Newbie - 04 Limited - General Advice

[cw212010]

Hi all,

Some of you may remember I posted recently that I am moving to the US and was considering an Explorer.

I have purchased an 04 Limited 4.6 V8 for a great price as it needs a bit of work done to it. Body wise it is immaculate and has been cared for, however new brakes and so on are needed hence the lower price - I can do this work myself.

Whilst I am new to the US car world I am trying to understand what is a good and bad price for various work that is needed for the vehicle compared to my native UK where I would easily know if I am being ripped off.

So to start with, the car needs a new exhaust so let's go for a straight pipe. How much should I be looking at paying for this to be done? I have seen many muffler garages but never seen any pricing. My state doesn't have any smog testing so I can say bye bye to the cats if this is a requirement.

Additionally, the rear wiper motor is draining the battery. Is this a common issue?

 

[Number4]

Straight pipe welded in where the muffler is now shouldn't be more than $50 USD.

 

[TechGuru]

Straight pipe welded in where the muffler is now shouldn't be more than $50 USD.

and depending on where in the US you're going to live would be illegal in most places...

A proper muffler is only $52-$68

 

[cw212010]

Wow. That's cheap. Quadruple that where I'm from!

On the legality of things what can I get away with safely? If I am going to be replacing the whole exhaust I wanted to take the opportunity and get something that sounds a little sexier rather than just place with a stock exhaust.

 

[Number4]

You should be legal everywhere as long as you don't go over certain amount decibels. You'll still have your catalytic converter's and both sets of oxygen sensors. The muffler just reduces the sound of the exhaust.

Northern State inspections may fail you via physical inspection, don't know.

 

[Bignosdaddy]

I just bought a stock oem replacement muffler from autozone, and it was 64.99. Also it is direct fit, but the only thing I have found is the new one does not have the hanger welded on the back of it like the original on the vehicle.

 

[TechGuru]

You should be legal everywhere as long as you don't go over certain amount decibels. You'll still have your catalytic converter's and both sets of oxygen sensors. The muffler just reduces the sound of the exhaust.

Northern State inspections may fail you via physical inspection, don't know.

In Texas:

1. Inspection Procedure. The exhaust system shall be examined visually while the engine is running to determine efficiency of the system.

2. Inspect for and reject if:

a. Vehicle is not equipped with a muffler.

b. Any joint is loose or leaking, including manifolds. Does not include minor leakage at exhaust control valve (manifold damper or heat riser valve).

c. Manifold is cracked or broken causing leakage.

d. Holes, leaking seams, or patches on the muffler, resonators, exhaust pipe, tailpipe, or catalytic converter.

e. Exhaust system is not secured to the vehicle by mounting brackets designed for exhaust systems (wire is not acceptable).

f. Any brackets are loose, broken, or missing.

g. There is excessive vibration of exhaust line.

h. Any part of the exhaust system passes through the passenger compartment.

i. The tailpipe is broken, pinched, or eroded off to the extent to allow exhaust fumes to penetrate into the interior of the passenger compartment.

j. The tailpipe fails to discharge exhaust from the rear or sides or top of the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

NOTE: Holes in the exhaust system made by the manufacturer for drainage are not cause for rejection. The tailpipe must direct the exhaust fumes out from under the passenger compartment.

Inspection of exhaust systems covers the discharge of exhaust fumes and is not concerned with the noise level.

Many that want cheap and loud go with glasspacks here. A glasspack should meet minimum requirments just about everywhere in the US. Straight pipe (no muffler at all) is illegal just about everywhere AFAIK.

Is this what you're after?



That's a Flowmaster, a glasspack will be even louder.

You can get a Walker SoundFX $51.79
http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=2138678

I can't find a video of one on a 4.6L but here is one on a 4.8L, should sound similar:



You're also need the two pipe sections.

The expensive part is replacing your 3 CATS.

http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=4962045

So here is what you are looking at:

 

[cw212010]

The car has three cats? I had only expected two.

In KY I believe there is no inspection or smog testing. In all honesty, I just want something with a nice burble at a comparative cost to replacing it with a OEM stock exhaust system.

Would you anticipate that I'd be able to buy the Walker muffler at your road side muffler/lube shop or is this something I'd need to purchase online and have them fit?

