how much will I be spending for new exhaust?

[LMHmedchem]

Over the weekend I noticed that my tail pipe was hanging down some. I looked underneath and the entire underside of the tail pipe is rotted away. Fairly soon I could start to hear the sounds associated with a failing exhaust system.

I haven't had this replaced in a while so I am looking for some advice. I would like to ***** for myself what needs to be replaced before going to get estimates. Is there any reasonable way to do that. I have a 3 ton floor jack and jack stands if I really need to get under there.

If I need everything from the catalytic converter back, how much should I expect that to run? Should I go to Midas, or Meineke, or to my regular mechanic at the garage up the street?

Any advice?

LMHmedchem

 

[Exproblems]

If I need everything from the catalytic converter back, how much should I expect that to run? Should I go to Midas, or Meineke, or to my regular mechanic at the garage up the street?

Any advice?

LMHmedchem

I say do not go to Midas, Monroe or Meinke or any Nationally chained repair shop "ever"! Try to find a local, privately owned Muffler shop and inquire about the quality of their Mufflers (materials made from and part warranties) and other exhaust related accessories you may need for your repair. Get repair estimates upfront and ask questions if you feel the need to. The Nationally chained shops have had many a horror story come out from them over the years. You'll drive into them needing a Muffler and come out with a whole new suspension on top of the Muffler job. Enter one of those places at you own risk to your wallet $$$!
BTW, 2 years ago I replaced the Muffler on my Explorer with a new stainless steel Muffler but not factory, the flange in front of the Muffler, the short pipe after the Muffler to the Tailpipe (re-used the factory stainless steel tailpipe) and it cost me $246.00 out the door at "Mufflerman" located on Delaware Ave in Kenmore, NY. (just north of downtown Buffalo)

 

[LMHmedchem]

I have checked two local exhaust shops and got estimates,

Lou's Custom Exhaust
http://www.lousmuffler.com/
$295

Eco Muffler
http://ecomufflerrepair.com/
$345

Both of the converters look good so this is from the converters back. There will need to be a bit of welding on the flange of the second converter to make a clean connection to the new muffler.

There are a couple of other places I can check. Do these prices look reasonable or should I keep looking?

LMHmedchem

 

[bglk1950@yahoo.c]

how do I program old keys to new ecm on a 2004 ford 4.0 explorer?

 

[Exproblems]

I have checked two local exhaust shops and got estimates,

Lou's Custom Exhaust
http://www.lousmuffler.com/
$295

Eco Muffler
http://ecomufflerrepair.com/
$345

Both of the converters look good so this is from the converters back. There will need to be a bit of welding on the flange of the second converter to make a clean connection to the new muffler.

There are a couple of other places I can check. Do these prices look reasonable or should I keep looking?

LMHmedchem

Prices vary by state or location, but they appear to be in order to me. Are those prices for a new stainless steel muffler, flange, short pipe and a tailpipe all included? They did some welding on my exhaust work as well.

 

[bglk1950@yahoo.c]

how do I program old keys to new ecm on a 2004 ford 4.0 explorer?

 

[LMHmedchem]

Are those prices for a new stainless steel muffler, flange, short pipe and a tailpipe all included? They did some welding on my exhaust work as well.

The quote from Eco was in the garage looking at the setup from underneath. He said everything from the converter back including cutting off the bracket from the converter and welding on a new one to connect the muffler to. I assume that it's a stainless steel muffler but I didn't ask. The $345 price was everything out the door.

The other quote was over the phone so it's harder to say. I will call again tomorrow and get some additional details. There are two other places I will call as well.

It seems like the last time I had muffler work done it was over $450 but that was at a different garage and I don't remember what it included. The last time I went to a Midas they wanted $850 to do my brakes. I had already looked up the parts and they ran about $250 so I said that it was awfully nice that they paid their mechanics $450 an hour. The manager said, "but you need new drums, that's expensive". I asked, "do you even need a screwdriver to put on new drums? I think they go for about $40 each and it takes about 10 seconds to change one out after you have the tire off." The conversation didn't end very well and I ended up doing the brakes myself for $250 and a Saturday afternoon. I don't go to Midas anymore.

LMHmedchem

 

[Exproblems]

I assume that it's a stainless steel muffler but I didn't ask. The $345 price was everything out the door.

The other quote was over the phone so it's harder to say. I will call again tomorrow and get some additional details. There are two other places I will call as well.

It seems like the last time I had muffler work done it was over $450 but that was at a different garage and I don't remember what it included. The last time I went to a Midas they wanted $850 to do my brakes. I had already looked up the parts and they ran about $250 so I said that it was awfully nice that they paid their mechanics $450 an hour. The manager said, "but you need new drums, that's expensive". I asked, "do you even need a screwdriver to put on new drums? I think they go for about $40 each and it takes about 10 seconds to change one out after you have the tire off." The conversation didn't end very well and I ended up doing the brakes myself for $250 and a Saturday afternoon. I don't go to Midas anymore.

