Blown exhaust - underneath all corroded

MaggieBaking

Pendulum, I'm not taking offence, I just find it very irritating that to mention Kwik Fit in my first post leads to a lot of people saying "oh well, you went to Kwik !!!! of course you have problems."

For all those who have bad experiences, how difficult is it for the good ones to be heard if you get so roundly shouted down you wish you'd never mentioned them in the first place.

It's a bit like someone who is railing against the horrors of McDonalds, of their mass produced, disgusting eye-ball and hair "meat" products. How likely is it during that conversation for someone to say "Actually, I quite like them. They fulfil a good quick service and fast food does have it's place in society."

The thing is, people just don't bother to say good things if they are going to be criticised. Yes I might have been overcharged, however I was convinced my exhaust needed replacing, I got charged £100-£150 which was a price I was happy to pay and 2 years later I'm still happy with what I was provided.

There are lots of things in this world that I don't know about. I'm happy to be educated in them. I get general advice beforehand, Google something, ask my Dad and then go to a vendor for a kitchen, my car fixed, or ring the plumber. I find it always helps to start of explaining you're unsure and as the conversation progresses you can say "Oh, I was told that the x,y,z was fine, I just need an w". If they then try and bamboozle you then keep asking questions to understand it, ask them to show you and if you're unsure walk away.

Unfortunately "Blonde girl walks into Kwik Fit, knows nothing about cars, gets her car fixed for an affordable price, is happy." is not a well reported story. I'm merely saying that it must be, thousands of people can't be that unhappy.

pitkin2020

Most people are happy to pay for something at the time, but would you be so happy now if your local garage said the whole exhaust system needs replacing it'll cost £150 and has a 3 year warranty on it, does the kwik fit deal look so good now!!

The point is Kwik Fit have targets to meet, not all of them are out to rob you but far too many of them will give it a try. Kwik fit tried to tell me I needed new wheel bearings and new brake disks when I went in for a tyre change. Now I may have gone for it if I hadn't of had an MOT 3 days prior, hence the tyre change as it was the only advisory.

Kwik fit are still in business because one thing they can do and do well is tyre fitting, I expect 90% of their work is from fitting tyres alone, its the upsell to unknowing people where they make a bit more!!!

MaggieBaking

pitkin2020 wrote: »

Most people are happy to pay for something at the time, but would you be so happy now if your local garage said the whole exhaust system needs replacing it'll cost £150 and has a 3 year warranty on it, does the kwik fit deal look so good now!!

Of course, in the same way if I went to our local garage and they offered me the winning Euro-Millions ticket! Just a little bit more unlikely.

pitkin2020

MaggieBaking wrote: »

Of course, in the same way if I went to our local garage and they offered me the winning Euro-Millions ticket! Just a little bit more unlikely.

Yeah but if you didn't know anything about the lottery you may be gullible enough to buy it!!!

atrixblue.-MFR-.

ok calm down both.

what is in hand here is the cost to the overall repair as it stand now not what the OP had done.

OP the chassis of the vehcile is corroded yes? this would not cause the exhaust to corrode also, an original factory fitted part staying in top condition such as an exhaust is not going to happen as you may now, having it welded is a temporary thing in the trade it passes MOT will last a while untill you can save up for a replacement, by the sounds of the your problem the actuall joint of the exhaust where they buttup against eachother on the joint has corrded away and exposed welds and joints will do that over time anyway.

my advice would be to find a custom exhaust centre that will build one for you as this maybe your cheapest option.

kwick fit has spun you a line with regards to the description of your exhaust fitting type, all factory exhausts will come as one complete system, any system you by through the motor factors will be in sections for cheaper easier to replace parts of the exhaust system. only a dealer will have the all in one complete types and cost arms and legs to buy.

the corrosion in the chassis underneath the car is your biggest and most expensive problem, you have to determin what parts have rotted away, sills, boot pan ront rear floor pans, or cross members. sills are not too bad, they can be bough and fitted with little cost, floor pans more difficult as the interior carpet wire and seats and anything that will ignite have to be removed. crossmember can be welded but things like bumpers lights etc have to come off any wire moved out of the way and anything elses that can be damaged or ignite. boot pan is the most hard work i find, the petrol tank spare wheel if under neath has to come away from the car, and the bott interior and possibly rear seats taken out.

i would seek an indepth inspection on the chassis from a garage thats reputable and reasonably priced, and can carry the work out. waxoiling is pretty much pointless on a old vehicle, infact cheaper and better way to protect the underneath would be to buy hammerite metal paint and prep the underneath with a wire brush first taking off any loose rust then apply two or three coats of the stuff to the chassis.

if you find the costs are too much then you can scrap it or sell as spares on fleabay.

