New England weather sucks.

I just took my 2000 protege for a quick drive to the grocery store and all of the sudden my engine sounds like a beast. I mean it's LOUD. I'm thinking I cracked something underneath the car, since my driveway has been covered in layers of snow and ice the past few days. The undercarriage was pretty rusted as is.

I can't/don't want to get under the car right now. But I'm wondering what this could possibly be..? It sounds like it's coming more from the front than anything. Cracked exhaust manifold? Something separated? A hole in my exhaust pipe? What are the potential fixes and costs..? Are there risks for continuing to drive it this way? I have to get to work tomorrow.

 

It should be easy to spot. In the cold you will see a cloud (where the hot exhaust meets the cold air), upon closer inspection if the area is black then you have an exhaust leak.
As long as nothing has separated and nothing hanging down, you should be ok to drive it. Don't floor it!

 

Thanks!

My main concern in the short term is exhaust in the cabin. Any thoughts on this?

 

Open the window a bit!

 

i would guess that a bolt for the exhaust system broke, probably below the catalytic converter, at the j-pipe. only a guess.