 

[TechGuru]

The car has three cats? I had only expected two.

In KY I believe there is no inspection or smog testing. In all honesty, I just want something with a nice burble at a comparative cost to replacing it with a OEM stock exhaust system.

Would you anticipate that I'd be able to buy the Walker muffler at your road side muffler/lube shop or is this something I'd need to purchase online and have them fit?

Keep in mind without the proper OEM CAT setup you will have a check engine light on that you will not be able to get rid of.

They're probably only going to carry brands of their choosing at hiked up prices.

Oreilly's Auto Parts can get you the muffler for $62.99 in 24 hours (Free Pick Up In-Store: Usually Avail. 24 Hrs)

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/WAL1/18929.oap

Is your whole exhaust rusted out? Can you not get away with only replacing everything behind the last CAT?

Here is a map of the exhaust system.

 

[cw212010]

I'm back in the UK till the 14th so can't check the car myself till then - I never spotted the cat underneath.

But I have to say your advice is very much appreciated!

 

[Bignosdaddy]

I was looking at that diagram for my mountaineer and I just got the muffler on Thursday and Autozone gave me the same diagram and it's wrong. The muffler I got the Walker sound fx says outlet on the end by the center port not the offset one. Now on the car it looks like the picture. So now I'm confused on how it goes on the vehicle

 

[TechGuru]

I was looking at that diagram for my mountaineer and I just got the muffler on Thursday and Autozone gave me the same diagram and it's wrong. The muffler I got the Walker sound fx says outlet on the end by the center port not the offset one. Now on the car it looks like the picture. So now I'm confused on how it goes on the vehicle

The diagram is correct it's just that it's a top view so you can't see that the center inlet is actually at the bottom. I just looked at mine. Both ends are offset.

Inlet is offset to the center bottom, outlet is offset to the left (drivers side).

Front Inlet:

Rear Outlet:

So maybe it means "connect to outlet" ???

 

[Bignosdaddy]

 

[Bignosdaddy]

Go check them pix out TechGuru of the muffler I have sitting here ready to go on the vehicle, and you will see what I'm talking about and how confused I am over this?

 

[TechGuru]

Go check them pix out TechGuru of the muffler I have sitting here ready to go on the vehicle, and you will see what I'm talking about and how confused I am over this?

outlet should be outlet AFAIK, I guess you rotate to a position that fits? I thought these were drop in OEM replacements.

 

[Bignosdaddy]

That's exactly what I was thinking!!! Yea, and O'Riellys had the exact same muffler as Autozone. So now I'm not sure how it goes on, and how to hang it! This is got me puzzled on this one.... I'm telling you what, this thing is going to be the death of me yet!! In 2005 ford changed a lot of stuff from previous years, and it is really driving up a wall. Autozone and O'Riellys both even told me that this vehicle had Idle Air Control Sensor on it, and even showed me the part. Guess what. Nope 2005 they quit putting them on em.

 

[TechGuru]

That's exactly what I was thinking!!! Yea, and O'Riellys had the exact same muffler as Autozone. So now I'm not sure how it goes on, and how to hang it! This is got me puzzled on this one.... I'm telling you what, this thing is going to be the death of me yet!! In 2005 ford changed a lot of stuff from previous years, and it is really driving up a wall. Autozone and O'Riellys both even told me that this vehicle had Idle Air Control Sensor on it, and even showed me the part. Guess what. Nope 2005 they quit putting them on em.

BTW, if you are not after sound you should spend a little more on the Quiet-Flow. It appears to be the same as the factory and is made of stainless steel so it won't rust!

http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=995779

$67.99 comes to $77.58 shipped with discount.

There is also a $30 rebate going on right now.

http://www.rockauto.com/Images/Curr...er_Great_Exhaust_Event_FINAL_-_Rebate_Pad.pdf

Oreilly's and Autozone way overcharge on this one at $97.99 and $99.99

 

[Bignosdaddy]

That might be my option on this one. Thanks for the info on that one.

 

[BarryCarey]

Here in Maine shops that also do state inspection won't modify the exhaust outside of OEM (Excluding muffler as long as it's not crazy loud)

Just had my muffler replaced last week. Got a Magnaflow. They charged me 1 hour of labor ($65) plus misc fittings. They refused to remove the 3rd cat since it's supposed to be there.