Popping sounds in the muffler when starting the engine, when pressing and releasing the gas, idling or when braking the engine are common phenomena that many car owners encounter.
Such a problem may indicate an engine malfunction, problems in ignition settings, or timing malfunctions.
If a breakdown is identified, it is important to fix it to avoid even more serious problems.
The article discusses the main causes of muffler pops, which are typical for most car brands. Then we will dwell in more detail on the models VAZ 2106, VAZ 2109, VAZ 2114, VAZ 2115 injector, UAZ, GAZelle and cars with ZMZ 402 engines.
When the silencer is fired
The main reason for “shooting” at the muffler can be called incomplete combustion of the working mixture in the combustion chamber.
Next, the fuel-air composition explodes inside the intake mechanism due to heating to high temperatures. As a result, a strange sound similar to cotton appears.
This malfunction can occur in any engine - with an injector and a carburetor, regardless of the type of fuel used. One of the reasons is considered to be a phase mismatch of the timing mechanism.
But this is only one of the options. A range of work may be required to identify and eliminate the malfunction.
Can a bang in the muffler damage the engine?
Shots in the exhaust system are considered a consequence of failures in engine adjustment and a violation of its settings.
This indicates the need to check three systems - ignition, timing and fuel supply.
If you delay repairs, there is a high risk of engine damage.
Untimely restoration can lead to damage to the integrity of the valves, malfunction of the exhaust system, and even a car fire.
The only positive aspect of “sneezing” is the ability to detect a malfunction in advance and take action.
During the repair process, a comprehensive check of the internal combustion engine, adjustments and installation of new consumables are often necessary.
Checking the carburetor and air filter
It is not always possible to figure out why shots appear in a silencer. The first assumption that car owners make is that the timing belt is malfunctioning. But the reasons may be different.
Before starting work and checking the engine, it is worth understanding the principles of this phenomenon.
An explosion in the exhaust pipe is evidence of combustion of the fuel mixture outside the combustion chamber.
The first thing to start with is to check the condition and correct settings of the carburetor, as well as the air filter.
Practice shows that a fuel mixture that is too rich does not burn completely, and its remains end up in the exhaust manifold, and then in the muffler.
The existing temperature in the duct is sufficient for the finished mixture to ignite with the appearance of a characteristic pop.
In such cases it is recommended:
- Remove the air filter and replace the internal filter element.
- Check the fuel supply adjustment in the carburetor.
The influence of thermal clearance on popping noises in the engine
When malfunctions occur in the engine and the first explosions in the muffler, car owners test the car under various loads.
Thus, the appearance of popping noises at any speed (high, medium and low) may indicate failures in adjusting the thermal clearance of the cylinder head valves.
The solution is to disassemble the motor and use a tuning tool. After performing the check, you can draw conclusions about the causes of the problem.
The camshaft cams and tappets should have a small gap where they touch the valve stem.
After heating, the metal parts increase in size and the gap decreases.
If the adjustment is made correctly, the valves completely close the gap, and if this parameter is violated, a gap remains through which the mixture exits into the exhaust manifold.
The result is the ignition of unburned fuel in the engine. To “treat” popping noises, it is necessary to adjust the cylinder head valve clearance. It is also important to pay attention to the color of the smoke from the exhaust pipe.
Bottom line
The causes of loud sounds from the exhaust pipe are many and varied, and also vary greatly in complexity and efficiency of elimination. When diagnosing a problem yourself, you should focus primarily on the type of engine and the operating characteristics of the car. All these reasons have one thing in common: you shouldn’t delay repairs and maintenance, because the consequences will significantly increase the cost of repairs.
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them
Ignition timing
Now let's figure out how late ignition affects it.
Another reason that fuel explodes in the muffler is due to ignition problems.
To confirm or exclude this assumption, it is necessary to check the correct setting of the timing in the ignition system. If the latter is set up late, shots cannot be avoided.
