Popping sound in exhaust

Tiny
NASSER ALHINAI
  • MEMBER
  • 2015 TOYOTA COROLLA
  • 1.8L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 50,000 MILES
There is a popping sound that comes from the exhaust whenever I down shift from third to second or second to first gear, also when I maintain the rpm at 2,500-3,000 and then release it pops or when I accelerate full throttle at low speed then immediately lift my leg from the gas it pops. So is this normal or is this a problem I should be worrying about? Also the car is completely stock, no modification has been added to it. Thanks in advance.
Saturday, September 21st, 2019 AT 1:41 PM

15 Replies

Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello,

You should probably check your vehicle's spark plugs. The popping that you are hearing in your vehicle's exhaust is probably unburnt air:fuel mixture that is igniting in your exhaust instead of the combustion chamber(s) in the engine. This could indicate a misfiring cylinder or cylinders. Is your vehicle's Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) or "check engine" light illuminated?

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Saturday, September 21st, 2019 AT 3:38 PM
Tiny
NASSER ALHINAI
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
I haven't checked the spark plugs yet but I will soon. No, nothing is showing or no light is appearing, everything is normal I haven't noticed anything that is abnormal besides these popping sounds everything else looks is fine, I will check the spark plugs and will update you as soon as possible. Thanks!
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Monday, September 30th, 2019 AT 3:43 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 50,520 POSTS
Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.
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Thursday, October 3rd, 2019 AT 1:07 PM
Tiny
NASSER ALHINAI
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Hello Dear Ken, I have changed the spark plugs on my car and they weren't in a good condition at all so I changed them the same day, I noticed that the fuel consumption is way better now. However, the popping sound is still there whenever I down shift or step on the gas and release quickly, it doesn't pop everytime but it surely does every once in a while like 1 of 6 downshift it will definitely pop.
What do you think this is from?
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Sunday, November 17th, 2019 AT 7:08 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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It sounds like you may have a burnt exhaust valve but to be sure lets do a compression test.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

Can you please shoot a quick video with your phone so we can hear the noise? that would be great. You can upload it here with your response.
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Sunday, November 17th, 2019 AT 10:52 AM
Tiny
NASSER ALHINAI
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
I'm not sure if the sound will be clear in the video but I'll try my best to get it in the video.
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Wednesday, November 20th, 2019 AT 11:53 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
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That would be great. You can upload it here with your response.
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Thursday, November 21st, 2019 AT 12:41 PM
Tiny
NASSER ALHINAI
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Hello Ken, sorry but this is the best I could do but I think the sound of the pop is clear. It popped after the first down shift, that was considered a light one to, sometimes it pops louder and more than one pop, like two to three pops at once.
Let me know if you need another video, I'll try to get one from outside the cabin.
Video (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
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Monday, November 25th, 2019 AT 7:50 AM
Tiny
JONNYB1963
  • MECHANIC
  • 252 POSTS
HI Nasser,

I thought I would Chime in here. Can you tell me if this vehicle always did this or has it slowly developed this sound over time? Quite honestly to me its sounds like a little unburnt fuel making it into the exhaust system and finding enough air to cause it to combust making that popping sound.

Jon
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Tuesday, November 26th, 2019 AT 7:08 AM
Tiny
NASSER ALHINAI
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  • 8 POSTS
Hello Jon, I've recently bought this one like a year ago and I noticed the sound after like 3 months when I first tried the pedal shifters. If that's the case then what would be the best solution to this?
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Tuesday, November 26th, 2019 AT 11:30 AM
Tiny
JONNYB1963
  • MECHANIC
  • 252 POSTS
Ah I see now! okay then! Actually then (to me as a performance guy) I see this a lot and quite frankly most performance guys out there actually want this sound! It is quite normal really. I suspect that since you started using the paddle shifters you began noticing this because the automatic downshifting of the transmission was preventing that from happening.

Here is a video of some other vehicles making this noise (only more prominent):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYpdoOsD8_Y

Does this sound more like what you are hearing?
Jon
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Tuesday, November 26th, 2019 AT 11:42 AM
Tiny
NASSER ALHINAI
  • MEMBER
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Hey Jon, yes that's exactly the same of what I hear and I actually don't mind it as I think it's fun but I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't something else that might trigger a problem or a symptom of other problems such as misfire and all that. So that means it's normal? If that does consume more fuel then I think I will have to look for a solution but if not then I'm totally fine with it!
What do you think?
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Tuesday, November 26th, 2019 AT 4:41 PM
Tiny
JONNYB1963
  • MECHANIC
  • 252 POSTS
Yes, it's normal. Fuel consumption? If you drive a little sportier, you'll use a little more fuel, but you'll have fun with it. :)
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Tuesday, November 26th, 2019 AT 7:36 PM
Tiny
NASSER ALHINAI
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Awesome, thank you very much guys, appreciate your help, you all have a great day/night.
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Wednesday, November 27th, 2019 AT 4:28 AM
Tiny
JONNYB1963
  • MECHANIC
  • 252 POSTS
You're welcome Nasser,

Come back and see us if you have any other questions.

Jon
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Wednesday, November 27th, 2019 AT 4:33 AM

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