Emmissions warranty is not applicable in this case due to the 100K miles on this vehicle. Suggest biting the bullet and going to a dealer. Cats annot really be taken apart and fixed. Sounds like a cat to me.
I did an amature dignosis with a friend over the weekend.
Ears:
At start-up, the puttering is fairly pronounced and sounds like a distant helicopter. Once the car settles to idle, it quiets down to where you can barely hear it. If you put it into gear, the puttering gets loud again. If you slowly accelerate (low rpms), the puttering is not as bad, but is still there. If you accelerate quickly (higher rpms) the putters bleed together forming a low pitched grumble. Things like turning on the AC tend to make it a little louder (at idle). I also thought I heard a slight hissing noise that went along with the putter - but I don't want to oversell this - it may have been a normal engine noise. The best I can tell is that the sound is comming from near the engine, passenger side. In fact it sounds like it is coming from the area directly behind the engine, above the tranny. It may be that the noise is originating from elsewhere, and simply bouncing up through the opening that exists in the part of the engine compartment.
Eyes:
I inspected the exhaust and saw how complex it is. Two catalytic converters coming off the left (Driver side) and right (passenger) manifolds (with sensors before and after the cc). There are an additional two components after the cc and then the left exhaust path has a resonator before entering the muffler (It may be two resonators and one other component). Getting under the ml, I visually inspected and saw no obvious holes, rust, or lose fittings.
Nose:
I sniffed around the engine while my buddy revved the engine. I thought I smelled exhaust fumes coming from between the firewall and engine (Passenger side). Again, this could have been exhaust coming from the rear of the car and blowing forward, up through the engine compartment, but maybe a leak? I didn't see exhaust coming from anywhere specific.
Touch:
Exhaust parts get really hot, really fast! When the engine is cold, it seems to be louder/more pronouced. This could be due to higher idle at cold temps.
Taste:
Nothing to report.
ESP:
My gut feeling is that it has something to do with the passenger side catalytic converter. First, that seems to be the best fit location-wise with the noise I hear. Second, the manual states that you should not overfill the oil, because it might cause dammage to the cc. I did slightly overfill the oil the last time I changed it and my wife put about 50 miles on it before I drained about a half a quart of oil. This coincided with the onset of the problem.
Wishful thinking:
A lose fitting or gasket between the manifold and the rest of the exhaust.
Thanks again! Hope this helps you diagose my problems![:D]
okay try this... have a friend put the truck in park and slower rev the motor at a slow but consistent pace. at the same time get under the truck and listen and try to hear if you can hear it at a certain rpm.
another good test... once the truck has cooled down completely, take the back of your hand and literally hammer FIRMLY the components of the exhaust system. if it is something within the exhaust system one of these, if not both, tests will trigger the noise.
if you dont have emissions...then if this is the problem just forget about it. if the noise bothers you go to a reputable welder, and have it spot welded. without the cat working correctly, you will not have much of a ill affect on the trcuk. with all the other components, the trcuk will still run smoothly...UNLESS you trigger the check engine light. the issue is not that the cat is messing the truck up, but the complex computer system. if you service your truck at the dealer DO NOT remove the cat...most states legally will not allow you to leave if they see your car without a cat.
anyway, try the two tests and see what you come up with.
Well here is the diagnosis from the dealer "stealer" for the noise from the exhaust. Both catalytic convertors have cracks in the welds. Price to replace them $2600 OUCH!!.My question is this,can the cracks in the welds be rewelded?? has anyone done this before?? I think its time to sell.[:(!]
00 430 bulldog... the cracks can be welded. did the dealer say that the cats have failed or that there is just a crack? if you can live with the noise just leave it, its not gonna hurt you, but if there are other symptoms let me know what they are so i can help diagnose.
00 430 bulldog... the cracks can be welded. did the dealer say that the cats have failed or that there is just a crack? if you can live with the noise just leave it, its not gonna hurt you, but if there are other symptoms let me know what they are so i can help diagnose.
00 430 bulldog... the cracks can be welded. did the dealer say that the cats have failed or that there is just a crack? if you can live with the noise just leave it, its not gonna hurt you, but if there are other symptoms let me know what they are so i can help diagnose.
Yeah Thanks. They said the cracks are along the welds on both of them. I spoke to my mechanic and he says he can weld the cracks for less than a hundred dollars. If it does not work I'll just bite the bullet and let the stealer change them.
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