Hi! My 97 200sx se-r developed a nasty sounding exhaust leak. I raised it up on a lift, and found
a completely busted flex pipe
and one of the clamps not tight anymore, banging on the pipe.
What options do I have on the flex pipe? I could not find anyone sell the flex pipe by itself. Does that mean I need to get a whole new exhaust system? My budget is limited, so I want to avoid buying a complete exhaust system (but will if nothing else fixes it)
What do you guys think?
Just because the braided material is worn does not necessarily mean it is leaking there. Make SURE it actually is before you replace it. Many exhaust shops will cut out the flex pipe and weld in a new one for fairly cheap.
If you have time jack the car up and support it on jack stands. Get underneath while the car is running and in neutral. Have a friend use a towel to plug the muffler while ou listen for leaks around the flex pipe and other areas.
As fas as the clamp, it looks like it is only a heat shield which is no big deal.
Just because the braided material is worn does not necessarily mean it is leaking there. Make SURE it actually is before you replace it. Many exhaust shops will cut out the flex pipe and weld in a new one for fairly cheap.
If you have time jack the car up and support it on jack stands. Get underneath while the car is running and in neutral. Have a friend use a towel to plug the muffler while ou listen for leaks around the flex pipe and other areas.
As fas as the clamp, it looks like it is only a heat shield which is no big deal.
ok will do so tomorrow, thx man;
the CEL is not on
is it safe to plug the muffler though?
For diagnosis purposes it's fine. Do not plug it and run the car, just have him cover it for a few seconds and then uncover it. You listen for leaks while it is covered, do not leave it plugged or anything silly.
I started it this morning, and there's smoke coming out of the front of the engine! Now im really scared; what could this be
I don't understand questions liek this, how can we help you here? First off it is VERY cold outside, secondly have you done what we suggested in looking for leaks?
What is going on with the rest of the car, coolant temp normal, oil level OK? Asking questions is fine but we need information to be able to help you in the least....
I started it this morning, and there's smoke coming out of the front of the engine! Now im really scared; what could this be
mabye the gasket between the manifold & head is blown...?
i think i did this to mine, cause when i first start it water, or what i belive to be water condenses around the dip stick.... then it starts to steam... and when at normal temp it is gone
EDIT: unless you mean the FRONT (timing chain side), that is
I started it this morning, and there's smoke coming out of the front of the engine! Now im really scared; what could this be
are you sure its not coming from underneath the car and the wind is blowing it out the front of the car?
__________________ SE-R SpecV
Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. - Ben Franklin
Ok here’s what happened in detail. It was a really cold night, below zero, I started my car and usually it starts at 1600rpm when cold, but it started at 1200, stayed at 1200 for two seconds, and went up to 1600. I smelled gas in the passenger compartment. I went and opened the hood, and there was a little bit of smoke coming out somewhere from underneath, looked like from the headers but I couldn’t tell for sure; it was in small puffs, whitish in color. I had to go to school so I turned the car off and left.
Later that day, the first thing I did was check the spark plugs. The ones in cylinders 3 and 4 were fine, but from cylinders 1 and 2 were oily, black wet deposits, and smelled like gas. I put in new plugs and started the engine. This time it started at 1600 like usual, but then a couple of times it did this: the revs suddenly dropped to 1200, stayed there for a short period of time, and raised back up to 1600; the car jerked a little while doing this. There was no smoke coming out this time, but I could hear a light noise that wasn’t there before coming from the side of the engine with cylinders 1 and 2, like a light screeching sound. At this point I turned the car off. All the fluids were fine; the coolant dropped a little from usual, but that is probably due to the sharp drop in weather.
Also, days before this happened, engine started sounding differently; the side of the engine with cylinders 1 and 2 would sound weird when the engine revved;
The wind probably did not blow the smoke, the car was in the garage with the door open.
I started it up again, and it was weird with the rpms; for about 10 seconds, they were going up and down, with the car jerking a little bit, then they stabilized and then it was like normal; the car drove perfectly fine, except for the noise coming from engine
Just because the braided material is worn does not necessarily mean it is leaking there. Make SURE it actually is before you replace it. Many exhaust shops will cut out the flex pipe and weld in a new one for fairly cheap.
If you have time jack the car up and support it on jack stands. Get underneath while the car is running and in neutral. Have a friend use a towel to plug the muffler while ou listen for leaks around the flex pipe and other areas.
As fas as the clamp, it looks like it is only a heat shield which is no big deal.
its definitely leaking in the flex pipe, there is a small stream of smoke coming out, and i can feel it with my hand
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