Main IndexAuto Repair Home Search Posts SEARCH
POSTS
Who's Online WHO'S
ONLINE
Log in LOG
IN









Search Auto Parts

How to quiet excessive exhaust noise?


  Email This Post



Supernaut
User

Jan 3, 2018, 10:22 PM

Post #1 of 8 (2569 views)
  post locked   How to quiet excessive exhaust noise?  

I have bought a used 2013 fiesta se. The previous owner had put an aftermarket muffler on it. I haven't had the time to put the car on ramps and get an up close look as to what it is. It's a fart can-looking type of thing but nicely tucked up and hidden so it doesn't look ridiculous or is very visible.

At low RPM it actually makes quite a nice rumble, at a relatively low volume, not a nasty farting sort of noise. However up around 2800 RPM+ while highway cruising it does drone and is annoying to the ears. More than annoying actually I had this car for a short time and today is the first time I spent a few hours running around doing errands with some highway driving involved. My ears were ringing afterwards. Its a little embarrassing as well. I probably would have thought that was cool when I was 18 years old.

Researching what to do about this, people suggest adding a resonator. Is that something that has to be found vehicle specific (Just terms of pipe diameter I assume)? Is that likely to solve the problem? What is that likely to cost?

I supposed another way to go would be to find a stock muffler from a wreaking yard. I don't really want to go that route however. I do like the rumble it currently has, I would just like the volume cut about in half or at least down to some point where it's not causing hearing damage.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jan 4, 2018, 12:57 AM

Post #2 of 8 (2561 views)
  post locked   Re: How to quiet excessive exhaust noise?  

First you need to look at just what was done to mess up the exhaust like this then the best approach to get it back to original. No telling you haven't even looked yet.
When you see just how much was done, welded in or how altered choose the approach. IMO not feasible to use exhaust parts used all should be available new OE equivalent parts.
Specialty shops for exhaust modifications can be very helpful or not at welding in proper parts just be warned you may end up with one of a kind creations such that any subsequent needed parts will not just fit in to replace if needed later.
If this car is any good and plan to keep it for a long time probably best to just eat the cost and put it all back to original.
This car may or may not be able to pass inspection for legal street use now so you do have to do something anyway,


T



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jan 4, 2018, 3:12 AM

Post #3 of 8 (2557 views)
  post locked   Re: How to quiet excessive exhaust noise?  

If it is possible to add a resonator or something as you suggested, an exhaust shop is about the only ones that can help you with that.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Supernaut
User

Jan 4, 2018, 8:01 PM

Post #4 of 8 (2535 views)
  post locked   Re: How to quiet excessive exhaust noise?  

One thing that is very much on my side is that the province of Alberta is very lax about vehicle inspections. I can't even find any evidence that the province requires inspections at all. At best I can find that your insurance company will likely ask for a safety inspection at some point, typically if the car is 12 years old or older. In my case I got insurance from my company over the phone (From TD, the largest bank in Canada just so I don't create visions of a fly by night outfit), I brought proof of insurance to the registry and that is all I needed. No emissions testing or periodic safety checks done here in the wild west.

I do intend to keep the car for the foreseeable future. I also don't plan on using it a whole lot. I have a company work vehicle so this car will generally be used only 5000-8000km per year at the most. If a resonator or something were installed it would be permanent as far as I'm concerned. Bonus that I live in a low corrosion region of North America.

I finally have time this Saturday. I'm going to roll it up on some ramps and have a look just what I am dealing with. I think a resonator is my most likely course of action. What I don't want is a muffler shop selling me something unnecessarily expensive, or marking up something drastically if I could buy my own and bring it for install. I am just not sure how to go about picking one of those. I can't even seem to find info on the pipe diameter.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jan 4, 2018, 8:54 PM

Post #5 of 8 (2532 views)
  post locked   Re: How to quiet excessive exhaust noise?  

Exhaust specialty shops: Just search out that. US names include MIDAS, MONROE, MEINEKE or others that can bend straight pipe to exact shapes to fit to an in stock muffler or resonator. No doubt that type place already did what is annoying you by request. Canada may have those or similar names or independents that should advertise this type of work.


It's choose that or possibly replace entire system back to totally as it was new depending on how altered it was to make it "noisy" that's done here too (Metro Boston) and the inspections now so strict those will be taken off the road till put back - some obnoxious to others.


The best of these shops just make it understood just what you want when it's done. Pics if you can of what you have, all vehicle info just might get a quote quickly?
I'm not personally worried about "emissions" inspections that don't harm the operation of the car for its safety which should be checked even if not required by somebody for your safety and others nobody should want unnecessary accidents over worn safety parts. Good luck with the hunt for the right place,


T



Supernaut
User

Jan 4, 2018, 9:16 PM

Post #6 of 8 (2527 views)
  post locked   Re: How to quiet excessive exhaust noise?  

We have Midas and Meineke in Canada. However there is a private shop just a short walk from my home. That would be especially handy because I could just leave it there and go to work without having to arrange a ride or anything.


Supernaut
User

Jan 14, 2018, 12:30 PM

Post #7 of 8 (2498 views)
  post locked   Re: How to quiet excessive exhaust noise?  

Problem is solved. I would post pics but frankly uploading them to an image hosting service is too much of a pain in the ass right now.

I crawled under the car a week ago and saw how badly put together the system was. There was actually a couple of heavy duty bungee cords holding the muffler in place.

I took it to a privately owned exhaust/full service shop where I live. I asked them what they thought was best course of action. They put it on the hoist and let me have a look. It was even worse than I thought really. One part was held together by a band aid. Long story short it had to be rebuilt from the cat-back. Anything else would have just been an attempt to jerry-rig it better.

Now I have a professional rebuilt exhaust. Magnaflow muffler for some nice rumble, without the ear drum crushing drone. And a stylish exhaust tip out the back. It cost me about $550.ca which I thought seemed reasonable compared to what I know others have spent on exhaust. Not a cheap fix exactly, but frankly there was not going to be any kind of cheap fix that was anything close to proper.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jan 14, 2018, 1:12 PM

Post #8 of 8 (2494 views)
  post locked   Re: How to quiet excessive exhaust noise?  

Bungee cords! Now I've heard everything. Thanks for your reply that it's done, fixed to your satisfaction no doubt you had some real troubles ahead and now not.


Closed to keep the spammers out as this solved. Ask any mod if you wish it re-opened,
T



(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Jan 14, 2018, 1:13 PM)






  Email This Post
 
 


Feed Button




Search for (options) Privacy Sitemap