need some help

[familycar]

hey guys need help i was backing up this morning and i ran into a curb by accident. the brunt of the impact was directly on the exhaust tip of the muffler, it got kinda closed up a bit and it made a growl while i drove. i straightened it out right away. the growl is still there thought and there is a bit of a smokey odour coming from under the car. my guess is that i bent up the alignment of the the whole exhaust piping or whatever you call it. what do you guys think it is and is there any danger of the motor siezing up if i drive it to the shop in the morning. the exhaust note sound like theres a performance exhaust in its place. there is also a noticable loss of power from the engine now. can you guys give some ideas on this.

[johncal]

Originally Posted by familycar

hey guys need help i was backing up this morning and i ran into a curb by accident. the brunt of the impact was directly on the exhaust tip of the muffler, it got kinda closed up a bit and it made a growl while i drove. i straightened it out right away. the growl is still there thought and there is a bit of a smokey odour coming from under the car. my guess is that i bent up the alignment of the the whole exhaust piping or whatever you call it. what do you guys think it is and is there any danger of the motor siezing up if i drive it to the shop in the morning. the exhaust note sound like theres a performance exhaust in its place. there is also a noticable loss of power from the engine now. can you guys give some ideas on this.

If the shop is close you should be fine. I drove my jeep for 20 miles with a collapsed converter (the jeep would barely move) and it was OK. Just remember, the O2 sensor will compensate to some extent if there is any problem.

Did you check the pipe joint right in front of the rear axle? It's a spring loaded joint and it has room to pop out. If you bent the muffler hangers it might stay out of whack.

[pinoyesv6]

sounds like you damaged part of the exhaust. the loud exhaust sound and the loss in power probably is caused by an exhaust leak somewhere.

if you can take a look underneath the car, try to see if you can see the leak and if it will cause problems driving it to the shop. also check to see if anything else could possibly be damaged from the incident.

and if you do drive it to a shop, roll down the windows so you have fresh air circulating through the car.

[PhatRoyale]

Originally Posted by pinoyesv6

and if you do drive it to a shop, roll down the windows so you have fresh air circulating through the car.

good tip, you can never be too careful with an exhaust problem.

[LeanBurn]

+2 on making sure you have PLENTY of fresh air moving in the vehicle as cabon monoxide poisoning can be unperceivable compromising your reaction time and sensory input.

Even though it may not effect operation of the engine, consider getting it repaired ASAP. Exhaust fumes are quite strong and can seep in from many crevices penetrating & saturating fabric surfaces inside the car. Once this takes place the odor remains for years even after the leak has been repaired. Even upholstry cleaning can fail to remove it completely. My brother had this happen to him with one of his cars.

[FirstXrs]

Might have broken something above the cat, just after the headers.

Have you gotten this looked at yet?