I have a bad exhaust leak at the flex pipe..somewhat crappy idle..any suggestions?

[97ClipseDSM]

So ever since I bought my car, ive noticed the exhaust has been extremely loud..and it rattles alot at the flex section. The car smells like exhaust all the time and my idle is sometimes a bit crappy. Doesnt go below 690RPM, it stays between 700-850. I do have hks 264/272 cams.

However, today i decided to jack the car up and get undernath while the car was on, and I noticed a huge leak at the flex section of the pipe. The flex section seems to be the middle part of the downpipe itself, like custom or something. I could feel alot of air coming out of the flex section so that explains the loud exhaust. Im serious, nobody in my family liked riding with me because of how loud it is, I mean ive had some loud DSM's but this is the loudest one yet.

My friend said that he knows someone at a muffler shop who can fix it for me. My question is, could this be the reason for somewhat weird idle? My CEL has been coming on with the P0300 code (multiple cylinder misfire)..it only comes on when the idle gets choppy sometimes.

Ive replaced plugs, wires, and even did compression test and got 178 178 180 178. These numbers were without going WOT. Im sure they would have been slightly higher. My car has 60k miles on it.

So any suggestions, or can anyone connect these issues to a solution?

 

[97ClipseDSM]

Heres a pic of the flex pipe. dont pay attention to the dented oil pan, I bought the car like that...no leaks, or anything.

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[thewombis]

well if you have non stock cams, that is probably normal. Your exhaust looks pretty hacked together. There is usually only a braided 6" section of flex in the down pipe. Leaks however will not cause and problems in your idle. Be sure to check that your MAF is plugged in good, and that your recirculating your BOV.

 

[Silver 95 GST]

You can get a whole new downpipe with a flex section in it for like $115. It would cost more than that to replace the flex section alone at a muffler shop.

 

[97ClipseDSM]

well if you have non stock cams, that is probably normal. Your exhaust looks pretty hacked together. There is usually only a braided 6" section of flex in the down pipe. Leaks however will not cause and problems in your idle. Be sure to check that your MAF is plugged in good, and that your recirculating your BOV.

Its a 2.5" extreme downpipe, and 3" Tanabe Racing medallion exhaust with testpipe. What do you suggest I should do? Get a new downpipe or just have the guy at the muffler shop make another flex pipe? THe flex section seems to be slightly more than 6 inches long. I forgot how long it is. But the flex section makes alot of noise, it rattles, and makes other weird noises. While i was down their, it was coming from that flex section, sounds like ghetto rag shit.

I know we have a rear 02 sensor, so Im assuming it is throwing codes based on the major leak at the downpipe/flexpipe. Also at my exhaust tip, it makes this sound like when you flick your teeth..this car has turned out to be ghetto rag .

 

[k2crasher]

I have a brand new never installed punishment racing downpipe for a 2g fwd. It will replace your down pipe and test pipe. 100 dollars shipped if you want it pm me. Or if you have any other questions.

 

[97ClipseDSM]

I have a brand new never installed punishment racing downpipe for a 2g fwd. It will replace your down pipe and test pipe. 100 dollars shipped if you want it pm me. Or if you have any other questions.

Alright, ill let you know. Im taking the car to my friends house who lives and breathes working on these cars (he is also a mechanic) and Im going to have him check the whole exhaust for any leaks. So far Ive only seen the leak at the flex pipe.

Whats really annoying me the most is the misfire codes..why do i keep getting them when i replaced plugs/wires/gapped them correctly, and even checked compression which was a perfect 178 178 180 178 without going WOT. My timing looks like its lined up correctly, not skipping any teeth. My coilpack by looking at it looks fine, I dont know what else would cause the misfire..I cant feel it when I drive, the car pulls extremelt hard, its just sometimes when I start it up in the morning, even before I start the car, the check engine light is on. Starting to annoy me with the p0300 code.

 

[thewombis]

Typically the downpipe would connect right to the cat, then from there connect to the catback. The flex pipe shown in your picture is not really the kind of flex I was talking about. The stuff in your picture is really just "crap" sorry to make it sound harsh. That is just some cheapo pepboys temporary fix kind pipe. What you need is a braided flex section welded to hard pipe, or heck, if you fit it up perfect, you can get away with just hard pipe.

can you get some better pictures of the downpipe? so we can see more?

This is the flex I was referring to.

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]

Generally the less connections or joints under the car, the better in my opinion.

 

[Silver 95 GST]

You can't have a solid (no flex section) downpipe unless you want to ask for trouble. The motor moves when it torques hard and you need your pipe to bend so it doesn't break or worse torque on your turbo.

 

[97ClipseDSM]

Typically the downpipe would connect right to the cat, then from there connect to the catback. The flex pipe shown in your picture is not really the kind of flex I was talking about. The stuff in your picture is really just "crap" sorry to make it sound harsh. That is just some cheapo pepboys temporary fix kind pipe. What you need is a braided flex section welded to hard pipe, or heck, if you fit it up perfect, you can get away with just hard pipe.

can you get some better pictures of the downpipe? so we can see more?

This is the flex I was referring to.

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]

Generally the less connections or joints under the car, the better in my opinion.

