can't find exhaust leak, common problems?

[cdlong]

i've got an a exhaust leak i can't track down. i'm wondering if there is something common that breaks that i could start looking for. the noise is coming from somewhere in front of the cat. i can't see any cracks or holes or any large gaps in the gasket. i jacked the car up and looked everywhere i could and saw nothing. all the studs and bolts look fine. it sounds like one cylinder is open, like a slow "pop pop pop" at idle (every cycle, not intermitent). i'm thinking about just getting a new header which should fix the problem, but i really can't afford it (what's a little credit card debt).

i'm slightly concerned that there is something wrong with the head because it sounds like the noise is coming from cylinder #4 depending on where you stand. but there is no power loss so i doubt that's it.

on a side note, i need to stop jacking up my car, i also found out that i need new tie-rod ends.

[uiuc240]

you probably have a leak in the gasket that goes from the head to the manifold. get a new one and plop it in there.

Eric

[cdlong]

that's kinda what i was thinking, would i be able to see that at all without taking everything apart?

the noise started all of the sudden at an autoX, not gradually. don't gaskets leaks usually come on gradually?

[240KAT]

light a cigarette and hold it around the mani primary. The exhaust leak will blow the smoke from the end of the cig. Just make sure there's no ambient wind or anything.