"Clogged Exhaust System" ?

[jdog]

I took my infinity i30 '1999 in for a tune up at a nissan autoshop, and the guy said that it had a clogged exhaust system. He said it would run $320.00 for the labor required to "chisel" the "carbon buildup" away and clean it. Also said it would not require any parts.

I've never heard of this before. I'm not an expert with car mechanics, but I thought carbon buildup would only happen inside the engine itself? He said "it's just something that happens", and it happened"probably because we haven't been using top of the line gasoline."

I called up a diff. autoshop that specializes in exhausts and the guy told me that my catalytic converter is likely the problem, and that "clogged" exhaust systems don't happen without there being someother variable that's causing the issue.

So the Nissan autoshop is telling me there's no problem other than the "carbon buildup" and wants to charge me $320 to clean it. The other place tells me that there must be something else thats wrong and to bring it in to them. What should I do?

[danielekfuj]

um, im not smart by any means, but if your car runs fine, then your "clogged" exhaust might be just an attempt to get money out of you. You could also drive your car hard for a period of time to get all the junk out of your exhaust system->i read that in an article.

[jltibbs]

you could spend the same amount, get another muffler and have new pipe run.

[Beancooker]

Unless you were running REALLY RICH, there is no way that there is enough carbon build up to clog your exhaust system. I think it's time to find a new shop. Jtibbs has some good advise also.

If you do go back to that shop, humor me, and ask that guy, EXACTLY how was he going to chisel out the carbon from inside the long exhaust pipe. Or, if you have a number where I can reach this clown, please post it, along with his name, so I can call and ask him myself. Scam artists like this shop make me really irate.

[AZhitman]

Welcome aboard, jdog.

Run, don't walk, RUN from that shop. Whoever told you that is a moron.

Does your car pass emissions? If so, your exhaust (including the cat) is fine.

Save that money for other maintenance items - We'll help!

[WDRacing]

Um....I think that may actually be the most retarded thing I've ever had the pleasure of reading. All the above statements are correct, especially what AZ said.

What you should do is have him quote you the price on a written piece of paper and then call the Better Bussiness Bureau. Anyone who will make up car related problems to steal money is a complete criminal and should be slowly fed into a woodchipper. I'm actually upset now...

WD

[jdog]

Wasn't expecting this board to be this helpful. You guys rock.

From the main drift I'm getting from you guys, is that these guys are full of it...and that is my intuition exactly. Now that I got the car back, I'm not sure he'll freely offer me a written quote on his proposed work, but I'm going to try and get it.

I spoke with a different autoshop yesterday and they said they've heard of things like this happening from the nissan dealership. Better Business Bereau...I like the sound of that..

[generation2000]

dude 2 days ago the dumb **** at the nissan dealership told me I cant fix my car unless I have a nissan consult (computer) to test my car..3 hours after he said that my car was fixed by me and my buddy. they are a joke. they wanted 500$ to clean my egr tube .LOL

[Beancooker]

Jdog, I was serious, do you have his name and number, I really want to call him, and get an explanation as to how he would do this. I'll play it cool, and suck him in first, then bang... tell him that he is full of dung.

[jdog]

I'm perfectly fine with that. I'm interested to hear the B.S. this f***er makes up. Got a pm or email address for me to send the info to you?

[Beancooker]

You can click a persons name to the left of the post to get the info... but AIM name is nicobeancooker and email is [email protected]

[generation2000]

maybe he meant clogged exhaust mainfold. very possible.

[xsvhp]

Sounds fishy to me.

I had a clogged cat and discovered 'Seafoam;' it is an amazing and safe carbon/sludge remover that you pour into a vaccume source, (like the brake booster), which will then travel through your intake manifold, through the engine, and out the exhaust. It will dissolve all the inner nasties, and unclog things such as catalytic converters and mufflers.

Sounds to good to be true, but the **** truly works! You'll be amazed at what comes out the pipe after using it, and it won't harm your cat, O2 sensor, etc.

[Beancooker]

maybe he meant clogged exhaust mainfold. very possible.

Nope, that mechanic is selling bonafied grade A bull$hit!!! You would have to run so rich that your ECU would shut the car down, and for so long... It's a bunch of bull$hit. Trust us.

I had a clogged cat and discovered 'Seafoam;' it is an amazing and safe carbon/sludge remover that you pour into a vaccume source, (like the brake booster), which will then travel through your intake manifold, through the engine, and out the exhaust. It will dissolve all the inner nasties, and unclog things such as catalytic converters and mufflers.

Sounds to good to be true, but the **** truly works! You'll be amazed at what comes out the pipe after using it, and it won't harm your cat, O2 sensor, etc.

Seafoam is good stuff, but it doesn't remove carbon from the exhaust system. It may remove some from the exhaust valves, but not the catalytic converter or muffler. Trust me on this as well. All the smoke you see come out the tailpipe is not the "bad stuff" burning up from inside the engine. That is the exhaust from the burning of the seafoam in the combustion chamber.

[WDRacing]

I've used the foam myself, I've never heard of the exhaust thing before. Now I have to go look...