Folks,

I am not sure we are looking in the right direction in our attempt to resolve this issue, which is why many people who have had the muffler replaced complain the problem returns.

I just had an aftermarket cat-back exhaust put in by the dealer and still have the problem...The issue does NOT appear to be my brand new, spanking beautiful exhaust, but a large, very thin piece of paper thin aluminum that surrounds the right pipe/muffler. I started banging around down there and found this piece and watched it vibrate everytime I hit the right tailpipe! When I hold it with my left hand and bang with my right, the problem goes away.

Unfortunately, I don't have a 2nd person that can "rev the engine" while I hold the aluminum piece to see if that resolves the issue, but I do believe we have a winner... if this is true, Infiniti muffler replacement may not be the complete solution....

Why am I so confident, you ask? Because when I bend the piece, I can change the frequency and location in the RPM band of where the buzzing occurs! The problem is that I cannot seem to bend it enough to resolve the issue completely without either cutting a rubber hose nearby or potentially damaging whatever the aluminum protects underneath.

Anyone else wanna help confirm this?????

Lee

 

But why would replacing the stock muffler temporally get rid of the rattle?

 

If this is true with the muffler, there is going to be alot of people here very happy. Hope someone can confirm this with you. I can't help because never had the problem.

 

can u take a pic of said paper thin piece of aluminum?

 

Yes, photos please. If this is indeed the problem and you've solved it, Infinity should pay off your car when you inform them, as it will save them many thousands of dollars in parts and labor replacing hundreds of mufflers!

 

hahah only if they would actually do that.. ^

 

OK People here is what this is it is called a MUFFLER BAFFLER its what gives that exhaust note and is just loose and now banging around loosely inside....I am getting my left muffler switched out next week due to this annoying tin can piece of sh*T baffler... And after putting on an aftermarket exhaust with aftermarket mufflers or pipes you shouldn't have this problem

 

need a better description of so called "muffler baffler" or pics to be helpful.

also, OP said his aftermarket exhaust still made that sound

 

...and so I don't see how you'd still have the problem...or did you keep the OEM pipes and just replace all the rest...?

 

well, OP specifically stated that its not the muffler

 

so how do any of these specific reasons for the problem relate to the fact that the noise is more prominent when the car is cold?

 

OMG that is hillarious if that is all it is. You would think that the techs for Infiniti would have figured this out before replacing some peoples exhaust 5 times. WOW!!!

 

Okay - I'm the EP and confirmed that it is a contributory issue, but not the only one. I removed it (well...destroyed it actually in the process) and the note of the rattle completely changed. My comment is that it may be one of 2 issues that contribute to that muffler/buzz sound.

NO pics available unless you want pics of the destroyed alumipaper....lol. Just look under you car and you will see what I describe - make sure the right side piece of that aluminum, which is perpendicular to the ground, is not able to come into contact with the right muffler. If you hit it with your fist, you should hear the buzz I describe and we are familiar with.

 

I tried making a video of my muffler buzz/rattle (it is more of a metallic buzz than a clunky rattle) and here it is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roVSLwGtUrk