I drove my 1988 Cadillac Brougham (long RWD 4-door sedan) from Lexington (school) to Charleston (home) on Friday and then back to Lex on Sunday. It’s been a really great ride without any mechanical problems other than general maintenance with changing oil, keeping fluids filled, etc.
At some point on Friday, the muffler broke away from the rest of the exhaust system. The muffler remains on the car even after the drive back to school, but it is just dangling there making a knocking sound every time I go around a turn.
Surprisingly, the engine noise hardly seems any louder.
I plan to take the car to my trusty mechanic on friday Oct. 4th, the only non-holiday weekday I have off this semester at UK.
My question is:
When I take the car to my mechanic, can the existing muffler (assuming it can still muffle) be welded back on to the exhaust system? Or will I need a new muffler? Or will I need an entirely new exhaust system?
I realize that providing definite answers to these questions may be difficult to answer without seeing the problem, but any help is appreciated. I’m just trying to get a general idea of what kinda money I’m going to shell out on that Friday. I may get a tune-up if the muffler problem doesn’t gouge me too much.
As long as the muffler is operational (it still muffles- LOL), and the flange is still present, your muffler can be reattached. You probally do not need a new exhaust system, although there will most likely be an attempt to sell you one.
Flange, on a GM rwd car? The muffler and exhaust pipe are a “slip” fit. The pipe is slid in to the Nipple on the muffler, then it is held in place with clamp.
I have been a full-time mechanic, and in my neck of the woods, when one part of the exhaust goes, it is time to replace most of the system. Price wise it is best to replace from the “cat” back.
“Cat” being the catalytic converter.
Mufflers rust from the inside out and first evidence are pin holes on bottom. If you see this or other leaks then it should be replaced. Just because it doesn’t make a lot of noise doen’t mean you shouldn’t fix the exhaust system. A leak in the exhaust system can allow carbon monoxide into the cabin and be very dangerous. Shop around for best price – visit several muffler shops as well as your mechanic.
The reason its still quiet is that luxury cars have a thing called a ‘resonator’ which is basically a second muffler. They’re still quiet with just the one, but they’re nearly silent with both.
Its possible that a shop may be able to reattach the pipe, but I wouldn’t bet on it. Even if it is possible they won’t do it unless you really really beg them to. They will keep telling you that its a bad idea, they won’t guarantee it, and that it really needs a whole new system. And for the most part, they’re right.
And get ready for some sticker shock on the price of an exhaust system for a RWD 4-door Fleetwood Brougham!
don’t go to one of the larger chains…when you go in, just ask them if they can weld on a broken muffler. if they tell you flat out no, blaze on them. if you ask them to look at it for you, you’ll get the whole sales pitch, probably with a bunch of lies added in. it will take shopping around, but you can probably find a good one quickly. i found a great muffler person who never tries to upsell me, and the price has never been above 40 except when i actually had to get a muffler. keep the mindset that you have a budget and will not exceed it. then stick to it!
I worked in a radiator and muffler shop for a couple of years, it was part of a regional chain in the Seattle area. At least once a day we would get a customer who had thier exhaust systems “repaired” recently at one of the types of shops handsomeharry describes. Mufflers are made from thin sheet metal and when the core of the muffler rusts to a certain point, it is time to be replaced. If you plan on keeping the car for a while, invest in a quality system. Shop around, prices very widely from shop to shop. You may also consider buying the parts your self and having them installed. I recently replaced the muffler/tailpipe on my pickup, The regional chain I formerly worked for wanted $110 for an OEM replacement, a small shop near my home wanted $85 but he was going to install universal fit muffler and bend his own tailpipe. I bought an OEM muffler/tailpipe assembly from NAPA for $65 and the guy at the small shop charged me $20 to weld it on. And I got a lifetime warranty on the muffler too.
Many repair shops will not weld old and rusted exhaust system parts. The material is usually so thin by the time it breaks that it can’t be properly welded and if the shop attempts repair, then they are responsible for future breaks for the warranty period. Even if it breaks after the warranty, say a 90 day period, it probably won’t be too long after and all the shop gets out of it is bad customer ralations.