An exhaust leak rarely sounds the same from every seat in the car. A sharp ticking noise near the firewall can seem like it is coming from underneath. A deeper leak under the floor may echo through the body and sound farther forward than it really is. Once the windows are up and road noise joins in, locating it by ear gets even harder. The timing of the noise usually gives us better information than volume alone. A leak that is loudest during a cold start points us in a different direction than one that gets worse with vehicle speed or only shows up under acceleration. Where you smell exhaust matters too, especially if fumes are reaching the cabin. Engine Bay Leaks Tend to Sound Sharper Leaks near the engine often come from an exhaust manifold, manifold gasket, cracked flange, turbo connection on turbocharged vehicles, or the first section of exhaust pipe. Because exhaust pressure is still high in this area, the sound is commonly a tick, puff, or tapping noise that ... read more