Is that a car backfiring?

[DoubleTapDrew]

Backfire is usually a boom where guns (esp at a distance) are more of a pop.
I had a pretty modified turbo eclipse a few years ago that liked to do that on occasion (running big injectors, especially on decceleration). The worst was when I turned up the boost past 25psi and hit fuel cut for the first time. Under hard acceleration going up a hill and "BLAM!!!" near redline. Thought I grenaded the motor until I got back on the gas.

 

[JesseL]

I've got an '86 Kawasaki Ninja 600 with an aftermarket exhaust that can backfire something fierce if you snap the throttle shut quickly after gunning it. A friend was riding behind me one night and it backfired several times in a row. He said each pop was almost exactly like a flashbang, bright white flash and ear splitting bang.

 

[KimKommando]

Interesting that the term should come up, since it was once used as a term to describe weapons that blew up in people's faces.
In a vehicle, a back fire is caused by fuel exploding in the exhaust manifold of an automobile....but the correct term for that is actually afterfire. Remember that combustion occures in the engine...before the exhaust manifold....

 

[JesseL]

KimKommando, don't forget that 'backfires' can occur in the intake manifold as well.