LMHmedchem

Yeah, just ask if their price is for a stainless steel muffler and ask what metals the other parts they are replacing are made of. Such as the hangers, clamps, or other short pipes and tailpipe, then you can figure out how long they might last you depending on the area of the country you live in. In Buffalo with the snowy, icy winters we have and road salt used on the roads, standard cheaply made steel exhaust pipes or clamps do not last much more than 2-3 years before needing replacement again. This depends on how much you drive as well. Stainless steel exhaust systems hold up much better and last a lot longer in these salty, wet conditions than the common steel exhaust systems.

There you go, typical Midas rip off price quote. They suck! :thumbdwn: I haven't set foot into a Midas shop since the late 70's when I was young and didn't know better. My brother, who doesn't know $hit about doing car repairs, drove a late 1970's or early 1980's Dodge Colt (not sure what year they made those from), kind of like a cheaply made, phone booth on wheels little car made in Japan and he needed new brakes and rotors for his little midget car. I told him I could do his brakes for him and the parts should cost no more than a $70 for me to do the job for him, but not for a week or so till I had the time. Well Mr. Impatient (my brother) decided he was going to take his car to a Midas shop near where he worked at the time. I warned him not to do this! After he took it there I asked him how much did Midas charge him for the brake job, ta-da no surprise, $640 and that was back in the late 70's or early 80's. Big sum of money then. The sad look on his face was precious, because my brother is a tight wad and money ****. I think a bunch of Moth's fell out of his wallet and died that day. Next thing he heard from me after I wiped the huge smile off of my face was "I told you so"! He learned a valuable lesson that day.

 

[Onuma]

I said that it was awfully nice that they paid their mechanics $450 an hour.

I doubt, with such stellar business practices, that Midas is going to pay its employees anywhere near what they charge the customer for an hour of labor.

 

[Exproblems]

I doubt, with such stellar business practices, that Midas is going to pay its employees anywhere near what they charge the customer for an hour of labor.

You read too much into "LMHmedchem's" comment, he was being "facetious" about the Midas mechanics actually making $450 per hour. He simply made a "wise crack" to the Midas manager about how much he was being over charged for a brake job. And if the Midas mechanics really did make $450 per hour, where can I sign up? I'd come out of retirement for that kind of money! Note to forum operators: We could use a smile face icon that is tossing dollar bills into their air making it rain! I looked real hard, but could not find one

 

[rocco123]

Believe my 02 explorer is all stainless. Never saw any rot in it at all and I live on the rust belt of upstate NY where th ey salt before the snow.

 

[Onuma]

You read too much into "LMHmedchem's" comment, he was being "facetious" about the Midas mechanics actually making $450 per hour. He simply made a "wise crack" to the Midas manager about how much he was being over charged for a brake job. And if the Midas mechanics really did make $450 per hour, where can I sign up? I'd come out of retirement for that kind of money! Note to forum operators: We could use a smile face icon that is tossing dollar bills into their air making it rain! I looked real hard, but could not find one

I understood his sarcasm. It's just hard to read into nuance with text-only forums, so I didn't convey that understanding in my response My fault.

 

[extra-medium]

I think I paid under $350 for my gibson catback and it has a tiny bit louder tone over stock.

 

[LMHmedchem]

I ended up paying $300 out the door at lou's custom exhaust. They said that everything was stainless, I guess I will have to take their word for it.

Overall, they were pleasant to work with. They did need to make an adjustment after I started driving. After I drive away and got up to speed, I heard a significant banging sound coming from the rear end. I drove back to the shop and they put it right back up on the lift. It looked like the muffle was swinging on the mounts and hitting some part of the drive train so they cut the pipe and moved the muffler forward and toward the middle about an inch and that seems to have cleared things up. I would have preferred that something of that kind didn't happen, but they fixed it right away.

The shop looked like it was staffed by a high school tech class. Everyone there from the guy at the register to the mechanics looked so young. They did seem competent and experienced, so maybe I'm just getting old.

LMHmedchem

 

[Number4]

how do I program old keys to new ecm on a 2004 ford 4.0 explorer?

Your most likely being ignored because you posted your question in a thread unrelated to your question. I'll take the high road here and assume you didn't know.

Go back to here:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=101

Near the top you'll see a button titled "New Thread" (see picture,) click it and start a separate thread.

Good luck.

 

[07gtman]

I think I paid under $350 for my gibson catback and it has a tiny bit louder tone over stock.

how is the gibson exhaust holding up

 

[extra-medium]

how is the gibson exhaust holding up

Great. No holes or leaks. The pipes have weathered and turned a typical rusty looking color but there is no rust forming anywhere. The polished tip is a little small and it get dirty quick but when I wash it hit it with the brush for a minute and it's good to go again.

 

[blacktrac07]

any improvement in performance or mpg's with the new exhaust?

 

[07gtman]

Great. No holes or leaks. The pipes have weathered and turned a typical rusty looking color but there is no rust forming anywhere. The polished tip is a little small and it get dirty quick but when I wash it hit it with the brush for a minute and it's good to go again.

thanks i will be needing a new exhaust soon

 

[Number4]

any improvement in performance or mpg's with the new exhaust?

A freer flowing exhaust should reduce your MPG's. Performance may increase, but it'll cost you in fuel.