How can I fix this by myself?

Question

well...I'm going back home from the mall, and all of the sudden my engine just sounds like a jet engine..I park my car in underground parking, I look under it and I see that the pipe to the muffler is disconnected...how can I fix it without going to a mechanic and wasting a whole lot of money? can't I just easily place it back in with my own two hands? sorry, I never got the chance to take autoshop class in high school...and if I do have to take it to the mechanic, how much would it be? and will my car just stop running if I go with it like that? the pipe literally scrapes the cement as I travel.

Answer 1

I have found out over the years, unless you have a lift and the proper tools, you are better off to take the car to a repair shop and let them deal with it.  

Answer 2

Hello

It not to bad to have a shop fix that problem,under 50 bucks depending on how bad it is,it is cheaper than the ticket you could receive.

Answer 3

Unless you had the exhaust replaced very recently, it's extremely unlikely that the pipe has come loose due to a failed clamp. After a short time the pipes rust together so firmly that they take a lot of brute force to split them apart.

More likely that your exhaust pipe has rusted through and broken apart. If this is the case you can replace it yourself but it's not really a job for total beginners.

Going to a mechanic isn't "wasting money" unless you pick a crook or an inexperienced amateur. It's called "maintaining your vehicle" and a well-maintained vehicle is far less likely to give you nasty surprises, will last a lot longer before the expense of replacement, will use less fuel and will achieve a far higher resale value.

Do yourself and your car a favour and get it to a qualified mechanic. You can use some wire to tie the loose end of the pipe high enough not to drag along the road. It will keep running as it is but it will cause a h**l of a noise and will eventually damage the catalytic converter, engine, or both.

Afterwards, look for car maintenance classes and buy yourself a workshop manual and start on small jobs. As your experience and tool collection grows you'll be able to tackle professional level jobs competently and really save money.

Answer 4

You're in trouble....You probably need some replacement parts there that even if you bought them outright you'd still need a cutting torch +

to install those parts..Best thing to do is to take it to your local muffler shops and get an estimate or two..Pick the cheapest one of course.

If you don't fix it soon your apt to loose more pieces and it will cost you more in the long run....

Answer 5

It could be that a pipe clamp has come loose.  Hard to say without seeing it.  If you can slip one pipe back into another, then you are home free. Just go to your auto parts store and buy an exhaust pipe clamp set, before you go measure the diameter of the widest pipe (the one you'll be putting the clamp around after you push the other one in it).

If when you get under the car and you can't get the pipes to meet or they only just meet, then you either lost a joint (get a small piece to slip into each end of the two pipes and two clamps to hold them together) or the pipes need to be welded together.

If the pipe break is before the catalytic converter or where a flange is (a large wide piece with bolts going through it to the other pipe) then you'll need a "donut" gasket and bolts or you'll need it welded together.  Again its hard to say without seeing it.

Look and see if you can fix it like above, otherwise you'll have to go to a garage and they may try to sell you an entirely new exhaust system.  Don't go for this unless there are leaks everywhere (as can be seen by having the vehicle run and observing from underneath -- there will be excessive noise and exhaust leaking from pin holes or breaks in the pipes, usually from rust).

Good luck.

Answer 6

It may be as simple as the gasket at the manifold (inexpensive), or it may be the pipe has rusted through.  It is only guess work, as we can't see under your hood to determine exactly what you are looking at.  I suggest a visit to an exhaust shop is in order.

Answer 7

while the other answers here contain some good advice... I'd have to ask you another question. You stated you park in underground parking.... is it possible you got you cat convertor stolen. it has become a problem, jerks saw them off in parking areas and sell them for scrap. some drawing in as much as a $100 bucks for the platinum in them.

Answer 8

You wont be able to by yourself.......