After 3 years, my Max is back on the road.
 

After three years of covered outside storage, I finally got my car back on the road this week. I've done air filter, oil and oil filter, new oil pan, ac recharge, new rotors and pads with fluid flush, new coolant, new tires, alignment, new heater blower motor resistor and new wiper blades. I also had it detailed inside and out. Car performs fantastic, but I am now $2000 lighter :p

After a gentle 80 miles initial driving, I opened it up a bit one day, to pass a car and thats when things got very loud. I think I've blown a hole through the y pipe somewhere but I cant see it. Depending on where I stand or look under the car, the sounds appears to come from different places. I cant see exhaust blowing dust off the ground. I know its close to the engine as it is very loud and pulses with firings from one bank,

I have no budget left to fix this so I need very cheap suggestions on what to do. I am thinking stock used parts might be the cheapest option. I am hoping that this isnt an issue with the cats or manifolds. I dont think it is, it sounds to low for that, you can hear it better under the car than above right by the manifolds. Currently it is totally stock except the rear cat was gutted except for a small piece which fools the O2 sensor and does not throw a CEL.

Any ideas?

Maybe the Y-Pipe flex section, also where do you live.....:D

There is a small hole in the flex section, right as the mess meets the flange. I'll try a jubilee clip over it to see if that changes the sound because it sure as heck doesnt sound like thats where the majority of the sound is coming from.

Are you able to get under the car and take a look ? That's the best option.

No not right now. Hopefully in the next few days.

Wow 3 yrs in storage? Did it accumlate a lot of dust on your car? I'm assuming you had it a garaged storage? or was it outdoor? Cuz I haven't driven my car in a year and was in storage til I went to take her out and someone stole my one rim off my car, ugh.

I wrapped my flex with a lot of header wrap. Problem solved LOL

Congrats. I just got my Maxima running after 2 years of storage in the garage. Try taking it to an exhaust shop and have the flex section changed out. Cant be no more than 80 bucks.

when a car sits for a long time, water collects in the grooves of the flex section of the y-pipe, it slowly rusts through. Get it replaced and you'll be good to go for a long time.

It's your EGR valve and it' located under the mass air meter. Mine did the same thing. It's a cheap and easy fix.

I have the DIY but for some reason, Photobucket no longer works. It's now in some sort of beta stage.

Touch base if you need help.

Finally got to check this out yesterday and it is indeed the flex section. It has completly seperated from the front section of the Y pipe and there is a 1/8 gap all the way around. i've wrapped it in ultra high temp alumium tape to double check and it is indeed the source of the noise. As I am still broke I need an ultra mega cheap fix. :p

i see replacing the flex pipe section as a suggestion but I've never heard of that being done. Is it that common and something that just about any exhaust shop could do? I'd prefer to keep the stock Y pipe as the heatsheilds are still in good condition and there are zero rattles. I do need a b pipe though as the flange at the muffler end has split and the muffler and b pipe flange are now hanging.

Or, as a second option there is this at less than $180 shipped:


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