You know what..i was thinking maybe this is actually just a shield he put over the middle of the downpipe..i mean it rattles like its touching something stainless steel..maybe he did that because his downpipe had a hole in it or something..im going to check it out tommorow. Trust me, if I had built this car myself like i did with my GSX, i would not do the ghetto rag shit this guy did with the pipes. Im going to check the receipts from machv's downpipe and exhaust install and see what was exactly done. He gave me all the receipts of the work.

I will take more pictures.

 

[97ClipseDSM]

You know what..i was thinking maybe this is actually just a shield he put over the middle of the downpipe..i mean it rattles like its touching something stainless steel..maybe he did that because his downpipe had a hole in it or something..im going to check it out tommorow. Trust me, if I had built this car myself like i did with my GSX, i would not do the ghetto rag shit this guy did with the pipes. Im going to check the receipts from machv's downpipe and exhaust install and see what was exactly done. He gave me all the receipts of the work.

Actually I just looked at extreme motorsports Receipt dated back to 5/17/05. It was extreme who performed the install, not mach v.

Quantity: 1 LABOR Install/Remove/Modify Downpipe 70.00
1 MISC 2.5" Flex Section 25.00

Total: 96.25 with tax


Seems like the ghetto rag shit was done by extreme motorsports, not pepboys.

 

[stevo911]

That peice of pipe is acually a temporary fix for holes kinda like that red muffler tape up north here ive only seen it sold in canadian tire its cheap as hell and is only designed for so many km of use i would say the real pipe is under that full of holes
Steve

 

[stevo911]

http://www.germes-online.com/direct/dbimage/50048444/Exhaust_Flexible_Pipe.jpg that is the closest picture i can find to what they sell here it basically just goes over the bad peice then its clamped or welded down

 

[97ClipseDSM]

http://www.germes-online.com/direct/dbimage/50048444/Exhaust_Flexible_Pipe.jpg that is the closest picture i can find to what they sell here it basically just goes over the bad peice then its clamped or welded down

Ok I already posted that the flexpipe was done by extreme motorsports, I doubt they would do it just to "temporarily" fix the problem. I need to take better pictures so you can see the whole downpipe, the flex pipe actually looks smaller in person than the pics. If the car wasnt so damn low, I would take pics right now but once i put the thing on the lift tommorow, ill take some pics of it. The downpipe actually looks pretty sweet, why or for what reason did extreme choose to go with that particular flex pipe, I dont know. It sure does rattle and make noises I tell.

Would a muffler shop be able to weld on a portion of hardpipe and custom flexpipe? If so how much do you think it will cost? Im probably just better off buying another downpipe right?

 

[stevo911]

Within all honestly to get a muffler shop to add a 6inch peice of pipe to the old y pipe to act as an extension then have that go into an acual flex pipe then that flex pipe welded to the rest of your exhaust would be cheaper then to have that pipe fixed. Lookin at the pictures that a weak metal possibly wont take a weld. The reason the woven flex pipe is suggested is because it doesnt only offer room for up and down movement it also allows the exhaust to move in and out freely on the hangers. This would sound alot better and no more metal hittin metal sound. So if it was me I would take that peice out and get a peice of straight pipe and a flex pipe from local auto parts store. Exhaust jobs are fairly cheap around here to get that done here would be under $100 but not sure for your area take it to them and ask for a estimate. But I would remove that pipe they have on now.
Sorry about spelling also its like 2 AM here im dead tired and iespell not working
Steve

 

[stevo911]

Possibly if extreme motor sports is there ask them to look at it is it possible that receipt is for that exhaust but old owner "fixed" the pipe that pipe there now acually looks like an old hvac exhaust tubing

 

[97ClipseDSM]

Possibly if extreme motor sports is there ask them to look at it is it possible that receipt is for that exhaust but old owner "fixed" the pipe that pipe there now acually looks like an old hvac exhaust tubing

Extreme Motorsports shut down due to a fire..from what I hear. I have to agree with alot of you who say that it looks like a crappy job..I would personally never do what the previous owner had done. My GSX I had never sounded like raggidy shit..unfortunately this car is slowly becoming a money pit..thats the price you pay for buying a somewhat heavily modified DSM.

Since my purchase, Ive already spent close to $700 on replacing this, replacing that..god knows whats next. She runs fine, but its been throwing error code P0300 since I bought it. Like i stated earlier, i changed all plugs, wires, gapped them correctly, my compression test was perfect..i dont know what else to look for. The car isnt profeessionally tuned at the moment so the SAFC is just doing its ballpark fuel correction job.

If I could just figure out what the reason behind the p0300 code is, I swear this would be somewhat close to reliable as my GSX was. And that is saying alot.

 

[stevo911]

Just a ballpark but did you happen to check the ECU mine went just recently and I was gettin some weird error codes come up and then number 2 and 3 cyclinder stopped firing? When I opened mine the big cap in the center was leakin a bit over the board and caused major issues over time.

 

[kimcheefists]

Did you check for any disconnected vacuum hoses or boost leaks? My engine was misfiring since I bought the car and checked all my hoses, I found a disconnected vacuum hose that was supposed to be connected to my BOV. Heres a vacuum hose diagram.

 

[wht 92 talon]

is that the same for the 1gs cause i have a 91 and i know it needs some work wit vacuum

 

[snakeyes711]

You can get those flex pipes from Napa for like 40 bucks. My neighbor took his, and had a new one welded in for around 80. Yu may save a few if you get the flex pipe yourself.