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Exhaust "Ping"

F

FtCAV

Charter Member
Full Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2002
Messages
47
Location
Colorado
The exhaust system on my 2003 Z71 pings when the truck gets hot. I had another car a long time ago that made the same noise after I shut it off, but the Avalanche does it all the time. It's annoying, and a little embarrassing, to be sitting at a stop light in my shiny truck and have people looking at me bcause it's going "ping" "ping" about every 15 seconds.

My dealer said I'd have to live with it. I might have bought that except that I had a 2002 Z71 that never made a sound.

Does anyone else recognize this sound, or have a suggestion to fix it? If not I can see a long battle with the dealer to fix or replace the system.
 
I haven't noticed it on my truck, but I was talking to another AV owner today (who keeps telling me he is joining the club) that he had heard about a recall on the exhaust hangers. Maybe that is something to look into.
 
FtCAV -

I had a 1998 Dodge Dakota and a 1998 Dodge Ram that I had Meineke install dual exhaust on - the exhaust never "pinged" (more of a tick on my vehicles) before the new duals were installe, but after replacing everything from the cat-back, it pinged like crazy.

Meineke told me that this is because of the aluminized steel used to make the tailpipes. I don't know if you have duals, or different exhaust, but this may explain it.

Hope it helps...!!
 
My '03 exhaust pings like crazy. :E:

You can hear it inside the house when I park in the garage. Don't know why, but it does. All factory SS exhaust on my Avy still, except my SS Magnaflow tip.

Mike :B:
 
I had a 98 Blazer that did that. It was a loud ping and would happen a few minutes after I turned off the ignition. One day I got under it and watched the muffler and when it pinged a small dimple appeared near one end of the muffler. I think what is happening is that either something has at one time or another hit the muffler causing a dimple that when the metal is hot and expands goes away (straightens out) and when the metal cools pops back in. This could also happen if when the muffler, and or the catalitic converter BTW, were manufactured, the sheet metal was not bent to the point that the metal was in a relaxed position at the welds. In this case the expansion and contraction of the metal could also cause the sound.
I don't know that this is your ping but I suspect it is. I'm a metalsmith
and the theory is sound.
 
I always thought it was just water dripping from the AC on either the skid plate or the exhast... I never worried about it too much.
 
Yeah, I've heard that sound too, Lockout. This is a different sound. A considerably louder single "poink" sound. I don't think it's anything to worry over.
Now, having re-read FtCAV's post I believe you are right. the noise I had was a different one. ??? :-[ In the words of Guilda Radner, "never mind".
 
My '03 does this too, sometimes while driving. When I shut it off, it will "PONG!!!!!" about 5-10 times at about 5 second intervals. Kind of embarrassing since it's obnoxiously loud, like someone whacking the muffler with a hammer. I figure I'd have the dealer look at it when something more important breaks. There's another thread on this, someone said they had their muffler replaced under warranty to fix this. It's really harmless, just annoying.
 
Thanks for the ideas. It's a nuisance that I'll live with until I have to go back to the dealer for something important.

I tried to search for other threads on this to check on the exhaust hangers or the person who had their muffler replaced. I couldn't find anything, though.
 
My 03 makes the exhaust noise also. 1st heard it when walked around bed after a long ride. Sounded like the heat shields on my Harley when they are cooling off. Last night, was riding with the windows down and had to stop for a train. The noise sounds like someone is hitting the underside of the truck with a soft mallot. You can actually feel it and hear it. Un the Harleys it is caused by dissimilar metals expanding at different rates. We could reduce the noise by gettting the vehicle hot and loosening the clamps and re-tightening them again while hot. Was going to try it on the AV to see if it helps.
 
My '03 Z71 acquired this pinging at about 8000 miles and has done it ever since (now about 13,000). I had it to my dealer once and they said they couldn't find anything to fix.

On 11/12 I had my AV back to the dealer for some other service and I again told them I wanted the pinging to be checked out. The service manager called me later that day and told me a bulletin had come out from GM regarding the pinging and spec'ed that some additional clamps be added to the exhaust, which they did.

The pinging is still there, but much reduced. Anyone else who has been experiencing this should contact their dealer and ask about having this extra work done.
 
Purchased a '03 Z66 AV a few months ago and have experienced the pinging from day one. Took it in and they found bulletin 02-06-05-005B and installed heat shield retaining straps on the muffler. Didn't help. Still "gongs" like a church bell. Very embarassing. Not normal "to me".

Another owner at the end of this thread:

http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php?board=15;action=display;threadid=5574

said he got them to "replace" his muffler and he's been a happy AV owner ever since. Probably what I'm going to do. I can't get used to the noise.
 
My 03 Z66 has the same sound. It is driving me crazy. Mine sounds like a church bell too. Im glad I checked the board before I took it in. I figured I needed a new muffler. Its real embarrising to get out of an almost $40,000 truck and the exhaust sounds like that. I wonder how many times I will have to take it back before they replace it .
 
loguek said:
Purchased a '03 Z66 AV a few months ago and have experienced the pinging from day one. Took it in and they found bulletin 02-06-05-005B and installed heat shield retaining straps on the muffler. Didn't help. Still "gongs" like a church bell. Very embarassing. Not normal "to me".

Another owner at the end of this thread:

http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php?board=15;action=display;threadid=5574

said he got them to "replace" his muffler and he's been a happy AV owner ever since. Probably what I'm going to do. I can't get used to the noise.
Click to expand...
Welcome to the club

Please keep us informed of what your dealer does so others may learn from it....

thanks
 
I had the same problem but my dealer replaced the entire exhaust system under warrenty!!! and the ping is gone. They said that the exhaust system is one piece from the engine back. Work with your dealer.
 
ygmn said:
Welcome to the club

Please keep us informed of what your dealer does so others may learn from it....

thanks
Click to expand...

I took mine in for the 2nd time for the pinging noise. My dealer checked again for bulletins and found this: "GM engineering is aware of the problem and are working on a repair. No repair is available at this time"

I told them about the other dealers that have replaced exhaust systems and have fixed the problem, but my dealer was not willing to do that. They want to wait for GM to come back with an "official" fix. Who knows how long that'll take! :mad:
 
Well I couldn't handle it any longer, took it in, dealer agreed it was not normal. They replaced the muffler (really the entire exhaust from cat back, it's one piece from the cat to tailpipe). No more "pinging". It helps to pull into the service desk area with your Av gonging like a church bell, otherwise they think you're complaining about the normal cool down ticking/popping.
 
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