[badass98svt]

ok. well, we were in my gf's car yesterday. we stopped at a gas staion to get gas. she has a 88 thunderbird 5.0 auto, by the way.
well, she put it in reverse to back up top the pump. but she hit the gas BEFORE the car was fully in reverse. now the car has that "tick tick tick" exhaust leak sound. and it has a rough idle and hesitates when you hit the gas. i checked for an exhaust leak by plugging each tailpipe with a rag. 1 at a time. i didn't see any leak at all.
the check engine light is on now too. it sounds exactly like an exhaust leak. all the same characteristics too.
im thinking it may be a vacuum leak maybe? but i couldn't find anything bad there either.
someone PLEASE help me asap. she drives 75 miles every day for work. i need to fix this now!!

[meangreen92]

It might have cracked an exhaust manifold (dunno if they're tubular or cast) but I've seen both fail. When the motor is cold, fire it up, and run your hands down the entire length of both pipes (especially where the H-pipe meets the manifolds). You should be able to feel the leak. You're probably smelling exhaust huh? If the leak is before the O2 sensor, it will run rich - and like crap.

[1995Stang]

yea gonna wanna check the exhaust manifold mighta broken a bolt up in there not to expensive to have fixed