What's that air popping sound coming from the engine

[brittce]

After changing my Spark plugs on my 97 Taurus 3.0 V-6 I notice popping sounds coming from the back of the engine. When I look in the rear, I can hear the sound but can not see anything at all. I also unpluged each plug from the coil pack to see if each coil was getting spaks and each coil is fire fine, could it still be a misfire some where. I was going to change my PCV valves Friday and see if thats one of my problem as well. "Help Please" It also idles low, it does not cut off but sometime I put it in neutral just to make sure that it wont. Anyone having this kind of problem I would appreaciate any info on these problems or problem thanks

[cbeck]

Hmm... but this is after you changed the plugs? go back real careful and make sure no wires got crossed. The car will still run off of four cylinders with two firing improperly and give you the sort of things you are seeing. I know cause i did that once on a grand am.

If that's not it, could be that the egr valve is stuck closed, if I remember how those things work... If that's the case, I think you would not hear the knock/pop untill the car has had a chance to heat up.

[brittce]

I found out that my Taurus has an exuast leak around the muffler area once that's fix I should be alright thanks for the Info

[sfontain]

Originally Posted by brittce

I found out that my Taurus has an exuast leak around the muffler area once that's fix I should be alright thanks for the Info

Go ahead and fix that, but I don't see how an exhaust leak at the muffler is going to cause the car to run poorly. At worse it will make a loud noise, but it should run just as well if not better.

[brittce]

Well I went to midas today and got some bad news one of my converters is crack and they can not be fix without replacing just one of them I have to replace the whole thing so do anybody know where I might get this part cheaper than 695.95 plus labor

[sfontain]

I'm afraid I don't, sorry. Cats are a very expensive piece of equipment, as simple as they are. That cat is probably at least a $250-$300 part, the pipe is probably another $100+, and the labor could be a couple hours; all in all, $700 probably isn't the worst you could do. I think about the only other options are hitting a salvage yard (I wouldn't want a cat from there, maybe a pipe) and/or doing the work yourself.

[brittce]

would you beleave that it is all one part, two cat converters one to each manifold join together as one going to the muffler