For about the past month, I've been getting this super loud noise coming from the back of the engine bay. It would be more pronounced on startup, but then started being noticeable whenever I was on the gas.
I had a suspicion that it might be the exhaust manifold, but for anyone that has even tried to look back there, it's VERY tight and you can't really see much.
I had asked one of my Indy's to have a look at the same time I brought it in for an oil change and right front strut replacement. (broken coil). He looked around, put his stethoscope around and figured it was some type of exhaust leak, but that he wasn't keen on checking further. He prefers brakes, suspension stuff, things that dont' tie up his bays overnight. That's ok, I didn't want him to start something he didn't like to do anyway.
I finally bit the bullet and figured I would bring it in at another shop that I had heard about.
Sure enough, after a few hours, the shop called and told me I had at least 3 broken exhaust manifold studs. He asked me if I wanted them repaired and I told him I wanted to keep the car for a while (233,000kms), so to go ahead and repair it.
The next day, I dropped by to see how everything was going and he brought me in the shop. That's when I saw my whole engine on the floor, under the car! Basically, there is no room to work and even get your hands in there, let alone a drill to try and do anything. I could see that his guy could just sit and work on the studs at a proper height. As well, there is a coolant pipe (not hose) that runs on the back and really blocks the access from underneath. There is just no access in there. They figured the extra few hours would be saved by having a good access.
The tried welding nuts on the studs to get them to turn out, but that didn't work. Then they started to drill them out. Obviously a very delicate job and which was better suited with the engine out.
The next day, I called and he told me he was still drilling!! They had 5 to do. By this time, I figured the whole thing was going to cost me a fortune!
I finally got my car 5 days after. So worse case I figured almost 8hrs a day would almost be $3500. I should note that I was also getting my steering rack replaced at the same time, so they already had all that removed anyway.
The guy replaced my gasket and just used a high temp silicone type sealant. I was fine with that as I know that it levels out the surfaces better. All I wanted was a seal that would last. There was no wear or uneveness on the manifold, so everything there still looked good.
At the end, I was quite fine with the charges, which amounted to about 20hrs of labour, including the time for the rack replacement. They ended up drilling 5 studs out and they said they were super hard. The started with a drill bit, then used carbide burrs. Since I sell cutting tools, I wasn't keen on their choices and I think a short stubby solid carbide drill would have worked the best BUT, I didn't have any at the shop to give to them and my shipments were getting delayed because of a severe winter storm we were getting. Once the job was done, I gave them one to try for their next job.
So a bit pricey, but the job is basically all labour. Unfortunately doesn't add any value to my 05 T5, but since I plan on keeping the car and it's been paid for a long time ago, I figured I didn't really have a choice as I am not interested in getting into another car payment right now.
-Mitch
05 V50 T5 AWD
I had a suspicion that it might be the exhaust manifold, but for anyone that has even tried to look back there, it's VERY tight and you can't really see much.
I had asked one of my Indy's to have a look at the same time I brought it in for an oil change and right front strut replacement. (broken coil). He looked around, put his stethoscope around and figured it was some type of exhaust leak, but that he wasn't keen on checking further. He prefers brakes, suspension stuff, things that dont' tie up his bays overnight. That's ok, I didn't want him to start something he didn't like to do anyway.
I finally bit the bullet and figured I would bring it in at another shop that I had heard about.
Sure enough, after a few hours, the shop called and told me I had at least 3 broken exhaust manifold studs. He asked me if I wanted them repaired and I told him I wanted to keep the car for a while (233,000kms), so to go ahead and repair it.
The next day, I dropped by to see how everything was going and he brought me in the shop. That's when I saw my whole engine on the floor, under the car! Basically, there is no room to work and even get your hands in there, let alone a drill to try and do anything. I could see that his guy could just sit and work on the studs at a proper height. As well, there is a coolant pipe (not hose) that runs on the back and really blocks the access from underneath. There is just no access in there. They figured the extra few hours would be saved by having a good access.
The tried welding nuts on the studs to get them to turn out, but that didn't work. Then they started to drill them out. Obviously a very delicate job and which was better suited with the engine out.
The next day, I called and he told me he was still drilling!! They had 5 to do. By this time, I figured the whole thing was going to cost me a fortune!
I finally got my car 5 days after. So worse case I figured almost 8hrs a day would almost be $3500. I should note that I was also getting my steering rack replaced at the same time, so they already had all that removed anyway.
The guy replaced my gasket and just used a high temp silicone type sealant. I was fine with that as I know that it levels out the surfaces better. All I wanted was a seal that would last. There was no wear or uneveness on the manifold, so everything there still looked good.
At the end, I was quite fine with the charges, which amounted to about 20hrs of labour, including the time for the rack replacement. They ended up drilling 5 studs out and they said they were super hard. The started with a drill bit, then used carbide burrs. Since I sell cutting tools, I wasn't keen on their choices and I think a short stubby solid carbide drill would have worked the best BUT, I didn't have any at the shop to give to them and my shipments were getting delayed because of a severe winter storm we were getting. Once the job was done, I gave them one to try for their next job.
So a bit pricey, but the job is basically all labour. Unfortunately doesn't add any value to my 05 T5, but since I plan on keeping the car and it's been paid for a long time ago, I figured I didn't really have a choice as I am not interested in getting into another car payment right now.
-Mitch
05 V50 T5 AWD
