I just got my megan racing headers installed this weekend, fit was fine but i have a big problem. Whenever i rev my car/ push the gas, etc etc the car makes this really weird like metal on metal whistling sound. It really annoying and very noticeable, anyone have this happen to them after installing headers or intake or watever? How can i fix it?

 

if its a ticking sound thats throughout most of the rpm its a leakage problem.
If its a droning sound/vibration sound on certain rpms, its a resonance problem.

Leakage problem could be from the gaskets not being put on properly, if that doesnt solve the problem, its from a bad welding job on the headers.

Resonance problem cant really be solve unless u get some new headers, it is just the way they are designed.


I feel your pain man, I also have megan headers and im actually going through both of those problems right now. The resonance noise makes my car sound like a POS clunker. Good luck, hope this helps.

 

some people said that re-torqueing the bolts will help some. if it is a resonance problem you should try that.

 

Mike lemme hear it. I used to have a ticking air sound b4 the new downpipe was on, now its just a slight whistling, but keepingitclean says u should hear a slight whistling sound due to increased air flow.

 

its way worse than just a whistling. Also i have that new downpipe installed.

 

the sound would be better if you get a free flow cat back exhaust

my frd's sentra sounds like a pos with header on stock pipes, after he put on a cat back the rice sound is gone

 

oh nevermind you got Apexi anyways

 

i don't know if you've been following my posts recently but i have been having the same issue with my megan's also. at cruising speeds or at idle they're fine though.

i plan on buying some header wrap this week and experimenting to find out if i can cut the resonance by wrapping some sections of the downpipe. i'll let you gents know.

SSTS

 

aiite keep us posted, yea i have the exact same problem your saying, idle/crusing its fine, only when you accel.

 

yeah, and i suspect the issue is just at the bottom of the downpipe because it rides to close to the oil pan. i bought some header wrap from summitracing yesterday so hopefully it will come this week. i will be sure to take pictures when i'm done.

SSTS

 

It sounds like the exact same problem that I had with my Stone racing header, the problem IMO is not leaking, resonance from downpipe or anything like that, unfortuneatly tightening the bolts over and over again didn't help me either, the sound was still there and eventually I bought a new header and the sound is gone. When I took the Stone header off I noticed that the 02 sensor was closer to the flex pipe than on the Alphawerks, now I don't know if this is the reason but it makes sense to me. This may or may not be the problem but if you've got that same shrilly metallic whistling sound that I had then I think you my be in the same boat.

Peace, Jeff

 

Keep us posted, i wanna know how that works out.

 

Yep. Same prob here. Car sounds like a POS when accelerating. Megan should be ashamed of themselves. It was nice of them to fix the leaking issue with the new d-pipes. But come on, this resonance is AWFUL!

Makes me wonder if they even tested them out on an actual setup for more than 1/2 hour.

I dont know about you guys, but I didn't spend good money for a bunch of damn resonance. And now that I know its not just me, I'm pissed and I feel it should be rectified. Until then, I will not be puchasing or recommending Megan products.

Sorry for venting...

 

Yea dood seriously, this shirrly metallic sound is just horrible. I could stand a little bit but this is like driving down the street with cans from your car. I hope it can be fixed without having to buy all new headers.

 

I hope you guys can post a sound clip so everyone can hear it. I have the headers too. I have to admit I have a SLIGHT resoance but I can honestly barely hear it. Im gonna post a sound clip soon after Im done with my finals. My friend also just installed the headers on his cl and he had NO resonance issue but that may be because he has a catback which eases the back pressure.

It seems to me only a few members here complain of SEVERE resonance issue. Have you guys tried looking fro problems around the piping area or connection point and not just blaming it on the header. You guys might want to double check the mounting bracket for your pipes because their shoulnt be any metallic sound. The mounting bracket/bushing might have gotten torn apart. Or even the motor mounts causing excessive movements.

The problem really shouldnt have gotten this far. The design was pretty much the same as the stock ones just bored out. Ive sold many many sets on groubuys and I have only gotten praises for the performance gain and great fitment.

FYI, the downpipe does not rub against the oil pan. There is at least .5 of clearance.