This is due to the fact that the spark fires with a delay, already at the moment the exhaust valve opens. As a result, a certain volume of fuel ends up in the collector.
If you ignore the problem, there is a high risk of burning out the valves and exhaust pipe.
If there are no problems with the ignition, and it is configured correctly, shots still appear at the moment of starting or driving.
The reasons may be the following:
- Weak spark.
- Bad wire contacts.
- Malfunction in the distributor or contact group.
One of the reasons for the deterioration in spark quality is a problem with the spark plugs, so you need to unscrew each of them one by one and check the quality of the contacts.
The muffler may still fire due to an incorrectly selected spark plug heat rating.
Checking the spark plug wires
When servicing a car, car owners are often forced to remove high-voltage wires to twist and check spark plugs.
Subsequently, the products can be put into place without checking the correct connection.
This approach is dangerous, because mixed up wires lead to unpleasant consequences - instability of the motor and popping noises.
If, when you first try to start the engine, shots appear in the muffler, this is a reason to check the correct location of the cords.
Also read why spark plugs turn black.
Elimination of causes
In order to find the culprit component or system, you will need to check the coolant temperature sensor (coolant temperature sensor - approx.), lambda probe (oxygen sensor - approx.). Then we check the spark plugs, high-voltage wires and ignition coils. Measure the fuel pressure with a pressure gauge in the rail with injectors. And also check the connections at the air inlet and exhaust manifold for air leaks.
By following these recommendations, you will probably be able to solve the problem with the “firing” engine, and its correct operation will resume.
Timing belt slipped
If the exhaust system starts shooting, you can’t dismiss problems with the timing belt.
As noted, one of the reasons for such a malfunction is malfunctions in the gas distribution mechanism.
As a result, the exhaust valve opens before the fuel has time to burn, and the remaining fuel burns out in the exhaust pipe.
The likely cause of such failures is stretching and slipping of the timing belt.
If shots in the muffler occur only on a warm engine, but not on a cold engine, we can confidently talk about problems in the timing belt.
Timing
Broken spark plug
Another reason that affects problems in the exhaust system is a phase violation in the gas distribution mechanism. In order for the power unit to function normally, the movement of the valves must be clearly coordinated with the compression strokes. Otherwise, the entire process is disrupted.
Failures of this kind are practically impossible on machines with a chain, but with a timing belt this happens much more often. The reason is that the belt shifts by 1-2 teeth or stretches too much, which leads to problems in the GRS mechanism. It’s a whole science to be able to determine that the belt is aligned correctly.
If the popping noises are the result of a stretched or misaligned timing belt, they will appear on a hot engine rather than on a cold one.
Shoots into the muffler when releasing gas
Another situation is when popping noises appear when the gas pedal is released. How does the malfunction manifest itself?
At idle speed and when the gas pedal is pressed, the engine runs normally, but just release the pedal, and explosions are heard in the muffler area.
In this case, the engine continues to work and does not stall, and the traction remains at a high level. The only thing that changes is the XX “floats”. What to do in such a situation?
The main reason is the combustion of the combustible mixture outside the cylinder, and this is caused by the following:
- Low quality atomizers that do not spray fuel, but direct a stream into the combustion chamber.
- Low oxygen level in fuel. In this case, gasoline does not burn completely. In such a situation, it is important to control fuel consumption. If it has grown, you need to change the air filter and check the operation of the air damper.
- Excessive fuel supply is set.
There is another theory. If you press the gas sharply, the accelerator pump turns on, which enriches the mixture to the required level.
Misfires at high speeds are no longer controlled, and the fuel does not burn completely (the remainder is burned in the pipe).
Specialists at service stations say that the cause may be injectors (increased performance), increased pressure in the fuel rail, or late ignition.
The latter malfunction is often caused by the failure or “fatigue” of the knock sensor. In practice, there are cases when the control device fails due to constant noise in the engine compartment.
