what are the odds local shop didn't see this?

[alenz]

Took my DII to a small indy shop. And asked him to replace right side header to Y pipe exhaust gasket. He did this. Then when giving me back the truck he said "my guy said their may still be a little leak. Drive it and let me know what you think". As soon as I left it was obvious there was still an exhaust leak. I found two more leaks driver side header loose on one cylinder and left side Y pipe gasket leaking. I fixed both of these and still had a loud exhaust noise. To my surprise when I look at the right side Y pipe to header connection I saw a huge crack in the Y pipe at the flange weld.

What are the odd they didn't see this?? This was the same side that they changed the gasket on!!
Two explanations both bad for them: 1) They didn't see it or 2) They saw it and did nothing about it. (hoping maybe that I would take it back to them)

I can weld so I took off the Y pipe and welded up the crack and all is good now.

you can see the huge crack in the picture. I'm bummed I was so hoping for a good small indy shop close to me.

so what are the odds they missed it or they wanted me to come back to sell me a $500 Y pipe?

Andrew

 

[Quentin]

LOL
Looks like the grand conyon..........
I would have demanded a refund

 

[KyleT]

Meh they aren't that visible on the truck.

 

[kennith]

Looking up underneath it, it could have been missed, but that doesn't mean it should have been missed. I should think that would be loud as hell.

If it was covered in grime, rust or mud, however, it could have been just secure enough that the stress of the work plus the drive back finally opened the crack. In that event, there would have been nothing for them to see until it was jostled more severely.

Exhaust leaks are easy to fix, but not always easy to spot unless you use a tissue or some other means of spotting it that's so simple nobody thinks to do it. That said, it's more dangerous in there than other vehicles, because of how tight the cats are. It's not as easy to test from underneath. From the top, the manifolds are tight.

So, I wouldn't jump down their throats. I'd ask them about it in a "sit in the shop and idly mention it as part of a discussion" capacity. They may not do actual repairs, or something in the rest of my post might have prevented them from seeing it.

If their conversation on the matter is adequate, no worries.

You need to check your hangers, though. They may be too perished to hold the exhaust in position properly.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[pdxrovermech]

i've never actually see one crack there. in my experience its just about always up at the weld on the flange itself. I think you should have gone back to the shop, mentioned what you found, and based your level of disgust on their willingness to fix the problem.
One thing that can bother me about customers is when they are unwilling give a shop a chance to make things right. We're never perfect and nor do we set out to do a sloppy job, but some times things can be overlooked or misdiagnosed and that may be the shops fault, but its not convenient for them to have to do a job over or have an upset customer. so I say give them a second chance or at the very least you may be able to get some money back.
His original statement of "let me know what you think" wasnt exactly a stellar endorsement of their work though.

 

[ptschram]

i've never actually see one crack there. in my experience its just about always up at the weld on the flange itself. I think you should have gone back to the shop, mentioned what you found, and based your level of disgust on their willingness to fix the problem.
One thing that can bother me about customers is when they are unwilling give a shop a chance to make things right. We're never perfect and nor do we set out to do a sloppy job, but some times things can be overlooked or misdiagnosed and that may be the shops fault, but its not convenient for them to have to do a job over or have an upset customer. so I say give them a second chance or at the very least you may be able to get some money back.
His original statement of "let me know what you think" wasnt exactly a stellar endorsement of their work though.

:golf clap:

When a truck comes into a shop, we only get a snap-shot of that truck. Hopefully, we don't overlook anything.

 

[eburrows]

I had the entire pipe separate right there on me, during one trip. Loudest ride home ever!

I also cracked (almost off) at the flange plate. If you vibrate your truck enough to crack there, drop the Y-pipe again, and check/reweld at least all these sites, where I had major cracks:

1. Crack location you indicated
2. On the flange plates (all 3)
3. The cat pipe welds. I had this come all the way off at one point as well.

I also go through exhaust hangers like crazy, so I started putting pipe clamps around them to keep them from tearing through, and putting more stress on those welds.

 

[jymmiejamz]

I didn't notice a crack in mine like that when I was re-welding my cat because the weld broke all the way around. From the sounds of it YOU misdiagnosed the problem, therefore its not really their problem. Leave the diagnosing to the technician if you want it fixed right. If you can diagnose a problem, you should be able to fix it.

 

[alenz]

I told them about it and he apologized. He said I got there just as the truck was getting done and they didn't do a final check or test drive it after the gasket was replaced. I'm not mad at them. they did the work about 4 weeks ago. I parked the truck and only drove it a handful of times (I wanted to fix the leaks before driving it more). I'm sure the crack got bigger the few times I needed to drive it. I know I saved some money by finding it myself. I think this one job may have paid for my Mig welder.

I guess odds are high they honestly missed it in the rush to get me on my way when I arrived to pick it up.

Andrew

 

[thequickervicar]

Compare this with my experience. I replaced both downpipe gaskets but still had a crack in the right side when I fired it up. Took it to my muffler shop (the best around) to have them do a cat-back system. I saw them drive the truck in & put it up on the lift. He came in two minutes later (if that) to double-check what muffler I wanted on there when I suddenly remembered to tell him "Oh, and I forgot to tell you that there is a crack on the right downpipe."

"Yeah...I already welded it."

In 2 minutes!! I was impressed.

 

[macgyverizer]

I bet they just don't know you truck like you do. Does the doctor know your child as well as you do? Like most things, you will give your truck the best care because its your truck.