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What does an exhaust manifold leak sound like?

My car suddenly got a lot louder after I hit a pothole. I looked underneath and the muffler looks fine. My cousin said it could be the exhaust manifold. What does an exhaust manifold leak sound like?

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Shannon Martin · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Hearing
loud noises
from your car is never a good thing! The sound an exhaust manifold leak makes isn’t very loud—it is a tapping or ticking sound. Usually, you can hear it when you are just starting the car and it will fade away while you are driving.
Hitting a pothole can cause severe damage to the underside of your car. If you hear a noise, here are some things to look into:
  • Alignment: A big pothole can cause your wheels to go out of alignment. If this happens, you will notice that your car will start pulling to the left or right. However, it shouldn’t make any particular noise
  • Bearings: If your car makes a grinding noise and had difficulty turning, you may have damaged the bearings
  • Debris: It may be as simple as rocks, twigs, or debris getting caught in the better rotor and dust screen
If you can’t diagnose the noise yourself, take your car to a local mechanic. Loud noises indicate a problem and it is better to be on the safe side.
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