In the most difficult cases, conventional diagnostics are not enough - it is advisable to contact specialists at a service station and undergo a full test using special equipment, including using an oscilloscope.
The car won't start
Another problem that car owners face is shots in the muffler at the time of start-up.
The situation looks like this. The driver tries to start the car, starting does not happen, but there are quiet shots in the exhaust system.
If nothing is done, the next attempt may be fatal for the muffler - there is a high risk of damage due to an explosion.
In such a situation it is worth:
- Inspect and replace spark plugs if the electrodes are dirty.
- Assess the condition of the timing belt and, if necessary, tighten it or change it.
- Check the crankshaft position sensor and replace it (if it fails).
- Measure the pressure in the fuel line. If it is below three, the pump needs to be replaced.
- Check the compression in the engine. One of the reasons why the muffler shoots is because the rings are stuck. One option is to drain the oil and fill the cylinders with kerosene. After this, you need to twist the spark plugs and turn the starter. The machine must stand, then the kerosene is drained and oil is added. Now you can try to start the engine again.
- Disconnect the DTOZh sensor and start the engine with the device turned off. This action allows you to more accurately determine the cause.
How to diagnose and what exactly needs to be checked?
First, you need to check the air filter located at the entrance to the exhaust system. If it is very dirty, it will have to be replaced, since the air filter cannot be cleaned. Problems can be avoided if you change the element on time.
If the carburetor is faulty, you need to check the gasoline chamber in which the float is located. The settings for all carburetors are individual, so the level is required in each case. The float should be level with the lid. Otherwise, the carburetor needs to be adjusted.
The float itself may show an incorrect value due to damage. For example, if this element has a hole, fuel penetrates inside it. Naturally, after this the readings will be incorrect.
When diagnosing, you need to check the spark plugs and replace failed elements. New spark plugs must have the same heat rating as the removed ones.
The cylinder head thermal clearance needs to be adjusted - if it is incorrect. The valves on all cylinders are manually adjusted when cold.
Problems with the timing belt can be resolved by tightening it or replacing it (if tightening does not produce results). But if there is significant wear, we definitely replace the toothed pulley. Worn valves can be sanded if they are scratched, or ground in if there are rough spots.
Shots in the muffler area occur regardless of the type of engine - be it an injector or a carburetor. They happen at idle and when the engine is warm. But this is only an external sign - behind it lies serious problems that need to be solved immediately.
Black carbon deposits on spark plugs
Black carbon deposits on spark plugs are most common. By the color of the deposit and its structure, a malfunction in the engine can be diagnosed.
Cylinder misfire
When the engine starts to misfire, a misfire occurs in the cylinder, engine power drops sharply and the car may stop moving. You can fix this problem yourself.
Popping sounds in the injector - reasons
There is an opinion that shots in the muffler are a problem only with carburetor engines. This is wrong.
The injector is also not ideal, and the cause of “firing” may be a malfunction in the ignition circuit or in the thermal clearance of the valves.
In addition, it is possible that the contacts of the sensors may be damaged, because in the event of such a breakdown, erroneous data is supplied to the control device, and the ECU does not manage fuel correctly.
To determine the cause, detailed diagnostics of the machine is necessary.
What to do if the muffler of an injection engine shoots? Service station technicians assure that in such a situation it is important to contact specialists.
Otherwise there is a high risk of damage to the engine or muffler.
If we talk about the most common causes of malfunction, the problem may be hidden in the belt stretching or a tooth skipping.
Injector problems
Looking ahead, the chance of hearing popping noises on an injection engine is very small - about an order of magnitude lower than on power units where the carburetor rules the roost. But if the car still makes similar sounds, then you should look for the problem there, excluding the options listed above:
- ignition problems;
- valve timing failure;
- presence of a thermal gap.
The recommendations given above are also relevant for injection engines.
