My local Ford dealer installed my SLP xpipe (w/cats)this past weekend, as a favor (under the table and off the clock). As soon as I drove away I began to notice a fluttering noise on the left bank that got louder as I gave the car more gas, and which went away when no gas was given. If you have ever had a blown header gasket, it sounds exactly the same (a tick tick tick as you push the gas pedal). The mechanic who installed the pipe used my old gaskets bc he said they were still good, so I assumed it was an exhaust leak. I brought the car back in yesterday and today they are telling me that the noise I am hearing is coming from the clutch assembly and that there is no exhaust leak. My question to you all is, could such a sound be consistent with a problematic clutch assembly? I could swear that it is an exhaust leak. The car is an 00' with 35k miles and the clutch is strong. It never slips and mostly importantly, I never heard this noise prior to my x pipe getting installed...What do you think?
