99 SW2 - Exhaust Leak in engine compartment?

Went in for an inspection and found that I have an exhaust leak. Person didn't
even bother trying to inspect me as he heard it outside of the car. Any ideas
on what this normally runs for repairs or is this one of those problems that
could come from a variety of areas?

Thanks.

-Pete Schott

 

Depending where the leak is, it can vary. Figure $300 minimum. No shop wants
to do a piece-work repair since the old parts invariably fail next. With any
luck, it is just the muffler which may be able to be cut out and a new one
attached. Could also be the EGR tube - they sometimes rot out. Might also be
the flex connector in the exhaust. They're expensive.
I'd be a little ticked off at your inspection shop. The least they could
have done was give you an estimate of what it would cost to repair... that
is if it is not a state operated inspection station. Private shops have a
vested interest in making repairs. State operated inspection stations (as in
Connecticut) only want to do the test and get you out of there.

 

Well, they didn't bother as they heard something from outside the car - said get
this looked at and then come back. (They weren't incredibly busy or slow - so I
figured they were trying to save me the hassle of getting it in and discovering
that there was, indeed, an exhaust leak - no prob there.)

This wasn't a repair shop - just a regular inspection place. I remember those
places in CT. Had to go twice on an old Omni because they had a bad sensor at
their shop and it wasn't a close drive to my nearest location. I'm in TX now so
it's a little different.

Here's hoping for something cheap. I can deal with replacing needed parts, just
don't want to go through what feels like a complete rebuild just to pass an
inspection. Guess I'll find more on Monday as it goes in to the shop then.

Thanks.

-Pete