2007 Nissan Altima

by Deb
(New York)

I have a 2007 Nissan Altima, and I recently hit a parking divider, front end way during a snow storm. I figured I had ruined something in the under carriage, and a couple days later my engine sounded super loud when I was driving, like the exhaust was leaking or something....
So I took it to my mechanic and he said there was a crack in the pipe that needed welding and the intake manifold gasket needed to be replaced.
When I left the car sounded fine. I finally drove it going above 40 MPH today and it almost sounds the same now. Its hard to describe, just a loud sound as if I have a performance exhaust tip or something but I hear it from the front; like a loud vibrating I can feel under my foot on the gas.. Should I take it back to the same guy? Or have someone else look at it? Any input would be great
Thanks!



Steve Says,


Hi, Deb. Thanks for using my website. Something does sound fishy with this whole thing. First of all a leaking intake manifold gasket would not produce that sort of noise. The main reason you would replace this gasket is because it is leaking coolant. If you have not had a coolant leak recently I would be questioning why they needed to replace it. You might want to go back to the shop and ask them about that.


If there was a leak in the exhaust manifold then welding it would probably fix it, but it sounds like you have the same problem. I would go back and say that the noise is just as loud and ask them to show you what they fixed.


From the little I know about this mechanic it sounds like you might be being ripped off. I don't know for sure because I don't know details, but what you are saying just doesn't add up.


As far as the noise is concerned it sounds like it gets louder the faster you are going. If it was an exhaust leak that would not be the case. Any exhaust leak will get louder when you step on the gas and quieter when you let off the gas. The noise you have sounds like it is related to how fast you are going. This leads me to think that you are having a problem with your suspension, specifically it sounds like you might have bent something in the suspension that is causing your wheel bearing to go out. A wheel bearing noise will usually get louder as you go faster and most of the time it will be louder or quieter when you go around a corner at a good speed. This is the first thing I would be checking.


You most likely bent a control arm or some other suspension component and that is what is causing the problem. I would actually not take my car to a mechanic, I would take it to an auto body shop. They are usually better at figuring this type of problem out than a mechanic unless he is really good.


I hope this helps.