I was driving to work yesterday and went over a really big bump. I slowed down but hit the bump hard. The car drove normally but when I turned the music down I noticed a loud engine noise.

I do not have any check engine lights on, and I checked all the fluids they are fine.

I noticed that when I hit the gas to accelerate the car sounds like a lawn moer. It is really loud. My es 300 used to be so quiet. Could never hear the engine. Now I hear it alll the time I hit the gas and it is really loud. it is especially loud when I start it up in the morning.


I have a 1998 es300 with about 200,000 miles on it.

What could cause this to happen? I do not notice any lose of power but I do believe that it is something with the exhaust system. I hope it doesn't cost a lot to fix.

any advice would be appreciated.

 

Gonna have to crawl under jackstands and find where the leak is, but yeah sounds like exhaust or maybe manifold. Do it when engine is cold

 

Agree with Maxx941. Any kind of bump on the muffler and/or crack in the exhaust piping or muffler itself can alter the sound.

What I do is turn on the vehicle (from a cold start after sitting overnight) and have someone (if possible) hit the accelerator while you listen. Even if you do not have another person there, you can go underneath the vehicle and run your hand a bit away from the exhaust piping and muffler to find any hot air coming out.

 

I am going to take it to my mechanic this week. Do any of you know if there will be more damage if I wait to get this fixed?

 

It'll be fine just loud