 

I don't think the metallic hissing sound is the same as resonance. Anyways, I was told the noise is normal, and it's the sound of the exhaust going through the headers, and it's audible because the metal is much thinner than stock. However, I think this is just an excuse since this doesn't seem to be a universal problem.

 

I tried recording a sound clip, but even though it's pretty noticable to the ear, it seems to be difficult to pick up with a mic. The road noise and engine seem to drown out the hissing sound. It only happens when accelerating, and doesn't happen when revving the engine in park, so wind noise becomes a factor if you try to place the mic outside.

 

I have the Comptech c/b and I can tell you that it has nothing to do with the type of exhaust is on the car, the Stone and the Alphawerks both ran through and the Stone sounded like shit and the A/W sounds great. Like I've said before I honestly don't think that there is a quick fix for this (regardless of the name on the header), however if there is I have a used Stone header for sale lol.

Peace, Jeff

 

definitely not the sound of the exhaust. try doing it in park or neutral and you won't hear it at all. at least i don't. rev it all the way out.

i think it's just the fact that the engine moves when you change gears and even more so during acceleration in such a way that you get some rattling/resonance.

otherwise i can live with it considering i got nearly the same gain as comptechs for 1/4 of the price. my dyno is in another post from the past 3 days. check it out.

SSTS

 

I don't think that it is either and I'll tell you that its definately not normal. Definately an excuse. I'm not sure about the metal thickness but I'm pretty sure that that wouldn't cause the shrilly metallic sound, As far a I'm concearned there is something causing turbulance inside the header which in turn is causing the noise.
Peace, Jeff

 

You can hear the change in airflow because the t-304 is thinner than stock.
Their should be NO metallic sound. Metallic sound is not the same as resonance. I had metallic sound on my car before but thats because when the muffler shop took of my exhaust, they broke the pipe mounting bracket/bushing. This caused my whole pipe to rub against somethiing which caused the metallic sound. I got new bushings and everything was fine.
There Should be hissing. The hissing from my cai was actually louder due to the increase air flow.
By the way, the megan header was tested on my car for a few months before actually selling to the public. Mine was installed by a master tech and retorqued twice. The oldest batch was tested out by an accord v6 for over a year and no problem. Check out v6perxxxx.net. More reviews there and less flaming

 

Ok, I tried recording the sound of my headers. It's a hissing sound, but the only way to describe the hissing, is a slightly metallic hissing sound. The only way to really hear it in the recording is to use Windows Media Player, and using the eq, boost 8 KHz all the way up.

http://s44.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2J3NIVIR7LNKE2ZBHXYU7R7ET6

 

Im not complaing about any hissing sound, i have a extremly loud metallic sound thats annoying. I say its the headers because i didnt have any problems until right after i got the headers installed and other members i know have experienced the same thing, just trying to find out how to fix this.

 

Don't feel sorry for venting, i'm riding with you. I will never purchase any MEGAN products again, ever. They were aware of the situation and still managed to fuck it up by only fixing the obvious (downpipe against the oil pan). I don't care how much I did or didn't pay for them it is an inferior product that shouldn't be sold until the problem is corrected. Damn, they act like this is chess instead of checkers

 

I will try to record the sound, i will definitly get the resonance sound because it is so loud and shitty, i know it will get recorded lol .
I agree with the rest, they were better off not sending the new downpipe, it didnt solve shit for me, if anything it has louder resonance.

 

sounds like a leak, but is it?

 

I thought it was a leak too. Other people insist that the sound is normal, and it happens because the pipes are thinner than stock. They say a leak should be a consistant ticking sound or something. I really don't know...

 

i know some of you guys are really pissed but i would take a step back and a deep breath if i were some of you.

even though i have resonance i would be willing to buy other megan products. i saved $900 over comptechs and got nearly the same gains. i can live with a little resonance until i get my header wrap. although i know *some* of you guys are having really serious resonance issues. that's another story alltogether which i think is more indicative of inconsistent manufacturing on megan's part since some people have issues and some don't. a wooshing sound is one thing, a metallic ringing like a broken firebell is another.

i can understand how you all feel though. after all i did have my comptech swaybars AND springs break not even 3 months ago and they refused to help. i will say that at least megan is making an effort. that buys them some brownie points in my book.

