Exhaust manifold finally cracked?

[normandy2013]

Hey folks so I was on the way home from DC this evening and had a couple hard back fires and the last one made my car sound loud and aggressive and a bit gargley, totally made me emo cauz I hate running into car problems with not so much knowledge about fixing cars, but this is what happens when you own a MSP 03.5, anyways when I got home I looked under the car everything seems to be normal, like from the downpipe to the end muffler. I noticed it was a bit more louder in the engine bay when inspecting. I hit the throttle from the engine bay a couple times and definitely it was a lot louder than usual. I assume it is the exhaust manifold that is cracked, but could not visibly see it because it was at night and with a heat shield covering it. Wouldn't you guys think that as well?
I will remove the heat shield in the morning and see whats up and then most likely take it to the Mazda dealership for a ~$100 diagnostic service.

 

[TX Speed Demon]

Do you have a boost gauge? if so are you still holding full boost? I couldn't hold more than 5psi once mine cracked enough to change the engine noise. Plus I had a ticking/hissing sound at the crack.

I never had any bad backfiring though. That's from running too rich. maybe one of your O2 sensors is broken. Any CEL codes yet? Hopefully it's just that since that's a super cheap and easy replacement you can do yourself.

 

[hornsfan10609]

Save yourself $100 and find the problem, it is not hard.

 

[normandy2013]

Save yourself $100 and find the problem, it is not hard.

Ya I know, I am gonna try to get into cars when the weather gets better in the spring, have high interest in redoing the engine bay,
I took it to a my local gas station for $44 for diagnostic (waived if I get the service done there). They discovered J pipe was cracked, I could have found that out myself if I got on my hands and knees on this rainy day with my jack/stands. They priced me $340 to get it welded ! I accepted because I didn't want to wait to do research, look for another J pipe, look for a cheaper place to get it welded...etc... my parents just left the country a couple hours ago I don't have time for that I have 2 houses all for myself to bring bitches and party for the next 2weeks-a month

 

[hornsfan10609]

If your parents are gone then drive their car and fix yours later no? lol

I have never seen a J pipe crack on these cars

 

[normandy2013]

If your parents are gone then drive their car and fix yours later no? lol

I have never seen a J pipe crack on these cars

Yea, I do have the luxarsss of their car but I love driving my car