Okay, while driving around tonight I noticed at one point that my car sounded like the exhaust had a little more bass in it than usual. I thought this was great, sounds good when I stuck my head out the window and I haven't touched the thing :D

But over the course of the evening it got louder to the point that driving around with the noise present might make me stand out a tad (what I'm not heading for).

The strange thing is that the noise is coming from around the dead centre of the vehicle, from that oval-cylinder part i think (I'm not all that down with technical engine parts).

Is this an easy fix? How much will this set me back?

The noise is only present between 1 - 4k RPM, after which it tapers of and the normal engine sounds can be heard.

Im guessing its the y pipe insert.

Theres a divider in the y pipe that splits the spot weld. This rattles and can create a hole in the exhaust when it breaks around that area. Mine did it, pulled the divider out and welded the hole up. Was about the size of a 20c coin.

There will be lots of dust shielding on this part. Best to take it to an exhaust place if you dont have access to a hoist.

I had this problem too. So I got new extractors.....

Sounds like you are talking about the resonator (middle muffler) the welds went in mine and it was a little louder.

Get a torch to look. Wet your fingers and put them near the joins in the suspect area to feel for leaks while engine is running.

I would agree with Thomas, Sounds like you may have a small hole or two in the welds. My best mate's dad thought he had bought a car with a sports system on it once, turns out it had holes in the exhaust :D haha

I would agree with Thomas, Sounds like you may have a small hole or two in the welds. My best mate's dad thought he had bought a car with a sports system on it once, turns out it had holes in the exhaust :D haha

That's what I thought. Although it doesn't sound as sporty as it does bogan commodore-y. :P


Sounds like you are talking about the resonator (middle muffler) the welds went in mine and it was a little louder.

Get a torch to look. Wet your fingers and put them near the joins in the suspect area to feel for leaks while engine is running.

I'll give that a shot.


If it is what you guys are suggesting, how much is this likely to set me back? My wallet is aching at the moment.

I bought the whole middle section for $200. It was a Walker copy of the factory but thicker and better made.

Or you can risk it and grab one from the wreckers for about $80 and see how long it lasts.
Or there is always save up for a proper cat-back sports exhaust ~$500 (i think)

In reality you could possibly have the seams touched up, if theyre not too bad! Would be shiteloads cheaper, take it to an exhaust shop theyre usually pretty good with having a look at stuff like that =)

In reality you could possibly have the seams touched up, if theyre not too bad! Would be shiteloads cheaper, take it to an exhaust shop theyre usually pretty good with having a look at stuff like that =)

Or that. Make sure they do a good job of it though.

like my exhaust guy said, when revving my old factory swiss-cheese exhaust "Some people pay good money to have it sound that way" :D haha.

Okay so I got off my arse tonight and jacked the old girl up. Sure enough, I wet my fingers (giggle) and moved around the cat converter (? - the oval-cylindrical unit in the dead centre of the underbody) and at the rear of the unit, where it returns to a pipe again, has come un joined a tad and the air (and the steel-wool like interior) are both exiting. I tried shoving the whole unit around in effort to maybe connect them back up but no dice.

How much am I looking at roughly? I'll ring up tomorrow morning and hopefully they can give it a look at or something during my lunch break.

I've noticed also as it has gotten worse, the cabin vibrates more now. From when I first got the car it has had a slight vibration in the cabin at very low revs (~700). Is this likely to be linked to it?

Cheers guys.

By dead centre do you mean under the centre console, or under the rear footwells?
If under centre console, that is Catalytic converter. Under footwells is resonator.

The cabin vibrating is from the exhaust. It was worst for me around 2000rpm.

Its sounds like your resonator needs to be welded up or replaced. I don't know about price for a weld.
But to replace:

I bought the whole middle section for $200. It was a Walker copy of the factory but thicker and better made.

Or you can risk it and grab one from the wreckers for about $80 and see how long it lasts.
Or there is always save up for a proper cat-back sports exhaust ~$500 (i think)

By dead centre do you mean under the centre console, or under the rear footwells?
If under centre console, that is Catalytic converter. Under footwells is resonator.

The cabin vibrating is from the exhaust. It was worst for me around 2000rpm.

