Any check engine lights? How is the oil level?

 

Fresh oil change, no lights on dash and no codes stored.

 

It sounds as there is no oil being pumped to the lifters. But that is just how it sounds; as you just had the oil changed, check that oil level.

 

1. Hi I’m new to this on forums so bare with me.I own a 2014 Cadillac XTS and I have had nothing but bad luck at three Cadillac dealers I’ve taken my car to. I’m very mechanically inclined but chose to let the dealer work on my car since new.This will not ever happen again and now I hope my posts will help others in the same predicament. Let’s start with a noise that sounds like lifters aren’t getting oil. This noise would only happen in the morning when the car was cold ,so I called the dealer and they said it was common and that nothing was wrong with the motor.About a year later the car makes a a noise like a loud muffler leak so I pull over check under the hood and exhaust is broken off at the flange that’s bolted to the motor.I was close to my house and drove back to my driveway.This part of the exhaust is only about two feet long and easy to remove.i called the dealer and they quoted me somewhere around 500.00 dollars for the part .The part was pricey because it has the car built in. The cat was fine so I removed the flange from the motor and welded it back on. I reinstalled the exhaust and everything was fine . The next day I turn on the car no more noise problem solved .When I told the dealer about my exhaust he said it was common to get a hairline crack around the flange.This caused the noise whe the car is cold. Hope this post helps someone.If you don’t weld take it to a shop to get welded and save some money! Almost forgot there’s a heat shield you need to cut about an inch off and reeled.

 

1. Hi I’m new to this on forums so bare with me.I own a 2014 Cadillac XTS and I have had nothing but bad luck at three Cadillac dealers I’ve taken my car to. I’m very mechanically inclined but chose to let the dealer work on my car since new.This will not ever happen again and now I hope my posts will help others in the same predicament. Let’s start with a noise that sounds like lifters aren’t getting oil. This noise would only happen in the morning when the car was cold ,so I called the dealer and they said it was common and that nothing was wrong with the motor.About a year later the car makes a a noise like a loud muffler leak so I pull over check under the hood and exhaust is broken off at the flange that’s bolted to the motor.I was close to my house and drove back to my driveway.This part of the exhaust is only about two feet long and easy to remove.i called the dealer and they quoted me somewhere around 500.00 dollars for the part .The part was pricey because it has the car built in. The cat was fine so I removed the flange from the motor and welded it back on. I reinstalled the exhaust and everything was fine . The next day I turn on the car no more noise problem solved .When I told the dealer about my exhaust he said it was common to get a hairline crack around the flange.This caused the noise whe the car is cold. Hope this post helps someone.If you don’t weld take it to a shop to get welded and save some money! Almost forgot there’s a heat shield you need to cut about an inch off and reeled. View attachment 570698 View attachment 570698

just joined forum to mainly thank you thank you for this...just ran out to adv auto for some jb weld as a temp repair.....followed other forums and chained all 4 cam sensors to no avail ...hope that thhis is the issue....THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

 

Also when checking for cracks use a good flashlight,these cracks are hairline .The metal is very thin in this area.To me it seems like the welder was running to high for the thickness.The flange is very thick and the tubing is thin.just my opinion.

 

Thanks for the tip.

 

Used to get this type of noise with headers on street rods. Sounded just like a lifter or valve lash adj.
Thanks.

 

No prob

 

@Rick1223 I own a 2016 XTS have this same noise at cold start up, last about 12 seconds then smooths back over. Dealership says the same thing..." nothing is wrong and doesnt affect the motor" yet tons of people are complaining. Very disappointed in Cadillac and I have owned several and never been this disgusted with the brand. Please send me your email for further guidance. I didnt pay 30K for this car to sound like a Diesel truck at start up. Your help will be appreciated.

 

@Rick1223 I own a 2016 XTS have this same noise at cold start up, last about 12 seconds then smooths back over. Dealership says the same thing..." nothing is wrong and doesnt affect the motor" yet tons of people are complaining. Very disappointed in Cadillac and I have owned several and never been this disgusted with the brand. Please send me your email for further guidance. I didnt pay 30K for this car to sound like a Diesel truck at start up. Your help will be appreciated.

 

Does it do it on restarts after the car is warmed up or just the first cold start?
Exhaust manifold?

 

Just on the cold start depending on how long it runs. If I cold start take a ten min drive, come back out it will do it again, but once going for the day its fine. Can hear a little rattle on acceleration as well.

 

If it is a exhaust leak it would have to be at the collector pipe of either bank or possibly Y pipe or converter. That is not a single cylinder sound. On very close inspection one should be able to see the discoloration from a leak.

How many miles?
Have you had this to anyone other than dealer?

 

52K, just dealer

 

It's time for another set of eyes and ears!

 

Yeah I had the same issue with my 2013 xts. Come to realize it was the catalytic converter assembly. It made that noise since I bought it 2 yrs ago. It finally got worse till the point a got a check engine light till 6 months ago and thats when the diagnostic called out the catalytic converter. It was cracked where the pipe is welded to the mounting flange that connects it to the manifold. I bought the replacement assembly which cost me about $400 after a getting a $200 discount off of gmpartsdirect webbsite. If I had of known this before my factory warranty expired it would have saved me about $750 in parts, diagnostic and labor costs. This should be a recall item but it seems like gm has been lacking on what they deem recall issues lately.

