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Once in a while you get over on the dealer

Posted: Sun May 26, 2019 10:18 am
by wvjohn
I'm not driving much at all b/c of medical treatments so the wife decided this would be a good time to get "caught up" on the recall notices for my 2008 Rav4. One of the recalls involved the exhaust system, and it worked out that they had to install a new exhaust system - pipes, muffler ( I assume converter too, but not crawling under there to look :) )

Re: Once in a while you get over on the dealer

Posted: Tue May 28, 2019 12:38 pm
by Err
That's a good deal on an 11 year old vehicle. The Catalytic Convertor alone is $300 to$400 for an aftermarket. I just had to have one replaced on our 2010 Town and Country. That was a cool $500 for a non-dealer local shop to replace. I could've bought the part and tried to do it myself but it's just not worth it. I don't have a lift and I don't fancy pounding on an exhaust pipe while laying on concrete. I also doubt I could get the bolts out without cutting them off.

Re: Once in a while you get over on the dealer

Posted: Wed May 29, 2019 7:38 am
by reno
never had a aftermarket exhaust system last as long as the oem that came with my cars. now a day's it seem there all welded and stainless steel . there using rubber bands to hold the system to the frame's. not the old galvanized steel they use to make them out and clamps. I really don't remember last time I had any muffler work needed or done. think it was on my old 2002 saturn vue. I'M not seeing shops boasting about custom bending exhaust pipe any more eather. seems like old tuffy and midas are more oil change ,brake and tire store these days.

who remember- glasspack ,cherry bomb or Thrush muffler's Iv'ed not bought any in the last 25 to 30 years. in michigan they last maybe 2 years on your car and rust out or off totally . and try clamping down a cherry bomb seem you always bring out the trusty hacksaw and have to slit the tail pipe on a cherry bomb muffler so it clamp down onto the exhaust pipe :)

Re: Once in a while you get over on the dealer

Posted: Wed May 29, 2019 8:43 am
by Pugsley
Can remeber messing with them back in the day when I had the wagon and ElCamino. Can't say that I have taken anything in to have work done on it since then. I had a larger exhaust put on the Beetle back at 200k as part of a power upgrade. Changed the turbo, injectors, clutch and ECU tune.

Re: Once in a while you get over on the dealer

Posted: Fri May 31, 2019 9:09 am
by Err
I used to have to replace the tailpipe on my 86 Mustang 2.3L annually. It would always rust out at the muffler. However, I haven't had any exhaust work done due to rust since 2003. My 2003 Mustang, 2008 Avenger, 2010 Charger and Challenger all had Stainless exhausts.

I know why the catalytic converter failed on our Town and Country but I'm surprised the O2 sensors didn't give out first. The Chrysler 3.8L engine is infamous for using oil. I have to put in 1 to 2 quarts in between the 6,000 mile change interval. I have no idea where it's going other than the exhaust. It also doesn't smoke. I think that after 120K+ miles (I can't remember how many miles are on this thing), the converter couldn't work anymore. My 2008 avenger also had the 3.8L block. It started using oil around 40K.