Its sounds like your resonator needs to be welded up or replaced. I don't know about price for a weld.
But to replace:

Dead centre of the car, under the centre console.

So I dropped it to a local Exhaust shop (Sound Exhaust in Shepparton) who were really awesome about it. Dropped it in at 8:45, guy dropped me at work, picked me back up at 9:30.

From what I can see, they have installed a new cat converter aswell as about 15cm of pipe each side. All up it came to $110.

All good, quiet and awesome. Cheers guys.

Dead centre of the car, under the centre console.

So I dropped it to a local Exhaust shop (Sound Exhaust in Shepparton) who were really awesome about it. Dropped it in at 8:45, guy dropped me at work, picked me back up at 9:30.

From what I can see, they have installed a new cat converter aswell as about 15cm of pipe each side. All up it came to $110.



All good, quiet and awesome. Cheers guys.

I would of asked for a high flow cat while they were at it...im surprised they didnt offer it so they made more money. but good stuff mate. hows it sounding now?

I would of asked for a high flow cat while they were at it...im surprised they didnt offer it so they made more money. but good stuff mate. hows it sounding now?

Sounds like it did 48 hours ago. Back to normal ahah. What are the advantages of a high flow cat?

Better exhaust flow - more powerrrrr

Yeah pretty much, as well as usually a bit of a nicer note!

dont mean to highjack..
mines doing the same, but in a different spot from what i can work out.

mine sounds like the rear muffler let go, as it was rattling shortly after getting the car.
its now getting louder everytime its driven. keep in mind as of late ive been doing about 1000k's a week in it

any areas i should look at first as i hate the wet fart sound as it drones at highway speeds
looking at the mufflers the bodys look fine but i havent had a proper look yet lol.
or is it a better option to just ask a exhaust joint to put it on the hoist. and see whats broken?

dont mean to highjack..
mines doing the same, but in a different spot from what i can work out.

mine sounds like the rear muffler let go, as it was rattling shortly after getting the car.
its now getting louder everytime its driven. keep in mind as of late ive been doing about 1000k's a week in it

any areas i should look at first as i hate the wet fart sound as it drones at highway speeds
looking at the mufflers the bodys look fine but i havent had a proper look yet lol.
or is it a better option to just ask a exhaust joint to put it on the hoist. and see whats broken?

Always much easier to just pop around to an exhaust place and inspect it with them so they don't try and jip you. Have them point out the holes or the welds that have cracked!

dont mean to highjack..
mines doing the same, but in a different spot from what i can work out.

mine sounds like the rear muffler let go, as it was rattling shortly after getting the car.
its now getting louder everytime its driven. keep in mind as of late ive been doing about 1000k's a week in it

any areas i should look at first as i hate the wet fart sound as it drones at highway speeds
looking at the mufflers the bodys look fine but i havent had a proper look yet lol.
or is it a better option to just ask a exhaust joint to put it on the hoist. and see whats broken?

Ask around, take it to a reputeable shop. I did. Went around just before 9 on the way to work. They whacked it up on the hoist immediately, found the issue. Guy drove me to work, called at 9:30 to say it was done, picked me back up, picked the car up sounding good as new.

Always much easier to just pop around to an exhaust place and inspect it with them so they don't try and jip you. Have them point out the holes or the welds that have cracked!
yeah. my plan exactly. or another thought is to just fit a sports system to it.
as im mechanicly minded and only work as a casual. time is something i have, to waste playing swaps



Ask around, take it to a reputeable shop. I did. Went around just before 9 on the way to work. They whacked it up on the hoist immediately, found the issue. Guy drove me to work, called at 9:30 to say it was done, picked me back up, picked the car up sounding good as new.
im yet to find a place in the eastern melb suburbs that isnt ready to go and rip my wallet a new one. asked for a few quotes but i havent gone to the place i went to with my old falcon as its a fair hike from me
sure i could call but i work better talking to a person face to face.

I had a similar problem (although it was much more gradual)
I took of the center CAT and found a peice of metal approx 2x3cm restricting air flow!!! (who know how when or why =/)

Im still considering putting it back, as it just topped off the beautiful sound of a sports exhaust :)