exhaust leak?
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exhaust leak?
hey guys!
im looking at buying a 1994 clubwagon van with 5.8l v8... it seems to run great and is very smooth but upon acceleration there is fairly quiet clicking noise heard... i believe its coming from the right side of the van but i could be wrong. besides this it runs great and if there wasnt this noise i wouldnt suspect any thing was off. the guy selling it says its an exhaust leak... does this sound right? and if so is it very serious or would it be much to fix? the van is in pretty good condition for its age and runs good... if this isnt very serious ill most likely buy it!
i appreciate any feedback or advice!! thanks!
EDIT: i just spent some time doing some searches on here and found a lot of info on this issue (should have done this before posting sorry) but unfortunately for me engines and the sort arent a strong point of mine. i was hoping someone could give me some pointers on determining how serious a problem this is... like for starters where i need to look to find the exhaust manifold lol. under the doghouse? underneath the van?? what should i look for exactly? any sort of direction would be most appreciated!
-dan
im looking at buying a 1994 clubwagon van with 5.8l v8... it seems to run great and is very smooth but upon acceleration there is fairly quiet clicking noise heard... i believe its coming from the right side of the van but i could be wrong. besides this it runs great and if there wasnt this noise i wouldnt suspect any thing was off. the guy selling it says its an exhaust leak... does this sound right? and if so is it very serious or would it be much to fix? the van is in pretty good condition for its age and runs good... if this isnt very serious ill most likely buy it!
i appreciate any feedback or advice!! thanks!
EDIT: i just spent some time doing some searches on here and found a lot of info on this issue (should have done this before posting sorry) but unfortunately for me engines and the sort arent a strong point of mine. i was hoping someone could give me some pointers on determining how serious a problem this is... like for starters where i need to look to find the exhaust manifold lol. under the doghouse? underneath the van?? what should i look for exactly? any sort of direction would be most appreciated!
-dan
Last edited by photoresistor; Jul 9, 2007 at 04:42 AM.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,182
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From: Saint Augustine, FL
The guy is probably right, a light clicking noise under accel is typical of an exhaust manifold leak. The most common leak is between the manifold and the head because they don't use a gasket there.
The manifolds are found under the doghouse right at the level of the floor, hanging off either side of the motor, along side the spark plugs. With the doghouse off you can probably isolate it by listing closely at idle. You may also see traces of exhaust soot right at the manfold/head interface where the leak is.
The fix is to install a gasket and not particularly difficult. Just loosen the manifold bolts, pull the manifold away from the head and slip the gasket between them. Bolt it back together and you're done. You do have to deal with a few brackets and such that piggyback on the manifold bolts and they are probably pretty rusty. So that is where the difficulty comes from, but its not really that hard.
Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT
The manifolds are found under the doghouse right at the level of the floor, hanging off either side of the motor, along side the spark plugs. With the doghouse off you can probably isolate it by listing closely at idle. You may also see traces of exhaust soot right at the manfold/head interface where the leak is.
The fix is to install a gasket and not particularly difficult. Just loosen the manifold bolts, pull the manifold away from the head and slip the gasket between them. Bolt it back together and you're done. You do have to deal with a few brackets and such that piggyback on the manifold bolts and they are probably pretty rusty. So that is where the difficulty comes from, but its not really that hard.
Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT
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Reminds me of a 'tinny' clicking sound I dealt with on my '92 with 302. I traced it to a loose heat shield on the converter. The pressed heat shield had stress fractured near the bolts at corners allowing it to vibrate noisely at certain engine speeds. I was able to quickly fix it by cutting out small steel triangles, drilling a hole in them & bolting them on to catch & hold the shield beyond where the fractures were.
On the same Econoline I lived with a cracked passenger side exhaust manifold for years, but would never describe the sound as "light clicking". I dubbed it the 'Blow Fly' making the loudest sound upon hard acceleration. I tried various "Snake Oil' patches that all fell off & ultimately the crack expanded until a sizable chunk popped off making it extremely loud. At that point I replaced the manifold & found the task a PITA. The baked studs were quite difficult & it just looks like there's not enough space to get it on & off. My 302 came w/gaskets. I've been told cracked exhaust manifolds are very common & beware the cheap aftermarket replacements.
On the same Econoline I lived with a cracked passenger side exhaust manifold for years, but would never describe the sound as "light clicking". I dubbed it the 'Blow Fly' making the loudest sound upon hard acceleration. I tried various "Snake Oil' patches that all fell off & ultimately the crack expanded until a sizable chunk popped off making it extremely loud. At that point I replaced the manifold & found the task a PITA. The baked studs were quite difficult & it just looks like there's not enough space to get it on & off. My 302 came w/gaskets. I've been told cracked exhaust manifolds are very common & beware the cheap aftermarket replacements.
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hey thank you guys so much for your help! we ended up buying the van... i do believe i will either put in a gasket or replace the manifold itself. i looked at it on the passenger side and it was quite rusty so we'll see how easy the job will be but im happy this seems to be the only problem with this vehicle!
so what is the best way to determine if i need a whole new manifold or if i will be fine with just installing a gasket?
are there any things with this van of this age and year that i might want to have checked out? common failures? we're going on a long road trip in a couple weeks, im definitely going to do a change of some fluids etc and maybe have it checked up at a shop... not very mechanical myself.
thanks again for all the help! i really appreciate it!
