]

My old 172 did this, i just bought a 2nd hand cat back system, that did the trick

 

[NATHAN182]

why dont you just get on knees and have a look?

 

[NATHAN182]

im selling my standard system if you want to replace it if its fooked? PM me if your interested. its in very good nick having only covered 27k

 

[RSteve]

why dont you just get on knees and have a look?

I havn't had chance mate, been at work since daft oclock this morning!
Standard system for a 172 or 182?

 

[NATHAN182]

ah s**t sorry mate thought u had a 182 for some reason. if it is just a clamp or gasket there pretty cheap on ebay!

 

[RSteve]

Well, walked back to my car tonight to find my backbox hanging down at a funny angle, looked underneath and it had come off the piping behind completely due to rust/mould. Took the backbox off and now I'm driving around with a headache.

Getting a quote for a new box tommorrow morning, should set me back £60 which ain't too bad, cheers for the help guys.