rear exhaust problem on ML430

[ml430max]

Hi wonder if anyone can help, just driven the car on a short journey, when I pulled up at home I heard a really loud "hissing" sound, got out car and found it was coming from back of car, on further inspection noticed it coming from rear of exhaust, the back of the box by the pipe had steam jets spraying out rather eratic, this then stopped to just some dripping, any ideas? many thanks

 

[Bigtee]

Condensation.

Probably been in stock for some time it should clear after a good few miles but please remember you will still have a little, look at other car's tail pipes it's quite common.

The rear box does not get as hot as the rest of the system.

Good luck..

 

[ml430max]

sorry, didnt word my post right, its not coming from the actual tail pipe, it looks like from around the seal on the back box, ie must be a tiny pin hole, I am not very clued up on cars as you can probably tell lol, have been doing some investigation on the net over the weekend and I need to either pay out for a new exhaust or try a repair putty, anyone have any experience with using a repair patch? do they work etc, will try to get the car to my mechanic sometime this week for his diagnosis but its a good 20 mins drive from me, what will the car be like to drive, will I lose power if I have a small hole in the box?

 

[panason1c]

..."the back of the box by the pipe had steam jets spraying out rather eratic"..


It is normal, under certain circumstances, for condensation to form in the back box and drip from the tail pipe but, from your description, it sounds as if there is some sort of restriction in the box causing a pressurisation. Best to have it looked at.

 

[stumpy]

if it is a pin hole you could try putting some exhaust putty onto a self tapping screw and driving it into the hole.

 

[ml430max]

Thanks for your comments, we have gotten hold of "holts" exhaust strong putty, put a thin coating all around the seal's of the back box, ran the engine for half hour like it advised as the hotter the box the harder it sets, it seems ok no splurting of steam anywhere, even if it holds out for a few weeks whilst we get some funds together for a new box.