SSTS

ps- i am still waiting for my header wrap to come in the mail but i will keep you all informed. worry not.

 

Mine makes a clicking noise at <3000 RPM as well the resonance isn't too bad for me, but the clicking is hella annoying.. but it's not constant throughout the wideband..

 

Yeah if you all could post a sound clip that would be great. I personally don't get the cans on the back of the car sound. That would just be horrible, but I do get a slight maybe I need a grounding wire on my stero sound.

 

I'm sorry to hear you all are having these issues. I am going to have the guys who installed mine take a look when I get my pully installed and maybe they can me with this ground issue sound.

 

We all know there should be no metallic sounds. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SAYING! Under acceleration, around 2k-3k RPM's it sounds like a chainsaw trying to cut a chain-link fence in two. Its pretty freaking loud too, not to mention embarrasing. If I knew how I would record it.

And BTW, I've had mine installed TWICE. The last time by a very reputable local dealership. So this stuff about them maybe not being installed properly is just not correct.

Not trying to flame either, just stating the facts.

 

If it sounds like a chainsaw then its not resonance. Its better to start looking into the problem than constantly blaming on the header. True, there is slight resonance for megan headers but nothing like a chainsaw or embarrassing to drive. I would honestly look into the installation or your piping area then to constantly constanly complainging about metallic sound.

Im going to post a sound clip after my finals. Using mine as a standard hoping to end all disputes. I will record sound clips from the interior and exterior holding a hand out while driving.

ps-the hissing sound while driving at low rpms is NOT a leak. Leaks can be heard at all rpms.

 

If it's in fact due to the runner thickness, did you consider using Thermo-Tec header wrap (as SSTS said)?? I know it's not going to give you the "bling bling" look, but it might give your ears a rest.

 

i was actually thinking about that (the runner thickness). i imagine the stainless steel has to have some more flex and motion to it than the stock pipes.

has anyone here thought about extrude honing/dremelling the stock manifolds/downpipe to get any gains? i was thinking about doing it since i have done a couple of intake manifolds in the past by hand with a grinder. the plus side being that it would be an exact fit when replaced.

i realize it's constrained by the bends in the manifolds and downpipe.

just wondering if anyone knew if it had been kicked around since i couldn't find anything on the search page.

SSTS

 

The resonance I have is like Elementz stated: loud, embarassing, and sounds like a chainsaw cutting a chainlink fence.

 

I totally agree. I paid $175 for these headers brand new shipped... It would've been nice to have no resonance issues, but I still get great gains and the headers have held up so far.

 

DUDE! YOU DONT LISTEN. IT DOESNT SOUND LIKE A CHAINSAW! IT SOUNDS LIKE A CHAINSAW CUTTING A CHAINLINK FENCE!!!! If you can imagine barely touching a running chainsaw to a metal object, thats what it sounds like. YOU KNOW, LIKE A LOUD HIGH-SPEED VIBRATIONAL METALLIC SOUND!

AND DONT TELL ME TO STOP BLAMING THE HEADERS! I DID NOT HAVE THE NOISE BEFORE AND RIGHT AFTER THEY'RE INSTALLED I HAVE IT. Even after both PROFESSIONAL installs, its still there. Not to mention I have many years experience in SCCA club racing so I know a thing or two about headers.

Like I said, I'm not trying to flame. But if you're saying that all of us who are experiencing the same thing to one degree or another are complaining then thats not right.

We are all just as interested in seeing this issue resolved as I am sure you are.

 

I'm going to have to agree with keepingitclean. I understand that the installation of the headers caused the problem, but I don't see the problem coming from the headers themselves. By your description, it sounds like metal on metal vibrating. If everything is bolted down tightly, I don't see how the headers themselves could make that noise. In another thread you said the heat shield was loose. Maybe something else is loose?

 

Im in the same boat as elementz it is like a chainsaw, maybe the bolts/gaskets or something are not good? perhaps a replacment for those would help, could be that they are vibrating or something?