Hi,
I have a 1989 Corolla SR5 coupe, 146k miles, California emissions,
meticulously maintained, looks and runs great. Would appreciate your
thoughts on a needed exhaust job:

I bought it in '99 at 90k miles. It had just come from California (I
live in Boston) and had its original exhaust system. Starting in 2001
I did a lot of short-distance driving, and the muffler rotted out in
6/2002 at 120k miles. Took it to one of those "foreign auto experts"
shops which replaced the muffler with one that looked like the OEM one
though was not OEM (in retrospect, wish I did it at the Toyota
dealership for warranty purposes, but was afraid to spend the extra $
at the time).

Continued to drive lots of short-distances. In 1/2004 at 130k miles,
the pipe leading to the muffler (midpipe) broke through completely.
Was desperate to get it fixed quickly so took it to an independent
shop down the street, and was surprised/dismayed later to find that the
mechanic had replaced the mid-pipe and muffler with a cheap quality
"one piece cat back exhaust."

Now at 146k miles the muffler is shot again (and unfortunately it's in
one piece with the "cat back exhaust" as described above). My options
are:
1. Toyota dealership-- when I called and told them the car has a
non-OEM one-piece exhaust system on it, they said that if I want the
exhaust system replaced with OEM dealership parts, that I'd need to
replace the catalytic converter too. So, they recommended I not do it
at the dealership. Even if the dealership could do it, would be
concerned about the cost, esp. given the age of the car.
2. ask an independent shop to replace it with a 1-piece exhaust system
like it has now, as this is probably the cheapest option
3. ask an independent shop to replace it with separate midpipe and
muffler, if they are able to do this, so that future repairs will be
easier; suspect this may be expensive
4. last and unlikely option-- see if a shop can just cut out and
replace the muffler part of the 1-piece assembly on the car right now.

The Corolla is in good shape but is feeling its age and costing about
$1000/year in repairs (driven about 4k-5k miles a year), so I'm trying
to limit how much I put into it, esp as I just put $450 into a couple
months ago for something else. It's probably more cost effective to buy
a newer used car, but the '89 has some sentimental value and I'd like
to hold onto it for a couple more years.

Anyhow, sorry for all the verbiage-- which of the above options would
you recommend I pursue, in terms of a good compromise between cost and
quality of repair?

Thanks,
John

<johnyang97@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1162966818.215423.192990@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> Hi,
> I have a 1989 Corolla SR5 coupe, 146k miles, California emissions,
> meticulously maintained, looks and runs great. Would appreciate your
> thoughts on a needed exhaust job:
>
> I bought it in '99 at 90k miles. It had just come from California (I
> live in Boston) and had its original exhaust system. Starting in 2001
> I did a lot of short-distance driving, and the muffler rotted out in
> 6/2002 at 120k miles. Took it to one of those "foreign auto experts"
> shops which replaced the muffler with one that looked like the OEM one
> though was not OEM (in retrospect, wish I did it at the Toyota
> dealership for warranty purposes, but was afraid to spend the extra $
> at the time).
>
> Continued to drive lots of short-distances. In 1/2004 at 130k miles,
> the pipe leading to the muffler (midpipe) broke through completely.
> Was desperate to get it fixed quickly so took it to an independent
> shop down the street, and was surprised/dismayed later to find that the
> mechanic had replaced the mid-pipe and muffler with a cheap quality
> "one piece cat back exhaust."
>
> Now at 146k miles the muffler is shot again (and unfortunately it's in
> one piece with the "cat back exhaust" as described above). My options
> are:
> 1. Toyota dealership-- when I called and told them the car has a
> non-OEM one-piece exhaust system on it, they said that if I want the
> exhaust system replaced with OEM dealership parts, that I'd need to
> replace the catalytic converter too. So, they recommended I not do it
> at the dealership. Even if the dealership could do it, would be
> concerned about the cost, esp. given the age of the car.
> 2. ask an independent shop to replace it with a 1-piece exhaust system
> like it has now, as this is probably the cheapest option
> 3. ask an independent shop to replace it with separate midpipe and
> muffler, if they are able to do this, so that future repairs will be
> easier; suspect this may be expensive
> 4. last and unlikely option-- see if a shop can just cut out and
> replace the muffler part of the 1-piece assembly on the car right now.
>
> The Corolla is in good shape but is feeling its age and costing about
> $1000/year in repairs (driven about 4k-5k miles a year), so I'm trying
> to limit how much I put into it, esp as I just put $450 into a couple
> months ago for something else. It's probably more cost effective to buy
> a newer used car, but the '89 has some sentimental value and I'd like
> to hold onto it for a couple more years.
>
> Anyhow, sorry for all the verbiage-- which of the above options would
> you recommend I pursue, in terms of a good compromise between cost and
> quality of repair?
>
> Thanks,
> John
>

If the catalytic converter is the original one and has not been modified
when previous exhaust work was done, then you can have a genuine Toyota
exhaust installed at a Toyota dealer. If you are going to keep the car for
more than 10,000 miles, get one installed at a Toyota dealer and take
advantage of the lifetime warranty on parts and labor. The reason your
exhaust is rotting so quickly is that it never gets dried out on short trips
so the condensate sits in there and rots the pipe.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Hi Ray,
Thanks for your help. Any idea what a ballpark figure on replacing the
exhaust system (muffler and midpipe) would be at the dealership?
Also, do you know if the warranty is transferrable? I might be moving
out-of-state in a year and a half, and would probably give the car to a
buddy or sell it at that point. Or, my dad or little brother might
want it. Would the new owner be able to take advantage of the
dealership's warranty?

