Burnt flex pipe.... again

[2000-Avalon]

Well, this isn't about a Camry, but I figured it has the same v6 engine as the Avalon.

Anyways, I owned a 2000 avalon and it developed a hole in the flex pipe at around 130k miles and started sounding like a 80's Honda. We found a complete replacement part for that car so the repair was easy and relatively cheap, car got totalled 2 years ago with 165k. Now my 97 avalon has the same issue at also 132k.

I know there are a tons of people who are dealing with this also (just saw a 2000+ RX300 that sounded even worse than my avalon last week).

So, how do you fix this without paying a few grand for a new part at the stealership?

Any write-ups on this? Any DIY?

[bronzemaxell]

Originally Posted by 2000-Avalon

Well, this isn't about a Camry, but I figured it has the same v6 engine as the Avalon.

Anyways, I owned a 2000 avalon and it developed a hole in the flex pipe at around 130k miles and started sounding like a 80's Honda. We found a complete replacement part for that car so the repair was easy and relatively cheap, car got totalled 2 years ago with 165k. Now my 97 avalon has the same issue at also 132k.

I know there are a tons of people who are dealing with this also (just saw a 2000+ RX300 that sounded even worse than my avalon last week).

So, how do you fix this without paying a few grand for a new part at the stealership?

Any write-ups on this? Any DIY?

go find some local exhaust shop, they will cut the old flex pipe out and weld a new one in for $80 to $150, 1/2 to 1 hour job, will definitely not the same quality as the new part at the stealership, will last only another 4 to 6 years. but a lot cheaper than buying new flex pipe and cat

[2000-Avalon]

Originally Posted by bronzemaxell

go find some local exhaust shop, they will cut the old flex pipe out and weld a new one in for $80 to $150, 1/2 to 1 hour job, will definitely not the same quality as the new part at the stealership, will last only another 4 to 6 years. but a lot cheaper than buying new flex pipe and cat

That sounds good to me. Heck, our 2000 Avalon was only about 8-9 years old when it had this problem developed... so 4-6 years out of a $100 aftermarket part doesn't sound so bad.

[ghettosled]

i bought a flex pipe and 2 exhaust clamps from autozone for about $40. cut out the old section, slide on the new and bolt it down. took about an hour.

sorry for the poor photo, i took this not too long ago to see something else. this was installed about a year ago.

[reidcc]

When I bought my 2k Solara in April 2010- it had 130K. To get it to pass inspection they had to weld in another Flex.

Well- at 172K it is time for another... getting that hissing and slight popping when hitting the gas and on loads uphill. I thought it might have been just a weld. and looked at it yesterday with my mechanic. Turns out its the flex itself- can hear it using stethoscope.

Figured the first one woulda bee good for more than 40K.

Chris