Rep Power: 0

i purchased a 97 civic from my mom - when she purchased the car it was quiet - it has 45000 miles on it and it runs/drives great and great gas mileage - my only complaint is that its loud especially when giving it gas from dead stop and excelling to a higher speed when going down the road - the exhaust from front to back looks fine - hardly rusted but there is noise coming from some where and it seems to be from the rear but i am not sure - can anyone suggest something for me to check or maybe a replacement muffler taht will quiet it back down to stock -maybe its not the muffler but something else ?? any suggestions appreciated

 
Rep Power: 258

is it stock ??? it could be a leak pics would help.

 
Rep Power: 268

Not enough info. How hard is it to check? If it's coming from the back, isn't it obvious what the problem is? But you don't seem too sure of anything.

 
Rep Power: 390

A new muffler wont help if your pipes have a hole in them. Jack the car on stands and crawl under and inspect it.

 
Rep Power: 0

i mentioned stock i think and i have inspected it but i did not see anything that looked like a leak - no rust anywhere - i cant explain the sound of the exhaust other than its loud and sounds like its coming from the rear towards the muffler -its only loud when giving the car gas - i looked at the connections first and where the coupling is at the muffler pipe to the mid pipe has a seal that i will replace but if that is not the problem i will start with the muffler next - if the muffler was bad (doesnt look bad) could the muffler be bad without showing signs and give the loud sound or is it more than likely coming from somewhere else

 
Rep Power: 268

I have no experience with the rear exhaust, maybe there's a leak on the top muffler where you can't see it. Or one of the pipes like Triz said. I don't know how hard it is to pull off and inspect because I've never done it before. But even still, you won't be able to tell it's leaking once off... hmmm. Raise the car, turn the car on, and go under there with a stethescope and maybe you can pinpoint it.

 
Rep Power: 390

You wont need a stethescope to be able to hear it, but you do need to get your butt under there and listen. Jack it up and put a brick on the accelerator if you dont have any friends to do it for you. I'm almost positive, from what you described, that you have a hole or a leak SOMEWHERE in your exhaust.

 
Rep Power: 0

is there a common place for holes or seals that go bad at the connections of the pipes - i will work on taking a closer look this weekend but was looking for some suggestions from some that have had this problem before - i purchased the ring seal that goes between the muffler pipe and the extension and that looks pretty easy to change - will start there

 
Rep Power: 390

You really need to get under the car homie.... have a friend, mother, neighbor, stranger sit in the car and rev it... you'll track it down in 20 seconds.

 
Rep Power: 256

you will hear it like triz said. it will be very obvious. you will also feel the exhaust fumes shooting out of the leak so feel for it.

 
Rep Power: 268

My exhaust manifold has a big crack at the top, but it doesn't make the sound you describe. But it's likely that the sound is off somewhat.

 
Rep Power: 254

lol stranger, I dont know if that is a good idea..I agree with all previous post only way to diagnose and exhaust leak is to get under there and check for yourself what it is. If its as loud as you say it should be really easy to find. Make sure u find out what you need to change so when u bring it to the exhaust shop (assuming you arent going to be welding it yourself) you wont get beat in the head with a crazy price.