If diagnosing these problems does not yield anything, it is worth looking for a fault in the sensors, or rather, checking the reliability of their contacts. The fact is that if incorrect indicators are supplied, the electronic control unit (ECU) may inject fuel at the wrong time. The result is the same: fuel in the intake manifold and popping noises.
Popping sounds in mufflers during HBO
After installing LPG, car owners may experience “shooting” in the exhaust system.
The main reason is gas supply failures, which are caused by incorrect settings of the gearbox or dirty air filter.
In addition, the cause of the malfunction may be the failure of the DPKV, so it is also worth checking. As a result, the mixture turns out to be too “poor” or “rich”.
As in the case of a gasoline engine, explosions of unburned gas can cause a number of malfunctions - damage to the air filter, failure of the mass air flow sensor, rupture of the muffler and destruction of the engine valves.
In the most difficult cases, a fuel fire under the hood may occur.
To eliminate problems during the installation of gas equipment, it is important to fine-tune the ignition system and maintain it in perfect condition.
Before installing gas equipment, the ignition system must be configured. The condition of the air filter is of key importance, and it is recommended to update it taking into account the manufacturer's recommendations.
Also, after installing the LPG, it is necessary to set the correct advance angle using a special octane corrector.
What to do if the silencer is already firing? In such a situation, there are three steps to take:
- Adjust the valves;
- Adjust the ignition;
- Carry out preventive measures in relation to the gearbox.
Diesel and injector shots
In old-style diesel power units, the timing of diesel injection could be manually adjusted mechanically. If the settings were incorrect, the fuel was compressed too late and the diesel engine “sneezed” with white smoke. Nowadays, injection and diesel engines are controlled electronically, so firing from a muffler has become a rarity.
The main reasons why popping noises occur in modern engines:
- failure of one of the main sensors - mass air flow sensor, DBP, lambda probe or throttle position;
- severe contamination of the working surface of the crankshaft position sensor with metal shavings;
- problems in the high-voltage ignition unit;
- accumulated controller errors.
Advice. Electronics diagnostics is a complex issue that must be resolved by service station technicians. But you can reset the errors by disconnecting the battery for 15 minutes. Often, engine operation is improved in this way, but a check at a car service is still necessary.
When the power unit shoots into the muffler when releasing gas, the culprit may be automotive gas equipment. The installation that supplies liquefied propane to the cylinders is controlled by its own electronic unit and, in addition to the cylinder, includes valves with a reducer. If, as a result of a malfunction, the system begins to “overflow” gas, shots are inevitable. Such equipment should be handled by specialists; independent repairs are not allowed.
Let's analyze situations for different cars
Now let’s look at the causes of the malfunction in relation to certain car models:
VAZ 2106, VAZ 2109.
And other representatives of the domestic automobile industry are susceptible to the appearance of shots in the muffler. A common cause is a misconfiguration in the ignition system.
The spark fires, but with a delay, at the moment the exhaust valve opens, and not at the moment of greatest compression.
The result is that part of the combustible mixture ends up in the manifold.
The reasons may be the following:
- Incorrect advance angle adjustment;
- Failure of the ignition module;
- Weak spark;
- Incorrect installation of wires on spark plugs;
- Failures in timing settings;
- Belt stretching and slipping in the timing system.
If shots in the muffler appear when the gas is pressed in VAZ 2106 and VAZ 2109 cars (at low speeds), the cause may be a violation of the valve clearance.
In its absence, part of the fuel ends up in the collector, and the consequences in question become inevitable. The solution to the problem is to replace the valves or adjust them.
For cars of the brands in question with an injector, this problem is also typical, but it appears less frequently.
A common cause is a timing fault, incorrect ignition setting, or thermal gap failure.
Here it is recommended to check the correct operation of the sensors and the quality of the contact connections.
If these elements do not function correctly, the ECU system will not be able to distribute fuel correctly.
To identify such a problem, it is recommended to contact specialists at a service station.
VAZ 2114, VAZ 2115, injector.
