So last November I had an exhaust leak from both my stock j-pipe (bottomed out pretty bad on it) as well as my manifold gasket. I replaced the j-pipe with an Rv6 pipe and brought it to acura to have the manifold gasket replaced (they were the ones who told me it was leaking). Now I still hear a subtle "leaking sound" during a cold start, then it quiets after it warms up a bit. At WOT I can hear what sounds like a small leaking sound, yet I seem to loss no power. Now my question, since I installed the j-pipe with an exhaust leak coming from my manifold, I've never really heard the pipe on my car without another exhaust leak present...does the Rv6 pipe have a small leaking sound at start up and WOT or should I get under there and see if I truly have another leak. The only thing I can think of is either Acura didn't put a gasket back on my j-pipe, or didn't tighten it all the way. Or it could be all in my head and this is what the j-pipe sounds like....sorry but I'm anal about exhaust leaks. Can anyone with a j-pipe vouch for the sound? Other than that, my exhaust setup is completely stock.

 

I had a little whistle at start ups.

Its always a good idea to re-visit exhaust installs, because heat can sometimes loosen bolts..
I would re-check all 9 bolts, especially the ones coming off of the heads or pre-cats.

after, I re-torqued the loosened bolts, I did not have the whistle any more.

 

also, some one thought he was having a leak but it turned out that a mount was rubbing against some metal.

 

Thanks for the responses...I'll try and get it on some jacks this weekend and have a look.

 

Sounds like it's coming from my precat and jpipe...won't have access to a lift for a few weeks though...thinking about just bringing it back to Acura since they're the last ones that worked on it.

 

^do it.

 

Dropping it off this Monday...soonest they could have a loaner ready. Have a feeling they're going to tell me it's a different leak than last time and they weren't the ones responsible for it though...

 

It's probably normal. Many aftermarket thin wall stainless pipes will sound that way. Many pre-cat factory exhausts use double wall or thicker piping to keep heat in for the cat which also reduces noise. During a cold start, timing is retarded and exhaust will be louder. My other car came from the factory with stainless steel headers and every single one of them have the unique sound where you can hear the exhaust through the headers. I actually like the sound.

 

Yeah, I'm thinking it might be the sound the pipe makes but I hate knowing there might be a leak. It's only at cold startup and under heavy throttle...I would think if it was the sound of the pipe then it would be constant throughout?

 

My rv6 v3 jpipe sounds stock.
I dont think there should be any unintended noises, ie: whistling, air leakage sounds.
When at WOT, a deep rushing sound akin to a cold air intake sound.

 

Trying to get access to a lift this weekend before I bring it in on Monday to possibly see if something's loose. I just hate bringing it to Acura saying, I think there might be a leak...because we all know they will jump all over that...

 

Drop my car off at Acura this morning, 3 hours later they call me to tell me to come pick it back up. They told me there was a break in one of the welds in the exhaust on an aftermarket part and they didn't want to touch anything until it was welded back (something they couldn't do). They DID say that the gasket they replaced 6 months ago was leaking again, so that would be replaced once the weld was fixed. So knowing the only aftermarket part of my exhaust in my j-pipe, I say no way, it's less than 6 months old. I tell the service manager I want to speak with the tech who looked at my car. He said he was on lunch, I said okay I'll wait until he gets back and I want him to point out where the weld is. So an hour later, he brings me under my car and points to a tiny leak on my muffler. I said, woah, that's all factory, they said the pipes are, but the welds aren't. I scratched my head and said what? They said someone cut the pipe, then re-welded it in several areas for whatever reason. So I grabbed the pipe with my hand and shook the hell out of it (while the manager was advising me not to because it might snap off)...I said, that weld isn't breaking, I really have to weld that before you'll touch my car? They said yup. I laughed and said okay I'll see you after the weekend when I weld it. Complete BS, the weld is 98% there, with a small hole...not even visible to me, just saw condensation coming out. I'm so pissed right now that I have to take another day off from work to bring my car down there again.