Thanks again,
John


>
> If the catalytic converter is the original one and has not been modified
> when previous exhaust work was done, then you can have a genuine Toyota
> exhaust installed at a Toyota dealer. If you are going to keep the car for
> more than 10,000 miles, get one installed at a Toyota dealer and take
> advantage of the lifetime warranty on parts and labor. The reason your
> exhaust is rotting so quickly is that it never gets dried out on short trips
> so the condensate sits in there and rots the pipe.
> --
>
> Ray O
> (correct punctuation to reply)

Hi Ray,
I just called my local Toyota dealership and was quoted:
$165 muffler
$193 center pipe
$294 labor

So it looks like about $650 out the door.

Hmmm...
I wouldn't mind spending it if the car (1989, 146k) is still good for a
long time, but it has been springing a fair # of repairs ($$$) after
120k miles and I'm afraid that one day in the near future it'll bite
the bullet for good...
I should've gone to the dealership back in '02 when the muffler first
went out, but it is too late now. Given the age of the car, I might
just take it to my local independent mechanic instead...

John

> > If the catalytic converter is the original one and has not been modified
> > when previous exhaust work was done, then you can have a genuine Toyota
> > exhaust installed at a Toyota dealer. If you are going to keep the car for
> > more than 10,000 miles, get one installed at a Toyota dealer and take
> > advantage of the lifetime warranty on parts and labor. The reason your
> > exhaust is rotting so quickly is that it never gets dried out on short trips
> > so the condensate sits in there and rots the pipe.
> > --
> >
> > Ray O
> > (correct punctuation to reply)

<johnyang97@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1163009414.290599.23140@i42g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> Hi Ray,
> Thanks for your help. Any idea what a ballpark figure on replacing the
> exhaust system (muffler and midpipe) would be at the dealership?
> Also, do you know if the warranty is transferrable? I might be moving
> out-of-state in a year and a half, and would probably give the car to a
> buddy or sell it at that point. Or, my dad or little brother might
> want it. Would the new owner be able to take advantage of the
> dealership's warranty?
>
> Thanks again,
> John
>

Sorry, I can't help you with the price becuse I have never had to replace an
exhaust part on one of my vehicles.

The lifetime exhaust warranty is to the original purchaser of the exhaust
and is not transferrable to another owner, but you would be covered at any
dealer in the U.S.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)
>
>>
>> If the catalytic converter is the original one and has not been modified
>> when previous exhaust work was done, then you can have a genuine Toyota
>> exhaust installed at a Toyota dealer. If you are going to keep the car
>> for
>> more than 10,000 miles, get one installed at a Toyota dealer and take
>> advantage of the lifetime warranty on parts and labor. The reason your
>> exhaust is rotting so quickly is that it never gets dried out on short
>> trips
>> so the condensate sits in there and rots the pipe.
>> --
>>
>> Ray O
>> (correct punctuation to reply)
>

<johnyang97@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:1162966818.215423.192990@k70g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> Hi,
> I have a 1989 Corolla SR5 coupe, 146k miles, California emissions,
> meticulously maintained, looks and runs great. Would appreciate your
> thoughts on a needed exhaust job:
>
> I bought it in '99 at 90k miles. It had just come from California (I
> live in Boston) and had its original exhaust system. Starting in 2001
> I did a lot of short-distance driving, and the muffler rotted out in
> 6/2002 at 120k miles. Took it to one of those "foreign auto experts"
> shops which replaced the muffler with one that looked like the OEM one
> though was not OEM (in retrospect, wish I did it at the Toyota
> dealership for warranty purposes, but was afraid to spend the extra $
> at the time).
>
> Continued to drive lots of short-distances. In 1/2004 at 130k miles,
> the pipe leading to the muffler (midpipe) broke through completely.
> Was desperate to get it fixed quickly so took it to an independent
> shop down the street, and was surprised/dismayed later to find that the
> mechanic had replaced the mid-pipe and muffler with a cheap quality
> "one piece cat back exhaust."
>
> Now at 146k miles the muffler is shot again (and unfortunately it's in
> one piece with the "cat back exhaust" as described above). My options
> are:
> 1. Toyota dealership-- when I called and told them the car has a
> non-OEM one-piece exhaust system on it, they said that if I want the
> exhaust system replaced with OEM dealership parts, that I'd need to
> replace the catalytic converter too. So, they recommended I not do it
> at the dealership. Even if the dealership could do it, would be
> concerned about the cost, esp. given the age of the car.
> 2. ask an independent shop to replace it with a 1-piece exhaust system
> like it has now, as this is probably the cheapest option
> 3. ask an independent shop to replace it with separate midpipe and
> muffler, if they are able to do this, so that future repairs will be
> easier; suspect this may be expensive
> 4. last and unlikely option-- see if a shop can just cut out and
> replace the muffler part of the 1-piece assembly on the car right now.
>
> The Corolla is in good shape but is feeling its age and costing about
> $1000/year in repairs (driven about 4k-5k miles a year), so I'm trying
> to limit how much I put into it, esp as I just put $450 into a couple
> months ago for something else. It's probably more cost effective to buy
> a newer used car, but the '89 has some sentimental value and I'd like
> to hold onto it for a couple more years.
>
> Anyhow, sorry for all the verbiage-- which of the above options would
> you recommend I pursue, in terms of a good compromise between cost and
> quality of repair?
>
> Thanks,
> John
>
>

I don't know if this will be of any help or not but...

For my Supra I found a huge price difference at the local Toyota parts counters
and ended up only spending about $200 for the entire "cat back exhaust" and gasket.

I don't think it took more than a half hour in my driveway to install it. Raised
the back of the car on a couple jack stands. Then it was just two bolts at the converter
plus the a few heavy duty rubber band type hangers the whole thing hangs from.

GL
Dan