Hi,

A few weeks ago I worte in the general engine formum (94 Formula Firebird) regardiing the fact that my cat clogged, I insisted to keep going and then overheated and melted my fuel lines! Finally got it back from my mechanic today and he repaired the fuel lines put in a new cat, and replaced the secondary air pump. Heres the problem:

The car has a ticking sound only when you accelarate (not on idle) and he is going nuts trying to find it. It is definetly somewhere between the exhaust manifold and before the cat ( he suspect the exxhaust manifold on th right side). The car runs great and superfast( no codes). Please help!!!
You guys and gals on this site have helped me out a jam before so I'm confient.
I have the car now but will return to him next week. I dont want to lose it again for 3 months!!!

He is a great mechanic but is kinda stumped. Help!!!

Thanks

It sounds to me like the exhaust manifold bolts either weren't tightened down enough or that one or more of them have back off some, either that or the gasket for there is either missing or damaged since that "ticking" sound you're hearing is a common sympton when any of those happens. I'd have him check all of those first before he does anything else. Oh and I'd start with the back bolts since those are the ones I've seen that happen with the most often since they're the hardest ones to get to.

I had a V8 Monza once that had a loud matallic tap when driven. It sounded just like a loose lifter. Turned out the rear most bolt on the drivers side exhaust manifold was loose. About 1/2 turn made the noise stop. Just get the needed tools and recheck all the fasteners in the exhaust to see if one is a little loose.

If your cat clogged, there's a chance the high backpressure blew out the exhaust manifold gaskets, or damaged the check valves for the AIR system.

Sounds like you've got an exhaust leak. I had the same sort of noise with my 95 formie. It was one of the exhuast manifolds on the drivers side. I never fixed it because it was too much of a hassle, so i just got used to the noise and lived with it. Does it make the noise when you put the car in N and rev it up or does it just make the noise when the car is in gear?

It makes the noise whenver I give it gas in both gear and neutral, on idle I don't hear it. I'm going to get it appraised once the snow stops here in NY ! Thanks I will write in once it diagnosed.

I finally got it fixed . It was the exhasust gasket on the passanger side. My mechanic charged me 290 total. He said it was very labor intensive (3.6 hrs) Did I overpay? I don't care anyway because I got my Bird back! Thanks everyone.

I think it was to much but then I always do all my stuff myself. What does he charge an hour,$75. $150 would be fair IMO but as long as it's fixed right then I guess it's all good.

That seems a bit high to me too since it really shouldn't have taken him 3.6 hours to fix it unless he took half the car apart to get the new gasket in.

But like you said, it really doesn't matter now since the work is done and you've got your baby back and on the road again.