"Exhaust pipes are for losers." - Peanutter's car, 2013.

[peanutter]

So, after months of threats, my exhaust pipe has up and left me.

It has rusted right through, is no longer connected to the muffler (or whatever it's supposed to be connected to) and is just dangling by a little metal rod that holds it up ...

According to Google, this is either fine, concerning, dangerous or lethal - depending on what you read.

It also is either something which any old mechanic can fix inexpensively, or basically means your car is toast.

I know very little about cars. As in, I know what they are, and I am (generally) able to drive them about. I have been know to put oil in them even. Yay me.

But I don't know about this.

Do you??

[Tinks]

It's an easy fix. You'll just need a new one, not sure how much it would cost. Take it to your mechanic.

[~clover~]

Yep, take it to your mechanic, or local brake & exhaust place & they'll quote you for a new one
Mine about 8 years ago was $250. So it shouldn't be a break the bank job.

[AnyDream]

This is something that people who drive old second-hand cars tend to know a lot about.

Pretty easy fix, couple of hundred dollars will sort it out. But don't be driving it around until it's done. Those exhaust fumes are nasty business & the noise will have people hating on you.

[peanutter]

It's actually not loud - people keep on saying that on the online things I've been trawling. Maybe because it's gas? Or an otherwise well running car (other than odd things ... heater doesn't work, windows are temperamental ... usual "old used car" style things).


It was more a worry about noxious gasses - but if gas cars don't convert to carbon monoxide, that's irrelevant.

So I guess t's more a question now of whether it makes the car dangerous or unroadworthy or illegal - I don't want to do anything illegal, dangerous or that would risk me getting fined.

I'll find out how much it costs to get fixed, or how much it would cost to replace...

[Mumma T]

I am pretty sure it makes it unroadworthy

[Tinks]

Yep, it's unroadworthy and illegal if it's loud.

Going by your description, it will be replaced not fixed. Depending on how bad it is ,they could just replace the section that's rusted or the whole thing.

[peanutter]

It's not loud. But it sounds like it won't be too much to replace the bits, and well worth it, if we're talking 250 or thereabouts, that it manageable... and I don't want to be driving an unroadworthy car around!

Thanks, ladies!

[~clover~]

Yep, definitely unroadworthy. Loud or not, its illegal to drive it like that (except to get it fixed - I think).

I also highly doubt it will be fixed, especially being rusty. They will likely replace it. The rust is probably further through the exhaust system as well. When they did mine they replaced the whole thing. From memory there was a hole in the baffle as well as the exhaust pipe starting to rust where it connects.

[peanutter]

$240 including labour and gst getting it done tomorrow.

Thanks ladies!

[Netix]

I know this is a late response, but I'll say it anyway.

The rear muffler rusting out is very common, especially on vehicles that only do short trips, because the engine doesn't warm up, which then means the exhaust doesn't warm up, which then means condensation doesn't evaporate, meaning moisture just sits in the muffler, and it rusts. (When we moved out of town I was happy because I knew my rear muffler was going to last more than about six months!)

And noise is irrelevant between gas and petrol.

[peanutter]

Thanks