 

then dont.


bring your car to an exhaust shop, tell them to weld the hole, while they are there ask them to check any loosened bolts....

Dont even know why you took it to a dealer in the first place.

 

I agree. It could be a $20 5 minute fix at an exhaust shop vs a two day ordeal and probably $300 at a dealer.

The dealer reminds me of a snobby ugly chick. They think they're better than everyone else but in reality they suck.

 

The only reason I brought it to the dealer was because it sounded like it was coming from my gasket again (which they said it probably was). So that would be covered at no cost. If I would have known I had this leak, I would have easily gotten it welded. It'll be welded for free (gf's father owns a bodyshop in NH). Of course while it's up on the lift I'll check for any loose bolts on the jpipe and exhaust.

 

Got it welded, checked the bolts on the exhaust myself at a local shop, everything's tight. Guess it really is the gasket, bringing it back to Acura tomorrow for them to do it, under warranty.

 

So bringing it in this morning, rolled up to the dealership and my check engine light came on. The more I'm reading about this on here, it possibly may be one of my cat's failing. If this is the case, would this be covered under the 8yr/80,000 mile emisions warranty? I bought the car used at a local dealership, not acura. Also, would my rv6 jpipe cause them to void this? I can't see HOW they could prove that adding in this pipe would cause a cat to fail...dealerships calling me this morning after they get it up on a lift...

 

Is there a rotten egg smell?
sulfur?

 

Nope, nothing. Car ran fine this morning. Filled it up with Sunoco last night, 1st time using it but can't see how that might throw the light on. Have a feeling they're going to try and play the "aftermarket jpipe" game.

 

what the hell is going on, am i in the twilight zone?
dejavu all over again!?!?!?


dude, i wouldnt even take it to the dealer...
when you had it up on the lift, you did not check for the gasket?????
I would have went to an autostore to get the code read for free.
then once i found out what the code was, then address it accordingly.

I have a warranty on my ride, but will never take it in unless its for a recall.
there are cheaper and better routes to take!!

 

The reason why I'm taking it to the dealer is because when my clutch was being replaced by them, they also replaced the manifold gasket. IF it is leaking again, they would obviously replace it for free, why would I take it elsewhere? While it was on the lift, everything that was accessible was checked. Bringing it in this morning, my light suddenly came on...I didn't bring it in because of the code, that would just be stupid. However, doing a bit of searching here leads me to beleive it [I]might[I] be the cat, which led me to ask if it was covered under warranty. If not, then yes I will be going somewhere else to have it looked at. But I can't see going anywhere else when they are looking at it for free and replacing the gasket for free.

 

and then if they tell you that they cannot look at it, much less replace it because of your aftermarket pipe?

 

Then I would say that's a little BS. A change in pipe after the cats does not affect what's before it, unless it was less restrictive than the stock one, I don't see how they can try that.

 

History repeats itself.....

 

History repeats itself? You're giving me sh*t for bringing it back to the dealer from an error that they possibly made. They've worked on my car before with the jpipe on, the reason for them not touching it yesterday was an unrelated issue with the rear of my exhaust. If you brought your car in for something, and you were getting the same symptoms after they fixed it, you'd be pretty stupid to not go back and have them fix it again. The only new thing that has happened was the code this morning, as I was coming into the dealer.

 

sorry for giving you shit.

 

Dealership just called and said car's all set. Gasket they had put on originally had a pinch in it. Code was thrown due to air/fuel being too lean, probably caused by the welding done yesterday. Zero charge for any of the work performed, picking it up tomorrow morning and pretty happy.

 

congrats, and again...sorry for giving you a hard time.

 

No hard feelings and thanks...I've just dumped alot of money into this car since I bought it...apparently the kid before me didn't take such great care of it, and I get a little nervous when I hear or feel something unusual. I've always worked on my own cars, clutch replacements, custom turbo install, I just don't like to work on a car i'm not familiar with just yet...still learning about it.