Exhaust blowing sound - manifold bolts / cracked / gasket?

[Pabs]

Hey folks,

A search has pointed me in what I think is the right direction, but my Cupra yesterday/today decided to start making what I'd call an "exhaust blowing" sound from the back of the engine area.

This noise is VERY bad on start up, and under load, but seems to improve as the car warms up - I couldn't hear it much at all after a 5 mile drive back from work.....

This noise has come on very suddenly - car was fine 2 days ago, and only travels about 8 miles a day.


From knowledge and searching on here, it could be one of several things:

Cracked Manifold
Manifold bolts loose
Manifold gasket leaking


My questions are:

How easy is it to check/gain access to these bolts?
Why would the noise decrease once car has been driven a bit?
How expensive is it likely to be to get fixed?
Is it "safe" to continue to drive on until I can get it booked in?

Thanks folks - I hate driving in a car that sounds like it's knackered, so I want it fixed ASAP, but chances are I'm not going to be able to get it booked in for a while.

 

[Pabs]

Also, does the mk4 ibiza have an EGT sensor or something in this location that could be working it's way loose, like the mk1 leon?

I'll try and have a dig around tomorrow, but will be after work so car will be a bit hot to poke around under

Cheers

 

[Ric 2001]

Sounds like the manifold bolts have worked them self’s loose.

If you get a chance to start the car, poke your head under the bonnet and have a sniff around the back of the engine... If you can smell exhaust gasses then it will be the bolts and gasket. Not heard of the OEM manifold cracking yet.

Cost is around £5 for the gasket or less if you get it from sere motors. Then I got A2 SS graded bolts from a local fastening firm and some spider washers. Never did it again.

I think Kriso did a guide or something... but basically if you unwrap the heat shield from the 90 degree pipe at comes off the turbo at the back of the engine bay and joins the charge pipe, You can get access to 2 of the 3 bolts.

 

[Ric 2001]

Posted this years ago....

A bitch is an understatement, used axial stands in the end. That heat shield at the back of the engine was the worst part and getting to the bolt underneath that......

Only had 1 bolt in the gasket instead of 3... but ended up taking all the inlet side off the turbo (don't think I really need to do this) and some bits at the back of the engine, heat shield, press studded heat shield and a black 90 degree bend, then it was a bit easier to get at the 2 non existent bolts and the one below the shield.

Order all the gaskets required but only used the turbo to manifold but didn't order any bolts so had to shop around and buy some with spring washers but would have rather used spider washers. No point using thread lock due to heat from the turbo would just melt it away.

Anyway she’s up and running but now has a boost leak, probably a pipe popped off somewhere.

Next weekend….. centre section of exhaust is blow where it connects to the down pipe so fix that and saw off the bracket at back to stop it rattling when I have more than 1 person in the rear of the car.

Could now do this with my eyes closed.

 

[Pabs]

Ahhh, with my limited tools and experience, I probably can't do this alone/myself, so will need to get a garage to do it.

I had a look this morning, and can smell the gases as expected at back of engine. Can't see me being able to get enough access to the area to do anything - but if it's only a few quid for bolts/gaskets and a bit of labour it shouldn't cost too much to get it done for me.

I suppose while they're looking at it, they can also check my TIP and hoses for leaks that may be causing my boost issues too.

Anyway, drive to work this morning again was the same - very loud to start with, improving as the journey continued. Suspect manifold/exhaust is getting hot and expanding, thus shrinking the size of the gap/hole....?


Cheers for the info Ric - most helpful.

 

[Pabs]

Turned out it was the turbo->manifold gasket and bolts - all now sorted and car is back to normal

 

[VIKINGODIN]

Sounds like the manifold bolts have worked them self’s loose.

If you get a chance to start the car, poke your head under the bonnet and have a sniff around the back of the engine... If you can smell exhaust gasses then it will be the bolts and gasket. Not heard of the OEM manifold cracking yet.

Cost is around £5 for the gasket or less if you get it from sere motors. Then I got A2 SS graded bolts from a local fastening firm and some spider washers. Never did it again.

I think Kriso did a guide or something... but basically if you unwrap the heat shield from the 90 degree pipe at comes off the turbo at the back of the engine bay and joins the charge pipe, You can get access to 2 of the 3 bolts.

Any chance you could pst a link to the correct bolts/studs,washers and gasket?I been having this problem,3 times now,it would be hugely appreciated mate as I dont have a clue what to get as there is all sorts showing on google thanks

 

[Ric 2001]

Any chance you could pst a link to the correct bolts/studs,washers and gasket?I been having this problem,3 times now,it would be hugely appreciated mate as I dont have a clue what to get as there is all sorts showing on google thanks

3x 058 145 540 (bolts)
1x 06A 253 039 E (gasket)

bolts are expensive from dealer.

 

[Random1989]

my bolts have come loose before now just replaced the gasket and tighened them up !

 

[Ed_Sutch]

Just thought I'd bump this in case anybody else having this issue.

Had the same for me, yesterday started to be a bit loud, couldn't then identify it as a blow. Turned it on this morning, sounded like I was starting a bloody tractor (worse than they normally do cold)

2 Bolt were finger tight, 1 was still okay, done back up now after removing the black 90 degree pipe and pulling the heat shield away managed to sort it with a mate.

Will be getting some different bolts if it happens again

Ed