As it sounds like my 02' legacy GT wagon developed and exhaust leak at only 76Kmiles,

1) Is there more durable option than the original available for it? Stainless, may be?

2) Besides the dealer, what place would one recomend for this kind of job in the Northern NJ, around Morristown, and west of it?

 

Thanks,

-michael

You could get a custom exhaust done, and yeah you could probably get SS. There may be some bolt on stuff too that's out there.

 

These guys are a good subie shop. Not sure how close they are to you though.

http://www.rallispec.com/

You know it could be as simple as bad flange gasket ....

 

 

nipper

yeah, can u describe the noise? Or can you see a rusted through area. Did the sound show up after any service or unusual incident?

 

Carl

yeah, can u describe the noise? Or can you see a rusted through area. Did the sound show up after any service or unusual incident?

 

Carl

I have mentioned this in a different thread about the high-pitch sound it started making when kicking-down the transmission. And couple fo days ago, someone (was it you, or nipper?) has mentioned in that thread, that it might be an exhaust leak, not really related to the transmission.

 

Monday in addition to the high pitch sound at kick-down, it developed a nice, not very loud, but noticeable rumble sound, like the turbos with the 3'' exhaust would.

 

So now - the symptrms are:

 

at low speed, at some resonance rpm it makes a trembling sound like the heatshild would with the spot weld getting loose,

 

when accelerating at about 3rpm it makes nice low rumble as if it had a modified exhaust,

 

and finally when kicking it even more around 4k rpm - it's high pitch, almost screeching sound....

 

 

It all started after my wife hit a groundhog on hi-way, and almost all plastic shielding under the body had to be replaced by the body shop.

 

 

After that it started making all these noises, but I would never think, they might be related. Now I think may be indeed not just the shielding got damaged, but may be some welding seam got cracked, or a gasket shifted.

 

There is no obvious rust on a system, I never suspected exhaust before it started making obviously exhaust-like sounds.

 

I am pretty ignorant with Subarus, and never done any exhaust work myself, so - what would one look for to find were it may be leaking, and the more basic quetion - where is a good spot to put a hydraulic jack to raise the front, and what are the good points for the jack stands.

 

I've never did anything to it beyond the oil and filter changes, and I was using ramps for that.

 

-Thanks for all the advice,

-Michael

I have mentioned this in a different thread about the high-pitch sound it started making when kicking-down the transmission. And couple fo days ago, someone (was it you, or nipper?) has mentioned in that thread, that it might be an exhaust leak, not really related to the transmission.

 

Monday in addition to the high pitch sound at kick-down, it developed a nice, not very loud, but noticeable rumble sound, like the turbos with the 3'' exhaust would.

 

So now - the symptrms are:

 

at low speed, at some resonance rpm it makes a trembling sound like the heatshild would with the spot weld getting loose,

 

when accelerating at about 3rpm it makes nice low rumble as if it had a modified exhaust,

 

and finally when kicking it even more around 4k rpm - it's high pitch, almost screeching sound....

 

 

It all started after my wife hit a groundhog on hi-way, and almost all plastic shielding under the body had to be replaced by the body shop.

 

 

After that it started making all these noises, but I would never think, they might be related. Now I think may be indeed not just the shielding got damaged, but may be some welding seam got cracked, or a gasket shifted.

 

There is no obvious rust on a system, I never suspected exhaust before it started making obviously exhaust-like sounds.

 

I am pretty ignorant with Subarus, and never done any exhaust work myself, so - what would one look for to find were it may be leaking, and the more basic quetion - where is a good spot to put a hydraulic jack to raise the front, and what are the good points for the jack stands.

 

I've never did anything to it beyond the oil and filter changes, and I was using ramps for that.

 

-Thanks for all the advice,

-Michael

 

Others here will likely have more experience. You might consider taking it back to the shop, or a mechanic, with the groundhog story and the receipt listing the underbody work. Let them have a look. If you want to give it a go yourself - first thing, make sure you have plenty of fresh air where you work anytime the engine is running - no enclosed areas! take off the plastic 'skidplate' dealie, open the hood, start the vehicle, have someone else use a piece of wood or something and mostly block off the exhaust and listen for telltale noises.

Others here will likely have more experience. You might consider taking it back to the shop, or a mechanic, with the groundhog story and the receipt listing the underbody work. Let them have a look. If you want to give it a go yourself - first thing, make sure you have plenty of fresh air where you work anytime the engine is running - no enclosed areas! take off the plastic 'skidplate' dealie, open the hood, start the vehicle, have someone else use a piece of wood or something and mostly block off the exhaust and listen for telltale noises.

 

That shop is primarily the body shop, but they are only 2 blocks away, so I'll might pay them a visit first. My insurance paid them well, they made an estimate, and do the repairs themselves, they used all the dealer parts, had car for a week waiting for them, but did not mention any exhaust damage.

RE: the fresh air - no problem, none of my cars fit in the garage, so I am stuck with my driveway.... and I'll definitely take a look.

 

-Michael

02' Legacy GT