Thermal exhaust ping sound at startup and burble in the rain...

[CleanBlackSi02]

Hey guys, maybe you can offer me some insight as to why I'm getting these noises.... When I startup my car I hear a loud ping from the exhaust. Also, I've noticed that I have a loud exhaust burble coming from near the cat when I drive in heavy rain. It sounds like my piping is about to rattle off! It's continued on, so I brought it back to my friends shop (where I got it installed). He tightened up the shield on the cat and it was fine for a couple days or so. It's started up again and I'm beginning to think that it may be a combination of things. Could I be missing a gasket? Is having my car super low causing that heat shield to get loose? Any help will be appreciated!

[greenguy]

Originally posted by CleanBlackSi02
Could I be missing a gasket? Is having my car super low causing that heat shield to get loose? Any help will be appreciated!

Not haveing a gasket installed could cause two things. One is an exhaust leak, which would be very aparent. second if its tight there could be a harmonic vibration which could cause it to vibrate loose.
I would say pull it apart and look everything over. Install new gaskets, they are cheap. and hope for the best.
good luck.

[CleanBlackSi02]

Anyone else?


...other than this?http://www.ephatch.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3293

[02SilverSiHB]

Originally posted by CleanBlackSi02
Anyone else?


...other than this?http://www.ephatch.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3293
ah, I think you may just be hitting a heat shield some where. Look all under the car where the exhaust leads back. I know that my N1 on my previous car was hitting the heat shield. So maybe when you start the car, the exhaust moves a little to much hitting a heat shield. I'd just get under there and start moving the hell outta the exhaust to see if it comes in contact with anything.
you said you hear a burble sound? could be a gasket problem

[esmith13]

I have the same sounds from my Thermal!!! The Ping at ignition scares the hell outta me sometimes!! It only happens like every third time I start the car and only if it's a cold start (not driven for 6 or more hours). As for the burble -- it's been raining like hell here and I just started to notice it when the heavy rains came....

I wonder what's up??? Could this be "normal" ??

I have a hard time believing I installed it wrong, it's 5 bolts and two rubber hangers for christ's sake!!!

(I did check to make sure they were all tight tho...)

[02SilverSiHB]

Originally posted by esmith13
I have the same sounds from my Thermal!!! The Ping at ignition scares the hell outta me sometimes!! It only happens like every third time I start the car and only if it's a cold start (not driven for 6 or more hours). As for the burble -- it's been raining like hell here and I just started to notice it when the heavy rains came....

I wonder what's up??? Could this be "normal" ??

I have a hard time believing I installed it wrong, it's 5 bolts and two rubber hangers for christ's sake!!!

(I did check to make sure they were all tight tho...)
what about gaskets? did the exhaust come with new ones?

[esmith13]

yep, mine did...

[CSI02]

If the system is full stainless, it could be expansion/contraction, especially in the rain. My bpipe on my old EK used to ping and crackle after the engine was turned off after driving for a period of time.

[esmith13]

Sounds about right!! The ping happened to me after my car was off too today! I would guess that expansion/contraction would be the most likely cause at this point...