Hello,

It's been a while since I have to deal with the EX; I notice the muffler is load. Wife take the car to the dealer for an oil change; service claims there are pipes leaks to repairing it is around $350? Otherwise later a complete exhausts replacement is around $3k? Dose anyone have something similar happen to theirs? Is this something I can do myself? Any suggestion are welcome.

Take it to a muffler shop like Midas for estimate, will likely be much less than a dealer as they would use non-oem aftermarket replacement parts
(if available for the EX35).

please shop around. I have a muffler for sale on craigslist for $35...mid-pipe too... I am sure you can find something MUCH cheaper (do an exhaust search here too)...
Did they get specific and tell you what exactly was leaking and why?

I just called the deal and find out the Heat Shield is rattling plus needs to drill and re-tap some pipe claims. Looks like I have to go under net myself to confirm what's going on? I will let the group know what's the outcome.

Hello All, finally have a chance to check under the EX35. The flanges between the muffler and pipes are separated. Looks like there were a welded studs in the pipe flange to mounts to the muffler flange. The dealer clams that they can re-tapped one end so a bolt can put it back. Anyone have experience this before? Other than flanges apart I don't see any major problem with it? Any cues?

those studs are not welded in. They have splines and they are pressed/hammered in (or out). Any muffler shop (or the dealer) will have them for you. It is not a difficult DIY at all, but you will have to remove the mid-pipe to hammer it in. It is just a couple bolts and bolts that hold the rubber supports. easy peazy

Thanks for your tip. I will give it a shot tonight. I was planning to stop by a muffler shop to spliced and weld. Will I cause any damage to piping if I don't remove the mid-section to hammer the stud out?

it could damage the flanges or the hangers or the catalytic converter.. In addition, it is much easier to remove it first.

Will do. Thanks.

The result. I tried to hammer it and it's not budging at all. So, have my wife dropped off in a local shop (southern burbs of Chicago) and they will do that for $175. Which includes tacking the heat shield and repressing new studs to the muffler flanges/gaskets. Good as new. This will save me half a day under the garage floor to DIY.

BTW, did anyone know what is the Y-pipe? The shop mentioned that the Y-pipe will need to be replace it soon. Cues?

I am pretty sure Y pipe is the pipe between the catalytic converters and the muffler. It is shaped like a Y and also called the mid-pipe

I can't imagine why you would need to replace it unless it has damage from contact or it is rusting through? again, a used one of these is cheap... this is mine on craigslist for $25