dj_rm Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Hi everyone I am trying to pinpoint the issue with my Zed to try and minimise the amount I spend fixing it... On Wednesday I drove it to Brighton (2 hour drive) then home again on Thursday, everything totally fine, running smooth. We usually only do short commutes in the car, around 15/20 minute drives so this was longer than she's used to and I did give it a good kicking now and then... The other half then took it to work yesterday (Friday) and started her up cold in the morning, around 6am and says she noticed it wasn't running right but it wasn't too bad not to drive it and she had to get to work, so did. She says it was the same on the way home so when she got in I had a look. Here's my best description of the issue... When the car starts, the engine fires up fine etc but there is a slight "wobble" sound from the exhaust. It's not very bad and like I said you can still drive the car no problem and there doesn't seem to be a loss in power or anything, just this vibration and noise. At first I thought misfire but someone I know who knows a lot about cars said it is probably the exhaust baffles due to having been on a long drive when usually only used for short ones. Could anyone else shed some light? I will post a video of the sound up tomorrow when I am home to help explain. If it is the baffles, what are my options? Thanks! Ryan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tea and wax Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Have you ruled out the other bits? It's not a join in the exhaust that's gone? Not some heat shield somewhere that's loose? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dj_rm Posted December 5, 2015 Author Share Posted December 5, 2015 Havn't rules anything out yet really! Going to get underneath it tomorrow and have a good look! I will check the whole exhaust from the manifold to the back and also check the manifold for any cracks... I am pretty sure it's exhaust related - just wandered if anyone had any insight after having similar symptoms! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88 Zed Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Is it a standard exhaust? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZEUS Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Probably a heat shield rotted loose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88 Zed Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 The heat shields on jap cars are usually wrapped around the exhaust rather than bolted to the car above them. My old Impreza was terrible for it, I ended up cutting them off and wrapping them in exhaust tape! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dj_rm Posted December 5, 2015 Author Share Posted December 5, 2015 Ok, will check heat shields! The noise isn't really a rattle though, it sounds more like its coming from inside the exhaust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88 Zed Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Its annoying when you notice a noise and cant find it! I had a customer with a 2009 M3 and they had a knackered baffle that would vibrate at a set amount of revs, he opted for me to hit it with a hammer rather than buy a new one! Fixed it tho......for about 50 miles haha Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMballistic Posted December 5, 2015 Share Posted December 5, 2015 Ok, will check heat shields! The noise isn't really a rattle though, it sounds more like its coming from inside the exhaust. This makes me think that it's most likely the baffles in the exhaust back box that have gone or at least rusted free in places. I had it happen before on an old ST24 Mondeo I owned once. At the time I went for a cheap fix and cut open the exhaust back box, removed the rusted baffles (basically pipes full of holes with some insulation/sound deadening material) and then welded it shut again. Improved the sound and as I was selling the car it wasn't a big problem. It may be time for a new exhaust system/back box for your Zed then. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dj_rm Posted December 7, 2015 Author Share Posted December 7, 2015 Thanks for the advice! I don't really fancy spending a lot on the car at the moment, Wedding to pay for next year you see! I did have a look again yesterday (man-flu is stopping me from properly getting underneath at the moment) and when I drove it round the block I realised that it's lost a LOT of power. Could baffles going cause that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 If the baffles have moved and restricting the emissions then yes, loss of power would be evident. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMballistic Posted December 7, 2015 Share Posted December 7, 2015 Thanks for the advice! I don't really fancy spending a lot on the car at the moment, Wedding to pay for next year you see! I did have a look again yesterday (man-flu is stopping me from properly getting underneath at the moment) and when I drove it round the block I realised that it's lost a LOT of power. Could baffles going cause that? If the baffles have moved and restricting the emissions then yes, loss of power would be evident. ^^ Totally agree. On my old Mondeo when it happened a lot of the insulation/sound deadening material was trying to push its way out of the exhaust pipe so that was restricting gas flow. Soon as I removed it all the car sounded louder (obviously) and was less restricted imo if only slightly. Any exhaust backbox will be pretty similar inside dj_rm ~ like pictures below. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samsniss350z Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 It could be a collapsed silencer or at least a silencer that is breaking up. You didn't run over anything crushing any part of the exhaust on your journey back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dj_rm Posted December 12, 2015 Author Share Posted December 12, 2015 Thanks for the help guys! Sorted it now though and it was what I personally first though - a misfire due to a dead sparkplug! I only thought it could be exhast related because of what a few people I knew said to me... New plug in and it's all running well! Thanks for all the info though everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88 Zed Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 New plug? Not plugs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMballistic Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 After all that & it was just a spark plug. Great news that you got it sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 New plug? Not plugs? First sentence in the OPs first post: I quote: "I am trying to pinpoint the issue with my Zed to try and minimise the amount I spend fixing it..." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88 Zed Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 Fair play, for the sake of £50 I'd replace all 6 plugs tho, it will only be a matter of time another plug gives up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMANALEX Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 Fair play, for the sake of £50 I'd replace all 6 plugs tho, it will only be a matter of time another plug gives up! Totally agree 100%: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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