DMB14

I just got my car back from the shop after a MAJOR service, and somehow it developed a crack in the exhaust manifold while it was at the shop. I know they basically took my car apart from head to toe, and **** happens sometimes. So I'm not really mad at the mechanic, but this problem is just causing concern.

When I reach about 1500 revs in neutral I hear a slight rattle-like sound coming from the exhaust that disappears by 2000. When I hit 4000 there are some serious vibrations felt in the gear lever and a scary noise coming from the gear lever and the area around it. My ashtray was vibrating a ton, and removing it helps with the sound a little, but you can still feel the vibrations. If you fly right past 4000 you barely notice anything strange.

Should I be concerned? Several of the mechanics at the shop own 944s and say it's their favorite car, so I definitely trust them and I think they did a great job on the whole. They mechanic said I can give them a ride in the car tomorrow so they can see what's up.

Anyway, after this big service ($3500, I had a TON of stuff done) the car feels more powerful and sounds mean as hell.

Also the crack in the exhaust or whatever sometimes produces this really badass growl, but usually just scary sounds and annoying vibrations...

So does this sound like a major problem?
The mechanic said they should be able to weld it shut (it's only about 1/2" long), but also that I shouldn't really worry about it until I need to get emissions tested.

leedog

I would get it fixed just to cure the vibrations. I had a rattle in the exhaust i put on my car, and it drove me crazy. It just doesn't sound healthy when it rattles like hell.

Matt Sheppard

A couple of questions:

1. Did any of your "major service" include a clutch?

2. Is this a turbo or NA 944?

3. What - besided the bad vibrations - leads you to believe yolu have an exhaust leak and then specifically a cracked header.

schwank

I have a good set of early headers available nice and cheap if you need them.

DMB14

1. They flushed the clutch hydraulic system, not sure what that means but the clutch is still original I think.

2. NA

3. The mechanic said that I've got a crack. I'm pretty sure it happened in the shop, it wasn't rattling or making these noises beforehand.

Thanks, but I'm not sure it's necessary. The mechanic said they can weld the crack cheaply if I want them to and that it's very small.

Luis de Prat

Collateral damage... So difficult to prove, yet so annoying, frustrating and expensive!

Mamooguy

Wound a crack in the manifold cause the vibrations? Can you see the crack?

I had similar problems and it turned out to just be a bad gasket or two where the manifold meets the Y-pipe. Simple and easy to fix (and cheap). I do kinda miss that snarl, tho.

caster951

If this happened in the shop, then the welding to fix the crack should be super cheap, as in FREE.

DMB14

Well the mechanic said they found a small crack, I haven't looked.

Bingo! I would feel bad if I accuse them of anything though, the guy I've been talking to is really nice. I might just leave it the way it is for a while...

cie_lab

lemme tell you about nice guys. They're nice because the give good service and have pride in their work. I would be willing to bet if you suggested they weld it up, he'd be more than happy to do it for free.

Just a guess, if he really IS a nice guy.