My car like... broke... totally...

jp · Post by jp » Mon Mar 13, 2006 2:43 pm

So I'm driving to work today, and I'm pulling into the driveway the goes to work, when all of a sudden it sounds like a jet is flying over me. So I listen, and I realize that sound is coming from my car. Then I hear something rattling, as if I'm dragging it along as I'm driving.

So I park my car, get out, look under my car, and I see nothing. But when I walk to the back of my car, that cylindrical thingy attached to a pipe is hanging off of my car and is apparently broken.

So this sucks. I'm hoping my roomate gets the email I sent him to bring my cell phone and give me a ride home, otherwise, I'm stranded until... sometime. And I won't be able to get my car fixed until my next paycheck which is in... oh look! 2 weeks. No car for 2 weeks. Huzzah. Well, I could still ATTEMPT to drive it, as it was driving after this piece fell off... but I know nothing of cars... I just keep the air pressure good and change the oil when it needs it... so I don't know what affect driving would be. And I'll be damned if I'm the jackass thats holding up traffic because I tried to drive my broke ass car.

At least my only plans for Spring Break involved Oblivion...

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 2:54 pm

Sux. Does it sound like a tractor when you drive now? That means the exhaust pipe is broken and needs to be welded, happened to me once. As far as I know you can still drive it without doing any further damage, but it'll be REALLY loud.

ahnslaught · Post by **ahnslaught** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 2:55 pm

It sounds like your muffler broke off - that would explain the lous as hell noise. I don't think it's anything bad for your car, though the noise pollution is annoying as hell. It should cost like $200 to replace at a muffler shop, but in the meanwhile, your car should be ok to drive.

I had a similar problem a long time ago, but there was a hole in the mufler. It made quite a racket then - it must be god awful loud for you, jp.

jp · Post by jp » Mon Mar 13, 2006 2:56 pm

Ceph wrote:Sux. Does it sound like a tractor when you drive now? That means the exhaust pipe is broken and needs to be welded, happened to me once. As far as I know you can still drive it without doing any further damage, but it'll be REALLY loud.

Yes! Thats exactly what it sounds like. So I can still drive it without it breaking down? Think maybe me duct taping the bottom part up until I can get it fixed would be alright? (since I don't want that giant chunk of metal dragging around behind me everywhere)

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 3:14 pm

Like I said, I think this is only cosmetic - as long as the police don't pull you over for noise pollution you should be fine. I don't know if you can use duck tape with the muffler (so that's what it's called

) as it may get pretty hot, not sure... guess you'll have to try. IF it does get hot then I wouldn't use tape. In that case, maybe you'd better try to get it off completely.

Post by **system11** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 5:53 pm

Depends where it's broken and your particular car. That's the rear silencer by the sounds of things, the car will run without it, while annoying anyone you drive past. Theyre cheap and easy to replace, a 10 minute job for most drive in exhaust stations. You will notice your fuel economy drop, and engine power will be down until it's fixed, because the back pressure is reduced.

The only thing to check quickly is where it broke in relation to your fuel tank - it's possible on some cars (although very unlikely) for the tube to break on curved sections, and end up venting directly onto the fuel tank skin. This is bad. If you can see the hole, this is not the case for your car.

I replace exhaust sections myself on cars, it really is very easy. If there's just a hole, you can patch it up with 'exhaust bandage' - available at motor stores. If it's really loose and a great big crack, it's better to pull it off entirely really, otherwise it might fall off while you're driving, and that'll suck for anyone behind you.

Of course - the above is all worst case scenario, it might just be loose - they come in sections, see if the tubes just came apart. You can push them back together and re-tighten the clamp.

Neon · Post by **Neon** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 5:59 pm

Ceph wrote:Like I said, I think this is only cosmetic - as long as the police don't pull you over for noise pollution you should be fine. I don't know if you can use duck tape with the muffler (so that's what it's called ) as it may get pretty hot, not sure... guess you'll have to try. IF it does get hot then I wouldn't use tape. In that case, maybe you'd better try to get it off completely.

I think there actually is a brand called duck tape!

If you have a digicam/cell phone cam/scanner, you might try posting pics at a car enthusiast forum, if it really is just the muffler you could probably DIY and save a good chunk of change.

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:31 pm

Neon wrote:I think there actually is a brand called duck tape!

http://www.octanecreative.com/ducttape/duckvsduct.html

sven666 · Post by **sven666** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:55 pm

Ceph wrote:
Neon wrote:I think there actually is a brand called duck tape!
http://www.octanecreative.com/ducttape/duckvsduct.html

Jesus Tape: In Finland and Sweden, they refer to duct tape as “Jesus Tape.” They also refer to it as Gaffer's tape (or "roudarin teippi" in Finnish).

uuuh.. no we dont, ive never heard that before.

its called "silver tape" here.. cause of the colour see.

Post by **Ghegs** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:57 pm

sven666 wrote:
Jesus Tape: In Finland and Sweden, they refer to duct tape as “Jesus Tape.” They also refer to it as Gaffer's tape (or "roudarin teippi" in Finnish).
uuuh.. no we dont, ive never heard that before.

its called "silver tape" here.. cause of the colour see.

Jesus Tape is very common over here.

(It's Jesus Tape because it saves, obviously.)

Post by **BulletMagnet** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 7:31 pm

Ghegs wrote:(It's Jesus Tape because it saves, obviously.)

Then of course there's the old Star Wars joke about it: "Duct tape is like the Force: it's got a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together."

theevilfunkster · Post by **theevilfunkster** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 7:35 pm

Bah!!! Iv'e just been towed home after my bastard car died. They said it was pretty serious. Oh well, there goes all of tomorrows birthday money

Post by **system11** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 10:03 pm

theevilfunkster wrote:Bah!!! Iv'e just been towed home after my bastard car died. They said it was pretty serious. Oh well, there goes all of tomorrows birthday money

This is exactly why I just sold my modern car and have returned to 20 year old ones - because you can fix them yourself when they inevitably break, instead of paying MASSIVE amounts of money to garages. Labour here is £40 per hour (much more from many main dealers), thats $75 per hour. And then we get to pay nearly 20% tax on that.