Questions and Answers

Lincoln Continental Exhaust Noisy? Q. Dear Vince, My name is Mike I have a 1975 Lincoln Continental with a 460 engine and an automatic transmission. The mileage is 70,324 and a rebuilt carburetor. There is no ABS but P/S, A/C and cruise control. I did a complete tune-up on it checking vacuum lines . I replaced the spark plugs, spark plug wires, distributor cap and rotor and the EGR valve.

Now what I am running into is a noisy muffler or catalytic converter when the car is at idle or in drive. Down the road there seems to be a pinging sound coming from the muffler and catalytic converter area undercarriage. Do you have any suggestions?

I had the two catalytic converters replaced two years ago. Any suggestions would really help. I have to run it through emissions soon. Also, I have checked the clamps to the muffler and the muffler is not loose.

Thank you,
Mike

A. I have heard catalytic converters and mufflers creak, tinkle, groan and rattle, but I have never heard them ping.

Some metal expansion sound is normal when the exhaust system heats up and cools down. There is nothing wrong with this and there is nothing to do to stop it. I guess I'd have to actually hear the noise to be able to tell if this is what you are hearing.