Weird car noises turning off/on the car

coreyxh · 09-29-2003, 06:45 PM

I've got a 94' SL1. It has 116k and just two days ago I began learning to drive it (manual) and when I start the car it makes a loud noise, almost like a backfire without the backfiring pop. Also, when I turn off the car, it sounds like the cars exahust takes awhile to let all of it out and makes a hestation of sorts. It's like the engine shuts off but after its off, maybe 1 second after that it lets exhaust out....almost like a really old car sounds when you turn it off. I'm not sure if the muffler is the problem, or maybe my header/motor mounts are dying. Theres been alot of people that have learned to drive a stick on this car before I've owned it so i'm wondering if the latest jerking/jumping ahead due to my learning to drive it has disrupted any of the exhaust parts/engine parts. Any help would be appreciated.

coreyxh · 09-29-2003, 07:44 PM

Also, while learning to drive the car I've missshifted and put it in nutral and hit the gas instead of putting it into third or what not....it's revved past 5 and 6k and I'm not sure if thats what did it. However all of my power is still there.

RiceRocket · 09-30-2003, 08:48 PM

Past 6k...ouch

. I have no idea what could be causing it, but if it's the car everyone is using to learn a manual then the engine/trans is probably fryed.

Dman · 10-02-2003, 12:34 AM

As far as the tranny goes, if you smell any thing funky or if the clutch is out and the car is still getting in gear, then you'd be burning out the clutch. I.e. replace it soon. As far as the exhaust problem, your tranny and your motor mounts wont have much to do with it. My best guess is that your beginning to get some blockage in the exhaust system. since the car has 116K, it could be excess gunk and carbon inside the headers, downpipe, cat.converter, or muffler. I couldn't tell you what to do, I don't recommend revving it too much, which could build too much pressure, if you have a blockage and blow something out, (You don't want to see your muffler shooting the car behind you). On the other hand redlining it or revving it high could push some of that crap out of your exhaust. I'd go with the cat.converter building up some blockage, maybe the muffler. or just check all your exhaust piping.
does your car rev high when you turn it on? at what RPM do you idle at?

coreyxh · 10-02-2003, 07:41 PM

revs a little high at startup in our 40 degree cold mornings right now. but that goes away after about a minute or so. found out that the exhaust is missing a clamp and when it starts/turns off it vibrates against the under carrage.