Saying hello + Exhaust question

[Ares4]

Hey all,
I snagged a Sixpack with the HO. Loving it, although it's currently buried in snow outside. It handles the snow great, but I can't wait for spring

My exhaust is behaving strange and I would be curious to know if any other owners or even those of you who have test drove it are seeing the same thing:
When the car starts up, the active exhaust opens and it is LOUD. This is fine, but it does not quiet down until the engine reaches temperature and revs down. In the cold NY temps this takes several minutes of full volume exhaust. I think it sounds great, but I fear my neighbors may think otherwise.

My understanding is that the outgoing Chargers/Challengers with active exhausts would open the exhausts briefly for a cold start but should immediately close them. Did they change this with the 2026, or does mine have an issue with the valved exhaust?
I'm taking it to the dealer this week as my check engine light is on (this appears to be the culprit) and I want to know what the expected behavior should be.

I'd appreciate hearing others' experiences with their exhausts.

 

[Zaccity]

Hey all,
I snagged a Sixpack with the HO. Loving it, although it's currently buried in snow outside. It handles the snow great, but I can't wait for spring

My exhaust is behaving strange and I would be curious to know if any other owners or even those of you who have test drove it are seeing the same thing:
When the car starts up, the active exhaust opens and it is LOUD. This is fine, but it does not quiet down until the engine reaches temperature and revs down. In the cold NY temps this takes several minutes of full volume exhaust. I think it sounds great, but I fear my neighbors may think otherwise.

My understanding is that the outgoing Chargers/Challengers with active exhausts would open the exhausts briefly for a cold start but should immediately close them. Did they change this with the 2026, or does mine have an issue with the valved exhaust?
I'm taking it to the dealer this week as my check engine light is on (this appears to be the culprit) and I want to know what the expected behavior should be.

I'd appreciate hearing others' experiences with their exhausts.

Hello and Welcome! Mine does the same thing. After you start the car you should the exhaust cut off for a hot second then come back on. That's it "closing". Mine stay loud after as well. And in the grand scheme its not really that loud. They might here the startup but after I bet it drowns out.

 

[baabootoo]

Does the drive mode matter?

 

[Zaccity]

From what I have tested it always starts up in auto mode.

 

[RevEngineer]

My 392 challenger is LOUD on a cold start. Depending on temperature it can take a few minutes to quiet down, even after the idle drops as it warms up.

 

[Ares4]

Does the drive mode matter?

Drive mode does affect the sound but I'm not certain if it's the valves opening or if it's just the engine revving higher and shifting later. It also seems a little hit or miss. I have switched it to sport right after starting and sometimes sport gives the engine slightly more of a V8 "lope" sound but not every time. Jury is out on whether it is actually louder in sport while idling during warmup. I just can't tell.
I brought it to an auto parts store and confirmed the error code is relating to the active exhaust valves on both sides. I have an appointment with the dealer tomorrow afternoon so they can look at it. My dealer's service department is always overloaded so it helps if I narrow the issues down before I send them on a wild goose chase so thank you all for the help.

@Zaccity I didn't recall hearing that cutoff that you mentioned, so I googled some videos of cold starts-- I definitely hear it clearly in the videos. I'll try to remember to give mine a listen tomorrow as that seems like a good test of if the valves are actually turning properly.

@RevEngineer Thanks for the 392 perspective, this is helpful to know, I'm a bit suspicious that it may be the higher revs alone causing the volume on mine, and the closed valve is just not as quiet as I expected it to be. My last Charger didn't have the valved exhaust so I could only go from what I've heard from others. It has been exceptionally cold so I'm certain it won't be as long to quiet down as it gets warmer out.

 

[El Chorizo]

Would love to hear an aftermarket exhaust.... in for the sub!

 

[Zaccity]

Would love to hear an aftermarket exhaust.... in for the sub!

Saw a youtube shorts, Magnaflow is actively making one.