 

Can you send the link for the part, this nose is super annyoing and want to take care of it asap. Just passed 50K so my warranty has lapsed.

 

Recalls have always been for safety issues where GM faces liability penalties that cost more to pay out than repair. If they were forced to address every design problem built into their vehicles, they would have gone bankrupt decades ago.

 

Isn't catalytic converter warranty 7 years (emission warranty)

 

And 80k I believe.

 

Thanks for the reply. You certainly got off easy. I wish it were that easy for me, the pipe broke away from the flange and the entire unit had to be replaced. Because I couldn't remove the two bottom bolts I took it to a muffler shop to get done.

 

Add me to the list of hairline-cracked upper exhaust manifold awardees. Am investigating multiple repair options before my next long-distance drive.

CCC

 

Hey guys I am the owner of 2013 XTS with 86K on the meter. I have a problem that I cant seem to identify. My car when cold sound like there is a hole in the intake or exhaust gasket under the hood....IT VERY LOUD. The warmer the engine gets it the quitter the sound but it nevers goes away. Iis there any insight anyone can give. see attached video.

Just was wondering if u ever figured out the problem cause I have the same problem right now

 

Check out this recent thread on exhaust leak caused by cracked metal at the weld by the cat.

XTS startup noise

Hi I’m new to this on forums so bare with me.I own a 2014 Cadillac XTS and I have had nothing but bad luck at three Cadillac dealers I’ve taken my car to. I’m very mechanically inclined but chose to let the dealer work on my car since new.This will not ever happen again and now I hope my posts...

www.cadillacforums.com

 

With the engine off, use a bright light and an inspection mirror to visually inspect the area around the exhaust manifold flange where the exhaust pipe/catalytic converter attach on the front of the engine. Look for black, sooty residue, indicating an exhaust leak. Continue inspecting the area around weld bead at the bottom of the catalytic converter.

If the exhaust pipe on the rear of the engine is the source, you'll need to remove the engine cover and try to find the leak which is a lot harder to gain access.

On a small leak in the flange area, once the metal heats up, the joint gets smaller and can reduce the sound considerably, which is why the sound is so much more pronounced during a cold start.

CCC

 

Update: My exhaust leak is located at the exhaust pipe upper flange on the front of the engine. As the engine heats up, the sound is reduced, but on a cold start, it's very evident.

I applied a bead of JB Weld Extreme Heat on the flange above the heat shield that protects the oxygen sensor., being careful not to stake the flange nuts. After air curing overnight, the sound was gone on start-up. I've driven the car for a few days and all is good. Even if the bond joint eventually fails, at least I know the source of the problem for subsequent replacement of the exhaust pipe/catalytic converter, which runs about $350. If it lasts indefinitely, I got off easy, spending $8.

A shop quoted me 14 hours of labor for the replacement which I thought was a little excessive, so I obtained the replacement procedure and it's straightforward enough. Remove the oxygen sensor, loosen the flange bolts, go under the car and loosen the next section of pipe, then remove and replace the offending component, replacing the exhaust gaskets. I can't see where that would take more than two or three hours unless a nut is stuck or a stud breaks.

If the bond joint yields, I'll replace the pipe and provide an update.

This occurred just under 80k miles.

CCC

 

Update: My exhaust leak is located at the exhaust pipe upper flange on the front of the engine. As the engine heats up, the sound is reduced, but on a cold start, it's very evident.

I applied a bead of JB Weld Extreme Heat on the flange above the heat shield that protects the oxygen sensor., being careful not to stake the flange nuts. After air curing overnight, the sound was gone on start-up. I've driven the car for a few days and all is good. Even if the bond joint eventually fails, at least I know the source of the problem for subsequent replacement of the exhaust pipe/catalytic converter, which runs about $350. If it lasts indefinitely, I got off easy, spending $8.

A shop quoted me 14 hours of labor for the replacement which I thought was a little excessive, so I obtained the replacement procedure and it's straightforward enough. Remove the oxygen sensor, loosen the flange bolts, go under the car and loosen the next section of pipe, then remove and replace the offending component, replacing the exhaust gaskets. I can't see where that would take more than two or three hours unless a nut is stuck or a stud breaks.

If the bond joint yields, I'll replace the pipe and provide an update.

This occurred just under 80k miles.

CCC

Any updates on this now that it's been a few years? Did the JB Weld work for you? I have the same issue on my 2014 XTS and I really don't want to replace a cat.

 

An exhaust leak at the header/manifold flange can sound just like a lifter clacking, so if it sounds like; tick-tick-tick, the leak is on a cylinder tube closer to the head.

 

JB Weld is good for everything.
I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the fix outlasts the car.

 

Well, you're talking extreme heat and cold cycles and vibration, so good luck and if it lasts, a real testament to the product.
Great idea CC, BTW.

 

Update!! It was the catalytic converter, there was a hairline crack at the bottom of the converter. Thankfully, it was all covered under the emission warranty which is 80,000 miles. I was given a loaner vehicle while they conducted the repair free of charge. Due to the on going GM strike it took about 3 weeks to get the new converter. Car is back running smooth no noise or rattling at start up!!