"Normal" car part? (or, should my ass look like this?)

In My Humble Opinion
1

In order to pass inspection on our 1997 car, my husband had the dealer repair the exhaust system while he was there. They put this on for a tailpipe. If you can see, there are two spot welds – one in the lower left and on in the upper right.

The dealer says this is entirely normal. I have never seen this, and to me they look like crap. Of course, I have not been up close and personal with many tailpipes. So I’m asking those of you who have. Am I getting bent out of shape for nothing?

2

Three thoughts until somebody who knows what they’re talking about drops by:

  1. They’ve got to attach the tip somehow. If you didn’t have a tip, it’d just be a piece of flat pipe at the end that usually ends up not quite as pretty as a polished tip. I just went outside to look at mine, and it’s attached at the back. It may just be a different type of tip.

  2. Those are tack welds, not spot welds. Spot welds are made without a filler rod, and they use two electrodes to heat the metal up to near or at melting temperature between them. It’s a type of resistance, as opposed to arc, welding. For an example, look under your hook where the body panel folds over to meet the rest of the chassis.

  3. Give it a couple weeks, the welds will get a bit of soot on them, they won’t be as shiny, and the welds won’t be as contrasting to the rest of the finish.

3

I vote for 100% normal. as Santo said once you drive a bit it will not be noticeable.
There is no reason other than appearance, when brand new, to do a full weld on that piece.
If it really bothers you that much you can go to an exhaust shop and buy a special way over priced chrome tip that is probably welded all the way around for that extra 10 show power.
My advice is to chill.

4

Thanks guys. Your replies are much appreciated. Also – thanks for the welding lesson! Learned something new, in any case.

5

You could clean it up a little with a little scrubbing with a wire brush. That would get rid of some of the discoloration. Once you get some miles on it though it will all look about the same.

6

Does it say “Folger’s” on it any where?