 

[baabootoo]

Domwe know if there are valves

Drive mode does affect the sound but I'm not certain if it's the valves opening or if it's just the engine revving higher and shifting later. It also seems a little hit or miss. I have switched it to sport right after starting and sometimes sport gives the engine slightly more of a V8 "lope" sound but not every time. Jury is out on whether it is actually louder in sport while idling during warmup. I just can't tell.
I brought it to an auto parts store and confirmed the error code is relating to the active exhaust valves on both sides. I have an appointment with the dealer tomorrow afternoon so they can look at it. My dealer's service department is always overloaded so it helps if I narrow the issues down before I send them on a wild goose chase so thank you all for the help.

@Zaccity I didn't recall hearing that cutoff that you mentioned, so I googled some videos of cold starts-- I definitely hear it clearly in the videos. I'll try to remember to give mine a listen tomorrow as that seems like a good test of if the valves are actually turning properly.

@RevEngineer Thanks for the 392 perspective, this is helpful to know, I'm a bit suspicious that it may be the higher revs alone causing the volume on mine, and the closed valve is just not as quiet as I expected it to be. My last Charger didn't have the valved exhaust so I could only go from what I've heard from others. It has been exceptionally cold so I'm certain it won't be as long to quiet down as it gets warmer out.

Do we know if there are valves

Drive mode does affect the sound but I'm not certain if it's the valves opening or if it's just the engine revving higher and shifting later. It also seems a little hit or miss. I have switched it to sport right after starting and sometimes sport gives the engine slightly more of a V8 "lope" sound but not every time. Jury is out on whether it is actually louder in sport while idling during warmup. I just can't tell.
I brought it to an auto parts store and confirmed the error code is relating to the active exhaust valves on both sides. I have an appointment with the dealer tomorrow afternoon so they can look at it. My dealer's service department is always overloaded so it helps if I narrow the issues down before I send them on a wild goose chase so thank you all for the help.

@Zaccity I didn't recall hearing that cutoff that you mentioned, so I googled some videos of cold starts-- I definitely hear it clearly in the videos. I'll try to remember to give mine a listen tomorrow as that seems like a good test of if the valves are actually turning properly.

@RevEngineer Thanks for the 392 perspective, this is helpful to know, I'm a bit suspicious that it may be the higher revs alone causing the volume on mine, and the closed valve is just not as quiet as I expected it to be. My last Charger didn't have the valved exhaust so I could only go from what I've heard from others. It has been exceptionally cold so I'm certain it won't be as long to quiet down as it gets warmer out.

Do we know if there are valves under the rear seat, outside, like the SRT's? In my garage, it is loud as heck until they open, then it quiets down a lot. I'll go look at a couple of videos to see if they are there.

 

[baabootoo]

You can see the AEV on each resonator pipe in this shot. I'm sure someone will have the bypass made soon just like with the Hellcats.

 

[Ares4]

The valves look very similar to the outgoing charger. I wouldn't be surprised if they are the same and the deletes for the old models may work, but I have not checked them up close so don't trust me on that.

Not something in interested in though. I share a parking lot with my neighbors so the ability to keep the exhaust a little quieter is ideal. Might get an aftermarket manual control valved exhaust in a few years though. It's just so hard to commit to an aftermarket exhaust unless I can hear it in person before I go slicing my car up and dropping all that money.

 

[Zaccity]

The valves look very similar to the outgoing charger. I wouldn't be surprised if they are the same and the deletes for the old models may work, but I have not checked them up close so don't trust me on that.

Not something in interested in though. I share a parking lot with my neighbors so the ability to keep the exhaust a little quieter is ideal. Might get an aftermarket manual control valved exhaust in a few years though. It's just so hard to commit to an aftermarket exhaust unless I can hear it in person before I go slicing my car up and dropping all that money.

100% agree with you. And I want to hear it in person of possible. Audio or video clips often don't do it justice.

