exhaust issue. steam from engine area in 02' P5

[blitz99]

my wife took the mazda through some snow, deep snow, and it began making an awful sound. almost as if there was no muffler. now, i noticed when i start it on a real cold day i get exhaust steam from under the engine.

how can i tell if it's the catalytic converter, a muffler, or some sort of seal?

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

I would get some ramps, drive it up on them and look underneath...I had my stock header break both flanges (rust) at the midpipe and it sounded like a tractor and I had condensation flowing from underneath my engine. Replaced with a Tsudo header, not a tough install...

 

[blitz99]

would a catalytic converter throw out a code on the check engine light? because the light is not on.

 

[speed5hornet]

yes it would, but it could take a while. But yeah something could be cracked, manifold, the cat or possible the j-pipe. I noticed my exhaust tone changed drastically and when i started my car in cold weather...the exhaust fumes were coming out from the middle of my car! turns out i forgot to threadlock the bolts on the midpipe so it came loose. So it sounds like from your description that it COULD be a leak caused by a crack/break somewhere inbetween your j-pipe and manifold/header.

 

[blitz99]

i was looking under there today (low car so it's tough without a ramp) and noticed right at the beginning of the catalytic converter there was some exhaust steam or it was hot and burning off moisture.


can they be patched up? maybe with some sort of plumbers epoxy or something like that?

did i just ask a very stupid question?

 

[Ki||ian]

Anything short of a replacement midpipe would only be a temp fix. You can try taking it to a mechanic that does custom exhaust and they can do a weld or a new section.

 

[neuspeed_junker]

muffler cement might hold for a few months or so....

 

[blitz99]

what am i lookin at as for price on a new catalytic?

worst case scenario, 500???

 

[NCZ13]

what am i lookin at as for price on a new catalytic?

worst case scenario, 500???

you can find one waaaaay cheaper than that if you dont go oem.

a catted midpipe is only like 270 at PG

edit: of course there will be a minor sound increase if you go that route.

 

[Purrfectangel]

I had this happen. Only I didn't go through deep snow. One day she started making grumbling sounds in the exhaust but the noise was coming from the center of the car up front. I thought it might be a fuel injector because she cut out one day. It was noisy for awhile then one day she let go and sounded like a dump truck. The j-pipe let go where it attached to the cat. The pipe wasn't in too bad a shape but the seal was toast. The bolts had rusted off and she gave way. I had steam coming up from under my hood as well. I got a new pipe and seal installed for $230 and change, can't remember right off hand but the new piece was $150 plus a $13 spring kit from mazda and then labour and tax.

 

[neuspeed_junker]

^^ i've had to replace this gasket and bolts three times in a bit less than 2 years.

 

[blitz99]

purrfect angel is DEAD ON!!!

i took it to the shop today and they threw it up on the lift. low and behold the brackets that hold that first exhaust pipe were busted clean off.

pipe is rusty but i expected that.

the dude tried to tell me 270!!! i of course left as it really is just 6 bolts and a pipe.


at least i know what it is now. i did get my squeeling belts fixed today, now i just gotta get the sway bar and this pipe fixed and i'll have a decent car again (it was my wifes but she ran it into the ground)

 

[neuspeed_junker]

u gotta find a place that will do it for cash, i got mine fixed for under 100

 

[blitz99]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mazd...QtrksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247#ebayphotohosting


this is the part, right?

 

[neuspeed_junker]

i'd say so

 

[blitz99]

homeboy at the shot told me 220 for the part alone. good thing i only went there to see what i was dealing with. 5 total bolts, 2 gaskets.... nearly 300?!?!?! highway robbery.

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

Onlinemazdaparts.com should be able to get you whatever you need for much less than that. Post a thread in their forum or PM bagman1 with your list and he'll get you what you need...