Loose clamp question

Post by **digimon** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 10:45 am

Hello,
I noticed jingling when I started the car and found something that looks like a loose duct clamp on the exhaust pipe.
Any ideas what this clamp is for and how to fix?

Thanks!

Post by **VStar650CL** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 11:03 am

That isn't OE, but we often use stainless band clamps like those to silence noises from broken tack welds on the OE heat shields. I'd give the exhaust system an eyeball, chances are you'll find something loose which that clamp was holding down.

Post by **digimon** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 11:19 am

VStar650CL wrote: ↑
Thu Sep 22, 2022 11:03 am
That isn't OE, but we often use stainless band clamps like those to silence noises from broken tack welds on the OE heat shields. I'd give the exhaust system an eyeball, chances are you'll find something loose which that clamp was holding down.

Could be holding the heat shield in place?
Will something else go bad because of a missing heat shield?

Thanks!

Post by **VStar650CL** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 11:37 am

No, but the shields that are tack-welded to the pipe can make some of the most irritating bumblebee and tincan noises imaginable. If that clamp was applied to remedy a broken weld, you should probably locate the spot and tighten it back up.

Post by **digimon** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 12:08 pm

VStar650CL wrote: ↑
Thu Sep 22, 2022 11:37 am
No, but the shields that are tack-welded to the pipe can make some of the most irritating bumblebee and tincan noises imaginable. If that clamp was applied to remedy a broken weld, you should probably locate the spot and tighten it back up.

I will see what I can do, but it is possible that the heat shield is long gone...

Post by **itsa300zx** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 1:56 pm

No one on the internet is going to be able to tell you that with the picture you posted. But I guess its possible.
Get under there and look yourself or take a picture while under there for us to look at. Then we can comment.

Post by **digimon** » Fri Sep 23, 2022 5:54 am

itsa300zx wrote: ↑
Thu Sep 22, 2022 1:56 pm
No one on the internet is going to be able to tell you that with the picture you posted. But I guess its possible.
Get under there and look yourself or take a picture while under there for us to look at. Then we can comment.

I attached another picture.
Hope this helps.

Post by **VStar650CL** » Fri Sep 23, 2022 6:06 am

There are no shields on that section of pipe, but there is supposed to be an intermediate rubber hanger in between where the clamp is and the main muffer at the rear. Maybe somebody tried to use the clamp as a kluge substitute for the hanger?

Post by **digimon** » Fri Sep 23, 2022 7:27 am

VStar650CL wrote: ↑
Fri Sep 23, 2022 6:06 am
There are no shields on that section of pipe, but there is supposed to be an intermediate rubber hanger in between where the clamp is and the main muffer at the rear. Maybe somebody tried to use the clamp as a kluge substitute for the hanger?

I found a youtube video that shows the exact same duct clamp at the same location, that makes me think that this can actually be a factory installed part (see attached picture)?

Post by **VStar650CL** » Fri Sep 23, 2022 8:21 am

That's a rusty heat shield being clamped to the pipe. Weird, the parts drawings usually show the shields when present, but I guess it has one there after all. Anyway, that's a repair, it is not OE. Nissan doesn't use that style of band clamp for anything except intake boots.

Post by **digimon** » Fri Sep 23, 2022 9:07 am

VStar650CL wrote: ↑
Fri Sep 23, 2022 8:21 am
That's a rusty heat shield being clamped to the pipe. Weird, the parts drawings usually show the shields when present, but I guess it has one there after all. Anyway, that's a repair, it is not OE. Nissan doesn't use that style of band clamp for anything except intake boots.

Thank you for your response.
So, a duct clamp appears on more than one car to hold a heat shield, that is not supposed to be there per Nissan drawings...
I wonder what else Nissan left out of drawings

Post by **VStar650CL** » Fri Sep 23, 2022 10:04 am

Everybody uses band clamps to fix busted tack welds on heat shields, and busted tack welds are almost inevitable on anything more than about 8 years old. There's nothing unusual about that. The wife's '13 Altie has two of them on the flex pipe shields, along with probably 75% of the older Nissans on the road.

Post by **itsa300zx** » Fri Sep 23, 2022 11:54 am

I used the same fix for my rattles in my 2011 Rogue.

Post by **digimon** » Fri Sep 23, 2022 1:25 pm

VStar650CL wrote: ↑
Fri Sep 23, 2022 10:04 am
Everybody uses band clamps to fix busted tack welds on heat shields, and busted tack welds are almost inevitable on anything more than about 8 years old. There's nothing unusual about that. The wife's '13 Altie has two of them on the flex pipe shields, along with probably 75% of the older Nissans on the road.

I understand, but I own this car since its birth, and I don't think a service technician would add a clamp without telling me about that.
It is possible, of course, that I was told, but forgot about it.

Thanks everyone for chiming in.

Post by **VStar650CL** » Fri Sep 23, 2022 2:27 pm

digimon wrote: ↑
Fri Sep 23, 2022 1:25 pm
I don't think a service technician would add a clamp without telling me about that.

If that's what you think, please read this Nissan bulletin and check out what the "fix" is. Mind you, this is recommended by Nissan. Your repair order would read something like, "Performed repair per bulletin NTB14-018," with no mention of a clamp except as a part number (if it was warranty) or a shop expense:
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2014/ ... 5-9999.pdf

Post by **digimon** » Wed Oct 05, 2022 8:21 am

VStar650CL wrote: ↑
Fri Sep 23, 2022 2:27 pm

digimon wrote: ↑
Fri Sep 23, 2022 1:25 pm
I don't think a service technician would add a clamp without telling me about that.
If that's what you think, please read this Nissan bulletin and check out what the "fix" is. Mind you, this is recommended by Nissan. Your repair order would read something like, "Performed repair per bulletin NTB14-018," with no mention of a clamp except as a part number (if it was warranty) or a shop expense:
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2014/ ... 5-9999.pdf

This makes sense now. Thank you!

Post by **digimon** » Fri Nov 10, 2023 9:32 am

Eventually, on the next oil change I was handed the rusted heat shield and broken clamp.
On my question if we need to mount the heat shield back, the answer was negative...

Post by **VStar650CL** » Fri Nov 10, 2023 10:36 am

That far back in the system, I agree, the shield is probably just keeping a little heat off the diff and you can live without it. Just as well, because once the welds are all broken at both ends, they're usually unsalvageable.

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