 

[Ares4]

An update:
Dealer reset the codes and tested the actuators. Everything worked fine. Their guess was the same as mine: some ice or mud got in there and set some sensor off but once the car detected the fault it doesn't go away until it's reset. Crossing my fingers that it's just a one off fluke.

 

[baabootoo]

An update:
Dealer reset the codes and tested the actuators. Everything worked fine. Their guess was the same as mine: some ice or mud got in there and set some sensor off but once the car detected the fault it doesn't go away until it's reset. Crossing my fingers that it's just a one off fluke.

Excellent.

 

[SeaDog]

Drive mode does affect the sound but I'm not certain if it's the valves opening or if it's just the engine revving higher and shifting later. It also seems a little hit or miss. I have switched it to sport right after starting and sometimes sport gives the engine slightly more of a V8 "lope" sound but not every time. Jury is out on whether it is actually louder in sport while idling during warmup. I just can't tell.
I brought it to an auto parts store and confirmed the error code is relating to the active exhaust valves on both sides. I have an appointment with the dealer tomorrow afternoon so they can look at it. My dealer's service department is always overloaded so it helps if I narrow the issues down before I send them on a wild goose chase so thank you all for the help.

@Zaccity I didn't recall hearing that cutoff that you mentioned, so I googled some videos of cold starts-- I definitely hear it clearly in the videos. I'll try to remember to give mine a listen tomorrow as that seems like a good test of if the valves are actually turning properly.

@RevEngineer Thanks for the 392 perspective, this is helpful to know, I'm a bit suspicious that it may be the higher revs alone causing the volume on mine, and the closed valve is just not as quiet as I expected it to be. My last Charger didn't have the valved exhaust so I could only go from what I've heard from others. It has been exceptionally cold so I'm certain it won't be as long to quiet down as it gets warmer out.

My check engine light came on at 217 miles, and I'm scheduled to have it checked out next week. I have an OBD scanner, but I can't find where to connect it. Previous cars have been under the driver side dash, but I don't see anything. Do you know where it is, or is it a different mechanism now?

 

[baabootoo]

My check engine light came on at 217 miles, and I'm scheduled to have it checked out next week. I have an OBD scanner, but I can't find where to connect it. Previous cars have been under the driver side dash, but I don't see anything. Do you know where it is, or is it a different mechanism now?

Grok says same area, but closer to the column.

 

[Ares4]

My check engine light came on at 217 miles, and I'm scheduled to have it checked out next week. I have an OBD scanner, but I can't find where to connect it. Previous cars have been under the driver side dash, but I don't see anything. Do you know where it is, or is it a different mechanism now?

The port is to the lower left of the steering column, it runs parallel to the car. It's not far from the light switches. If you also have active exhaust codes I would be curious to know if the light came on on a particularly cold day or not.

My check engine light is back on, it was very cold again last night. It seems to happen around and below 0° F for me. I bought a scanner so i can reset it myself without waiting for the dealer and test if its temperature or debris. I'm also planning to pop the actuators off and clean them when I get some time.

 

[SeaDog]

The port is to the lower left of the steering column, it runs parallel to the car. It's not far from the light switches. If you also have active exhaust codes I would be curious to know if the light came on on a particularly cold day or not.

My check engine light is back on, it was very cold again last night. It seems to happen around and below 0° F for me. I bought a scanner so i can reset it myself without waiting for the dealer and test if its temperature or debris. I'm also planning to pop the actuators off and clean them when I get some time.

Thanks, I found the port. I have two codes: P1217 and P121B which both sound like active exhaust codes. Yes, the light came on when it was pretty cold... I think it was 5-10 degrees. We'll see what they say at the dealer next week.

 

[Ares4]

Thanks, I found the port. I have two codes: P1217 and P121B which both sound like active exhaust codes. Yes, the light came on when it was pretty cold... I think it was 5-10 degrees. We'll see what they say at the dealer next week.

Yup, same as me, both sides of the active exhaust. Dealer checked the fuse and reset the codes, and used their scanner to move the actuators. They found no problems but the light came right back on on the next cold day.