Exhaust help...

[TOYOTAAVALON1998]

Hi I have a 98 Avalon XLS with 85,000 miles on it. It seems to be leaking in the exhaust. Me and my dad had it up on the lift and its fine once it warms up but sounds horrible when you first start it up. I think its the piece if i remember because it was about 6 months ago we had it on the lift...it was between the exhaust and the exhaust manifold if that makes any sense...
My dads friend owns the same car and it has the same problem so im guessing its a common problem....
I just joined so i tell you the story of my car...My dad bought it 4 years ago when it was wrecked...My dad owns a bodyshop so he repaired it. My dad did a lot of work to it before that but the car was in good shape...After fixing about 3/4 of it he finds out that when it was in the accident the oil pan was cracked and it leaked the oil out so when it ran after this and not knowing it developed a knock...after finding this out he put an engine in it with 60,000 miles on it and he gave the car to my mom...once the car is mine im gonna paint it put wheels on it and fix the exhaust.

Its a nice car but I hoping this is a fairly inexpensive piece to fix if you guys know what it is...thanks.

[toyomoho]

The Avalon is the same as the Camry with V6 engine and Lexus LS?

Suggest you visit the AutoZone website having a pretty good self help repair section with drawings and photos. Check out the exhaust system. If the site does not list Avalon use the Camry with V6.

Most likely a donut gasket, very inexpensive. Try first tightening the exhaust manifold nuts holding the pipe to the manifold. Don't reef on them or your can break the stud. If the nuts are stuck use penetrating fluid such as PB Blaster.

If it is this part auto parts stores should have or be able to order it or the dealer should stock it.

Also check for leaks at the flex pipe, this is the exhaust pipe area that looks like a wire hose at the front part of the exhaust system. This is common leakage area.

[mmejia]

I think he is talking about the flex pipe. Is it part that looks like there is metal braids over the exhaust?

That's what was wrong with mine, but then again, I took the car airborne.

[TOYOTAAVALON1998]

The flex pipe is what my dad thought what was wrong with it...how much was that and is it hard to change???

Also yes the car has a camry engine in it... they are the same...

[mmejia]

Well, the cheapest way is to do it yourself. You would have to cut out the old flex pipe and weld in the new one. The weird thing about this is that the flex pipe and catalytic converter are on a one piece y-pipe so you might not like the result. You can also have a muffler shop do it for around $70-$100 and they might do a better job.

The expensive way is to order the whole y-pipe assembly. Runs around $1000 from Magnaflow.

The cool, mid-cost way is to order up some ebay headers and y-pipe for around $150!!! This would leave you without a catalytic but you can add one in for another $100-$150.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=270309936147