ok, So apparently i have an exhaust leak which is causing my car to have many problems. (damn domino effec). anyway, i kno i have to get mny car on a lift to check it out, but what exactly am i looking for? any known points of weakness? i kno to look for cracks and holes but im 18 and this is all new to me. anyway, when i do find this leak, how should i go about fixing it? do i need to take it to a shop and welded? sorry for so many questions but id love to have my car working right.

-Adam

 

Well obviously you would check around all the joints in the pipes. Manifold/header-y pipe connection, y pipe to cat,cat to int pipe, muffler and tips.

If their is alot of rust on the system you could be getting lots of small holes in that case its best to replace that portion of the pipe or consider a complete system.

 

if it has been leaking for a long time, you might get lucky and there will be a black build up around the hole. it will look like someone spray-painted part of the pipe black. I would start at sharp curves and welds, then move to the straight sections.

also, before you put it on the lift, run the car and walk around it, listening. that way, you have an idea of where to look.




edit=confusing misspellings

 

look in joints and welded spots. Check the downpipe on the muffler as it has been known to crack on thirdgens. Like someone said above, look for some black soot.