Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Maintenance Zetec exhaust problem..Plz read

Plz answer me on this one, I need your help everyone. WHen idling my car has a drumming exhaust sound , which is audible in my garage, and it get most noticable between idle speed 800 RPM and 1000. then it goes away.. it sound like a reverb in the exhaust. plz next ime you get into your contour remember me and try to listen if you have something like that.

I have no such sound. My car is almost silent
from inside with the engine running. I have a
1997 model HC Mondeo and it has its exhaust
exit on the right hand side looking from the
rear of the car. I have noticed that the HD
and later models appear to have one less
muffler and the exhaust exits on the left
side of the car. Perhaps they deleted a
resonator/muffler and that is the cause of
the noise at idle on your car?



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1996 HC mondeo LX
Radiant red
2.0L Zetec, 5sp
http://www.crosswinds.net/~mondeo/
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See if your resonator has been removed.

Wow , that's annoying, I have so much engine sound inside the car..and my resonator is still there..so I don't know where I get this from..it's no loud though, it's just annoying..it's nothing like those ricer cars with big exhausts..but at those RPMs it is very noticable and it is audible inside the car..where you feel there's a smooth drumming (humming) sound around the cockpit.

sound to me like your catalytic converter has a break in the catalyst.When you accelerate the force of air slilents the vibes.

Kal, first things first. Check for the obvious things like an exhaust leak. It's very easy to do. Go get a friend to stuff some rags into the end of the tail pipe while the car is running. The idea is not to completely block off the exhaust flow, just most of it for a few seconds to increase back pressure in the exhaust system. While he is doing this, look under the car. If you hear an abnormal hissing noise, pinpoint that spot. Chances are you have a leak. It is not uncommon for the Contours to blow out the exhaust gaskets if they weren't properly aligned, so check them carefully. If you hear a leak at a flange in the pipe, CAREFULLY feel around the pipe about 1/2" away from the pipe. If there is a leak you can actually feel the exhaust pulses umm... squirt out of the leak due to the increased back pressure. Please do not burn yourself.

The most common place for a leak is at the front exhaust pipe to front cat flange. The engine does a fair amount of flexing on it's mounts and tends to strain this connection.

Hope this helps.

Jeff

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98SE Sport
MTX Trans
Stone Stock.

our 99 tour blew it's resonator at 22k miles...the drumming sound appears to be the same as your's..it dissipated too, under speed.
i didn't look at the year you have...our's was replaced under warranty, of course..if you're out of warranty. Midas has one for 75.00 that others say is pretty good.
good luck!

Check all the rubber mounts and any 'touch' conditions between pipes,muffler etc and body first.