-dan
so what is the best way to determine if i need a whole new manifold or if i will be fine with just installing a gasket?
are there any things with this van of this age and year that i might want to have checked out? common failures? we're going on a long road trip in a couple weeks, im definitely going to do a change of some fluids etc and maybe have it checked up at a shop... not very mechanical myself.
thanks again for all the help! i really appreciate it!
-dan
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,182
Likes: 7
From: Saint Augustine, FL
To check the manifolds, as I noted above, look for evidence of soot around where the manifold meets the head for leaks there. Then along the entire length for cracking. The "gasket" leaks are way more common than crack manifolds.
With that age van I would check the stuff normally done for scheduled maintenace; belts (tensioner pulley), hoses, steering gear, suspension components, etc... The radius arm bushings are prone to wear along with the tie rod ends and swaybar bushings. Brakes are known to warp the rotors.
If you don't know when they were done last, do the typical scheduled maintenance; cap, rotor, wires, plugs, fuel filter, air filter, battery cleaning. Check the exhaust hangers.
These vehicles are quite reliable, durable and well proven. There are no significant "problem areas" to speak of. That said; before a long trip in a newly aquired vehicle, it wouldn't be a bad idea to flush the coolant and transfluid. At the very least check the trans fluid carefully and flush if it doesn't look to be in good condition.
Clubwagons make great long distance travelers. I have been all over the US in mine.
Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT
With that age van I would check the stuff normally done for scheduled maintenace; belts (tensioner pulley), hoses, steering gear, suspension components, etc... The radius arm bushings are prone to wear along with the tie rod ends and swaybar bushings. Brakes are known to warp the rotors.
If you don't know when they were done last, do the typical scheduled maintenance; cap, rotor, wires, plugs, fuel filter, air filter, battery cleaning. Check the exhaust hangers.
These vehicles are quite reliable, durable and well proven. There are no significant "problem areas" to speak of. That said; before a long trip in a newly aquired vehicle, it wouldn't be a bad idea to flush the coolant and transfluid. At the very least check the trans fluid carefully and flush if it doesn't look to be in good condition.
Clubwagons make great long distance travelers. I have been all over the US in mine.
Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 333
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From: Toledo, Ohio
Exhaust leaks are common on these vans. There are many possibilities. AIR injection tube at back of engine ( goes to back side of cylinder heads). EGR tube from right front of passenger side exhaust manifold. Manifolds themselves ( no gasket from factory) New gaskets are easily installed after removing studs/bolts and slipping gasket in and re bolting). hardest part is if a stud breaks........ The manifolds also crack, I replaced one once with a chinese off brand and it worked great. Sometimes you just have to live with some of these problems until it is absolutely necessary to fix.
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sounds great! thats exactly the help i was looking for, thanks clubwagon! we just bought this for use as a vehicle for my band to tour in so its going to house 7 musicians and all our gear... gonna be cramped but its worth it!
one last question... i noticed that on the dash there is a front and rear fan controller for the climate control/ac... but it is not setup for rear ac even though there is a controller **** for it and on the ceiling it looks like theres some sort of tubing in the middle that would house the vents and carry the air to the back... is there any way to have this setup so we can get rear air?
thanks again!
one last question... i noticed that on the dash there is a front and rear fan controller for the climate control/ac... but it is not setup for rear ac even though there is a controller **** for it and on the ceiling it looks like theres some sort of tubing in the middle that would house the vents and carry the air to the back... is there any way to have this setup so we can get rear air?
thanks again!
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Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,182
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From: Saint Augustine, FL
Huh? If you have the "rear air" fan switch on the dash and the overhead fan switch and vents, then it should have rear air. If you open the rear doors, the a/c unit is on your left next to the door. There is an air return grill with the heat exchanger behind it. If that's not there, I maybe somebody took it out? I haven't seen a clubwagon that had the fan switches but no air.
Don't know about retrofitting it. Maybe you could find a wrecked van and pull the rear a/c system out and install it in yours. I doubt that it would be a simple job though.
Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT
Don't know about retrofitting it. Maybe you could find a wrecked van and pull the rear a/c system out and install it in yours. I doubt that it would be a simple job though.
Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 355
Likes: 1
94 E150 170K - Only real issue I had was the ABS light was on/off for years. Ford could never isolate it, no codes they said it was a bad bulb - huh? Anyway an old timer mechanic who had an 95-E150 told me about a rear ABS sensor and to change it - It was the Wheel speed sensor in the rear end - easy fix 15 minutes $20 part. It sits on top of the differential and can cause an intermittent ABS light.
I just started to have the same stupid ticking noise. It is on the passenger side and the studs and nuts are rusted solid. I will soak with some sort of chemical penetrator (over a couple of days) and see if I get lucky. It could be any one of the tubes but suspect I have a crack in the exhaust manifold as I just did the plugs and wires and put some pressure on the manifold while going after the front plug.
Anyways these vans are great if you take care of them. Goodluck!
I just started to have the same stupid ticking noise. It is on the passenger side and the studs and nuts are rusted solid. I will soak with some sort of chemical penetrator (over a couple of days) and see if I get lucky. It could be any one of the tubes but suspect I have a crack in the exhaust manifold as I just did the plugs and wires and put some pressure on the manifold while going after the front plug.
Anyways these vans are great if you take care of them. Goodluck!
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