• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

YACT: Trials and Tribulations of My Muffler

C

CycloWizard

Lifer
I have a 1990 Acura Integra with about 200,000 miles on it. I'd say the better portion of it is being held together with spit and wishes with a little JB weld on the side.

Anyway, my muffler fell off (again) a while back and I tried to reattach it yesterday. I'm holding it in place with some steel cables I happened to have in my trunk. The crack is rather substantial, occurring just behind the flange where the main exhaust pipe connects to the muffler intake pipe. Since I couldn't rig the muffler up so that both sides of the crack would stay against each other while driving, I jacked it up and put JB Weld all around the crack. I let it sit overnight. Then, this morning I went down and wrapped all around the crack and flange with a couple layers of aluminum foil to make sure no air would go in or out. I taped the foil down with some duct tape.

When I fired it up today, the JB weld had been in place for about 20 hours. It says to let it sit for at least 24, but it's very hot here so I guessed it was pretty well cured in 20 (plus I really needed to drive unexpectedly). It sounded just like new for about the first half mile, then it started being almost as noisy as it was before.

So I guess I'm wondering if anyone here has any suggestions or advice on alternative approaches. I might try the JB Weld again and make sure I let it sit long enough this time, as I shouldn't need the car most of this week and need to make a road trip next weekend.

I'd also like to give a huge :thumbsdown: to Midas. Their 'lifetime warranties' aren't worth the paper they're printed on, at least for exhaust work.
 
They make muffler tape. Not sure what's in it, but I think it's sort of like a plaster bandage - i.e. with a mesh substrate and a binding agent. Might try that.
 
Originally posted by: myusername
They make muffler tape. Not sure what's in it, but I think it's sort of like a plaster bandage - i.e. with a mesh substrate and a binding agent. Might try that.
Click to expand...
Thanks... Never heard of that, but I'll see if I can track some down.
 
Originally posted by: CycloWizard
I have a 1990 Acura Integra with about 200,000 miles on it. I'd say the better portion of it is being held together with spit and wishes with a little JB weld on the side.

Anyway, my muffler fell off (again) a while back and I tried to reattach it yesterday. I'm holding it in place with some steel cables I happened to have in my trunk. The crack is rather substantial, occurring just behind the flange where the main exhaust pipe connects to the muffler intake pipe. Since I couldn't rig the muffler up so that both sides of the crack would stay against each other while driving, I jacked it up and put JB Weld all around the crack. I let it sit overnight. Then, this morning I went down and wrapped all around the crack and flange with a couple layers of aluminum foil to make sure no air would go in or out. I taped the foil down with some duct tape.
Click to expand...


Duct tape? On an exhaust pipe? You do realize that the exhaust gets up to insanely hot temperatures, right? That poor duct tape never stood a chance! 😀

If you're really against doing it right and replacing that pipe, you can get exhaust bandage for a few bucks at Autozone. Don't expect it to last very long, though.

 
Originally posted by: huesmann
WTF, just replace the goddamn pipe from the cat pipe to the muffler. How hard is that? Jeez.
Click to expand...
That part is fine. It's the part behind the flange attached to the muffler that's broken. I could replace it if it didn't go into the muffler itself, but it's not flanged on the outside of the muffler so this isn't really an option.
Originally posted by: Black88GTA
Duct tape? On an exhaust pipe? You do realize that the exhaust gets up to insanely hot temperatures, right? That poor duct tape never stood a chance! 😀

If you're really against doing it right and replacing that pipe, you can get exhaust bandage for a few bucks at Autozone. Don't expect it to last very long, though.
Click to expand...
The temperatures should be hot enough to melt the tape and force it to hold my foil in place. 😉

That said, my exhaust isn't as hot as it should be because Midas is staffed by idiots who refused to insulate my exhaust pipes. This necessarily leads to condensation in the pipes as the exhaust cools prematurely. Couple that with the completely shoddy welding job they did (the two little support structures they put on both broke) and you have a stress-aided corrosion fracture. Did I mention I hate Midas?
 
Originally posted by: CycloWizard
The temperatures should be hot enough to melt the tape and force it to hold my foil in place. 😉
Click to expand...

The glue in duct tape doesn't set, it melts...get some muffler tape.
 
Originally posted by: CycloWizard
Originally posted by: huesmann
WTF, just replace the goddamn pipe from the cat pipe to the muffler. How hard is that? Jeez.
Click to expand...
That part is fine. It's the part behind the flange attached to the muffler that's broken. I could replace it if it didn't go into the muffler itself, but it's not flanged on the outside of the muffler so this isn't really an option.
Originally posted by: Black88GTA
Duct tape? On an exhaust pipe? You do realize that the exhaust gets up to insanely hot temperatures, right? That poor duct tape never stood a chance! 😀

If you're really against doing it right and replacing that pipe, you can get exhaust bandage for a few bucks at Autozone. Don't expect it to last very long, though.
Click to expand...
The temperatures should be hot enough to melt the tape and force it to hold my foil in place. 😉

That said, my exhaust isn't as hot as it should be because Midas is staffed by idiots who refused to insulate my exhaust pipes. This necessarily leads to condensation in the pipes as the exhaust cools prematurely. Couple that with the completely shoddy welding job they did (the two little support structures they put on both broke) and you have a stress-aided corrosion fracture. Did I mention I hate Midas?[/q]


Go back to Midas and Rant.

I am happy with my local Midas,but,I only let the Old farts work on my car. 🙂
Click to expand...
 
For exhaust work, find a shop run by Mexicans or some other minority. They will typically do a better job and be cheaper than your corporate run places like Midas or Mienike, and you can get a better muffler than the Midas brand shiet. They tried to sell me a Midas Ravin?? cat back for my T/A for $800 because i had a small exhaust leak. I told them to blow me. I went to the above mentioned Minority shop and for $40 they cut and rewelded the spot with the leak.
 
200k? Not bad.

A muffler bandage is a band-aid for this- you'll get it quiet for a while, maybe a month maybe a year depending on how you drive and how much movement there is in the exhaust system. with a high-mile car that has lots of personality quirks, though, I'd do the bandage myself.
 
Originally posted by: Biggerhammer
200k? Not bad.

A muffler bandage is a band-aid for this- you'll get it quiet for a while, maybe a month maybe a year depending on how you drive and how much movement there is in the exhaust system. with a high-mile car that has lots of personality quirks, though, I'd do the bandage myself.
Click to expand...

Yeah, for a "personality" car just get some high-temp tape for it. For a newish car replace the muffler.

My exhaust is still intact on my 91 sable but it came loose from the frame and was making awful rattling noises. Nothing a coule 15c pipe clamps from home depot couldn't fix.
 
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Get a new muffler.
Click to expand...
So I can have the exact same problem a year down the road? I think I'll pass. I'm still living on a grad student salary so I don't exactly have money to flush.
 
This is YAMT - yet another midas/monroe/meineke thread. And they generally say the same thing: overpriced for what you get.
 
heh, the muffler fell of my 82 accord hatch, now has 147k on it, went to a local shop, they replaced almost all of the pipe to the cat and the muffler for about 50 to 80 dollars (can't find the reciept at the moment) including labor. midas went and tried to screw with the brakes on my 92 dakota i dont trust them or les schawb. both have tried to over charge me for stuff that they did.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top