I jammed my exhaust with the last snowstorm in Columbus. I couldn't get out of my driveway backing out into the street and I think I started the eventual failure of my flex pipe. I ordered another from
All Hyundai Isuzu & Kia Auto Recycling, Inc. - Car Pickup Truck SUV Parts, but it won't arrive until the end of this week.
Last week, it became much louder, so I took several wraps of fiberglass cloth and wrapped it around the braided portion of the flex pipe and secured it with a hose clamp at both ends. It failed after 3-4 days (approximately 700 miles)... I think it was a combination of the cloth unweaving and the trip I took down to TN from OH... It's been almost unbearably loud...
I got under the car tonight and discovered that the braided metal cover/flex pipe separated completely from the pipe that goes to the mufflers and realized that the fiberglass cloth won't do a damn thing to help... I had a metal reducer from when I had the Audi, but it was too big to insert into the pipe and too small to go over the flex pipe. I looked around my garage for something that might work and realized that the Monster energy drink (in the photo, it is the Chai Tea Energy) cans seemed to be about the right size. I unhooked the hangers near the middle of the car to give me some room to work.
I cut the top and bottom off and inserted it over the flex pipe portion (but under the braided metal cover). It takes a little bit to work it on, but if you have a clean cut on the can, it should slide on. Slide the other other end over the pipe that goes to the back and secure it with a hose clamp. Work the braided metal part back over the can to help hold it in place.
A permanent repair it is not, but it quiets the car down enough so that you can continue to drive the car without all of the strange looks... (or pissed off looks from those f-ers in convertibles)...
[I just rolled 190,000 miles tonight!]