Why does the muffler shoot but the engine won't start? If a breakdown is detected, it is recommended to start with the spark plugs and blow them out by cranking the starter and firing the gas to the floor.
The next step is to check the performance of the DPKV. The algorithm is as follows:
- Dismantle the device and perform an external inspection. Suspicion should be caused by damage to the housing, core, sensor or terminal block. The wire connections must be clean. If there is dirt on the contacts, they can be removed using an alcohol-gasoline mixture. The result of the work should be complete cleaning of dirt and dust.
- Check the active resistance of the DPKV. Measurements are made between the first and second contacts on the sensor block. For measurements, you can use a special voltmeter or multimeter. The optimal resistance is 550-700 Ohms. It is advisable to do the test at room temperature (20-22 degrees Celsius). When determining the final result, it is important to take into account the instrument error.
- Measure the inductance of the winding between the same contacts. It should be 250-420 mH.
- Make sure that the insulation between the terminals and the core of the device is at an optimal level. A 500 V megohmmeter is used for measurement. The nominal resistance is about 20 MΩ.
During braking by the ZMZ 402 engine, shots are heard in the muffler.
In such a situation, it is worth starting ignition checks and paying attention to the distributor. You can crawl through the hole of the latter and bend the whiskers, which will increase the tension of the springs.
The problem may arise if the car is parked on the street for a long time. Here's what you need to do:
- Check the contact breaker - make sure that the gap between the contacts is normal and that they are clean.
- If there is an electronic switch on the machine, it is worth checking it. If you suspect that the device is broken, you should install a known-good device.
- Check the distributor for the presence of moisture, which may accumulate under the cover during long-term parking.
- Make sure the wires are intact. If you suspect they are damaged, you should install a silicone connection.
Some car owners “sin” with the carburetor, but in ZMZ 402 engines it is rarely the cause of “shooting”.
Most often we are talking about misfires, so special attention should be paid to the ignition system.
One of the likely causes is contamination of the breaker contacts. After cleaning them, the problem should be resolved.
Why does it shoot at the muffler on a UAZ?
Owners of cars from the Ulyanovsk plant are also faced with the problem of shots fired during the start-up and movement of the car.
The reasons may be as follows:
- Early ignition;
- Malfunction of the distributor;
- Increased slider play;
- Large valve clearance or burnout.
Of the listed reasons, the most common are ignition problems.
There is another assumption - malfunction of the spark plugs due to the formation of water condensation on the high-voltage wires or under the distributor cover.
The spark hits the ground, and fuel floods the electrodes. In such a situation, it is necessary to change the spark plugs, distributor cap and wires. In 90% of cases the problem is solved and the motor runs without problems.
If the engine runs normally when cold with the choke tightened, this indicates the absence of failures.
There may be cases when the car “sneezes” when stopped. Here we can conclude about failures in the operation of the twentieth century system, as well as failures in the transition system.
There are two more possible reasons:
- The fuel level has dropped to a minimum, and the car pulls poorly even on choke.
- Small current on the ignition coil, due to poor contact or the presence of additional resistance.
Why does it shoot into the muffler on Gazelle cars?
The general reason is one - the fuel does not burn completely. There are several options:
- The mixture is too rich. To fix the problem, you need to press the gas several times while parking.
- Misfires. If this problem is present, the silencer will shoot constantly.
- Late ignition. Here, additional symptoms will be increased consumption, engine overheating or decreased power.
If the popping noise occurs not when you press the gas, but when you release it, the fuel mixture is too saturated with oxygen.
It is worth checking the operation of the octane corrector, and replacing the old carburetor tubes with silicone analogues. Often rubber products are damaged and it is not possible to find the fault.
Another possible problem is a slippage of the rod in the distributor. To check this fact, you need to remove the tube and create a vacuum with your mouth.
At this moment, you should look at the distributor - it should rotate, and when released, it should click.
