so when i start my car up i hear a loud ticking noise and everyone i talk to tells me its an exhaust leak. well i took it to a shop and there was a crack on the exhaust manifold but they "supposily" fixed it. but it still does it. did they screw me over on this. and is it still an exhaust leak or could it be something else. if someone would let me know that would be great.
Either they didnt fix the leak or the manifold is warped, check all the exhaust gaskets as well, also make sure the oil level is good, could be valve train nosie.
too bad theres not a solid on piece line, a header midpipe exaust combo that came fully welded and bent, take out header and fish it in no more exaust leaks, but could you imagine the shipping cost of 2-14 foot boxes lol.
well i hope you get it fixed, mine drove me up the wall
i still got a small one ill get to it this spring
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i have yet to find some one else who when changing their oil ( every 2000 miles or when they get bored ) details the under side of their car.
X-C April 2010,Heads, Cam,Internals April 2011, or blown engine, witch ever comes first.
The transformation has begun!
what you said about it shrinking and getting bigger then stopping. that would have to be it because it only happens when my car is first started up and then as it warms up it doesnt make the sound anymore. so should i just save up for a pair of mac longtubes then and then see what happens. and if i got those would that make the exhaust louder and a lil faster
I have a V6 too, and I once had a manifold leak too at the gasket where the manifold meets the engine block. I had a friend several years ago that had a 99 V6 and his exhaust manifold cracked and had to be replaced. I think this is a weak spot on the V6 mustang, and I have not heard of any good way to make a fix.
If it is just the gasket, it can be replaced, but if the car is getting older, it would be a bad idea to pay all of that labor just to put the new gaskets and the old manifold back on the car and have it crack 6 months later.
Your best bet would be to replace the stock manifold (and gaskets of corse) with a good set of ceramic coated headers. They will last forever, and it will give a little HP increase too.
I have MAC ceramic shorty headers on my 2000 V6, and they have worked out great. As for the long tube headers, I was talked out of them by the place I bought them (Brothers Performance or Need4Speed - I can't remember), because of the O2 modifications that need to occur. If somebody else has a V6 with long tube headers feel free to speak up. I was willing to pay the extra $$, but they told me for my setup it was not a good idea.
my left manifold was cracked where the pipe meets the flange on the rear tube. i tried to weld it but it didnt really work. i just replaced it and now it sounds mint. there is not gasket from the manifold to the downpipe on my 2000. it is just metal to metal and doesnt leak as long as its on straight.
i would get some shorty headers off of an older v6 94-98 i think they had headers and they will not crack if that happenings i think thats wat i would do
could this still be an exhaust leak 