MaggieBaking

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

OP the chassis of the vehcile is corroded yes? this would not cause the exhaust to corrode also, an original factory fitted part staying in top condition such as an exhaust is not going to happen as you may now, having it welded is a temporary thing in the trade it passes MOT will last a while untill you can save up for a replacement, by the sounds of the your problem the actuall joint of the exhaust where they buttup against eachother on the joint has corrded away and exposed welds and joints will do that over time anyway.

Thanks for your detailed reply - no, the corrosion is not at the join, it is further back from it.

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

my advice would be to find a custom exhaust centre that will build one for you as this maybe your cheapest option.

Our local garage is able to patch it, and is talking about replacing something, didn't catch what, but they will call with a price during the week. They suggested it wasn't going to be a difficult or costly fix.

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

kwick fit has spun you a line with regards to the description of your exhaust fitting type, all factory exhausts will come as one complete system, any system you by through the motor factors will be in sections for cheaper easier to replace parts of the exhaust system. only a dealer will have the all in one complete types and cost arms and legs to buy.

They said exactly that. He had the car up to show exactly what the problem was - the part he suggested fixing it with, where he would need to cut off the old exhaust, fix the new one in. He not only talked to me but showed me in depth.

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

i would seek an indepth inspection on the chassis from a garage thats reputable and reasonably priced, and can carry the work out. waxoiling is pretty much pointless on a old vehicle, infact cheaper and better way to protect the underneath would be to buy hammerite metal paint and prep the underneath with a wire brush first taking off any loose rust then apply two or three coats of the stuff to the chassis.

Our vehicle was 6 years old when we had it wax oiled. With the cheap cost of the car I think cleaning & Hammerite paint will be unnecessary.

MaggieBaking

Thank you again to all of you for taking the time to reply, as most people have commented I should find a local and reliable garage to help I would like to reiterate once again that I have, that the car is going in on Friday and I will update then.

Be sure that the next time I have a car problem I will go straight to the garage and not post for advice. I haven't enjoyed feeling patronised and preached at.

I will point out that isn't directed at one poster, but mainly - the general attitude I felt when reading constant replies about how little I know, and how crap my choices were.

pitkin2020

MaggieBaking wrote: »

Thank you again to all of you for taking the time to reply, as most people have commented I should find a local and reliable garage to help I would like to reiterate once again that I have, that the car is going in on Friday and I will update then.

Be sure that the next time I have a car problem I will go straight to the garage and not post for advice. I haven't enjoyed feeling patronised and preached at.

I will point out that isn't directed at one poster, but mainly - the general attitude I felt when reading constant replies about how little I know, and how crap my choices were.

Please stop being so dramatic you have asked for advice and you have been given some great advice. No one has tried to patronise you or belitttle you in anyway, if you have no knowledge of cars then you have no knowledge, thats not belittling you thats facing facts. People have tried to make you aware that the good deal you think you may have got from kwik fit may not have been all that good and the advice they gave you was wrong. Sorry if thats not what you wanted to hear.

If you want to cut your nose off to spite face and not ask for advice again then don't, just take your car to kwik fit and watch them empty your wallet, you have that freedom of choice. You can also go back to kwik fit after reading all the advice on here and receive outstanding service, something that has been covered before. They can be so hit and miss.

Good luck with getting your car sorted!

cyclonebri1

Just a bit more info for you, almost all cars today come with the exhaust system from the cat back made in one piece. CNC machinery enable it to be made accurately and cheaper that way.
The exhaust is marked were to cut it for a replacement front or rear section, and a separate clamp used to join the 2. Normal practice

The corrosion of your exhaust is an entirely separate issue to the body corrosion issue you have, no link whatsoever, the exhaust will have rotted mainly from the inside where condensation has taken place.

At least 1 if not more mainstream manf are fitting stainless steel exhausts as standard now,

MaggieBaking

Was in the garage yesterday - needed a new clamp and a new silencer, £75 including labour and the car runs beautifully now.