In this video I bring you along as I help a fella out who needed a little exhaust work. Doing a "proper repair" wasn't really in the budget at this time so I did what I could with what we had. Think twice before we judge someone. Remember we don't always know the situation someone could be in. -Enjoy!
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South Main Auto Repair
47 S. Main St
PO Box 471
Avoca, NY 14809
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Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained.
If an SMA Video has helped you out please consider giving using "Patreon" to help support us. The videos take real time to create and pull us away from real work that pays our bills. CLICK HERE: https://www.patreon.com/southmainauto
CHECK OUT OUR "SMA SWAG" STORE! Go on Teespring and get your very own SMA merch!
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If you don't like Patreon feel free to use the "PayPal Me" link: https://www.paypal.me/SouthMainAuto
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AES Wave Automotive Diagnostic Tools: https://www.aeswave.com/cart.php?m=affiliate_go&affiliateID=2525b91fc8e906e8215984074c9d9e8f&go=https://www.aeswave.com/Miscellaneous-p9347.html
Thank you for all the continuing support!
--Eric & Vanessa O.
Feel like sending some swag to SMA because you love the videos but don't know where to send it?
Just ship it here:
South Main Auto Repair
47 S. Main St
PO Box 471
Avoca, NY 14809
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained.
Classic pt cruiser. It's got a bit of a muffler problem he dragged it it a little ways i wired it up uh requested that he gets his wire. Though that was his main concern. So we've took the wire off here and maybe.
He keeps it in his emergency kit or something. But anyhow the rest of the exhaust looks pretty solid. Unless i could tell the car's not completely smoked um. So instead of you know buying all the pipe and muffler and all that i think we're going to see if we can't just couple her back together for this fella get him a few more miles out of it before the old pt rots away on him.
She's well on her way. It's getting a little flappy down here on the corner. So we'll see what we can do so. I think the best bet is to just chop.
It off here. I've got us an inch and a quarter sleeve from napper. It's your 41 951 pretty classic and then i think we'll cut it off and the piece that's still in here. We'll get it out at that point and then we might have to expand this out a little bit and fry it on with the welders.
I'm thinking is probably our best bet so get your safety squints on and we'll chop it off actually sound a little weak sauce there on us that worked pretty good that's the astro pneumatic. She's a four incher uh. If you buy one of these it takes a tremendous amount of air to operate. It so.
If you just got a little you know homeowner kit air compressor. It may not function. Very. Well.
Even with an 80 gallon 29. Cfm. It's about all she wants okay. Let's uh.
We got a little bit of a sleeve in here. Let's get that out of there. See if we can just use an inside cutter bit here hook onto it there we go not quite what i planned. But it's pretty close so there's that now i don't believe so this is an inch and a quarter id.
I don't believe it fit in there because it's the same size. But what we can do is we'll just give this little two expander up a little because this should fit over the other side here and just like so when it does it fits beautiful um. The one thing we could do we could chop that off more let's see how much room. We have i guess before we get too excited.
It's not a curiosity because that went almost we could almost go full jerry rig on this thing. Just send it a little bit over. But actually we needed about right about there otherwise. It's kind of touching the inner fender and not the inner fender.
But can't quite do that we have some plastic bits over there it's hitting maybe just about like so yeah. And it's hitting some plastic. We better not better give it the old extension because it needs to be about there to not hit anything so let's uh let's expand this out just enough to fit that other pipe in there so we're going to use this little fella. This is not the typical expander.
I use this is a garage sale special she got a pretty small forcing screw and i don't know how or if it's going to work. But we're going to give it the old try so we're only going to go just as deep as where it's already originally flared out there all right so we're going to give her some beans like i don't it may just break. We might have to go back to the one we always use or may just work lovely uh. Where's our piece of pipe. I better i don't like it guys not quite fell it didn't really open her up. I don't think i think we're running out of ugga duggars. Here this screw's pretty hot. It's probably gonna break this may be only for straightening pipes.
Not expanding them we can't get enough beef well instead of destroyed. This would probably work great for straightening out pipes. You know when napa sends them up and they're all smashed up. Yeah.
Let's grab our other expander look at that much bigger forcing screw on this one we have to go a lot more anyways whoa fella. But i don't want to split pipe. This uh old rusty pipe splits pretty easy. If it does we'll just have to put a little weld on i think.
It's about what's to happen. Yes. Sir. Seen that coming the good news is though.
I think we can get up in there. Yes. Yeah. She split it gosh dang.
It well we'll have to do what we got to do i think we'll give her just a couple tacks to hold it there oh we're in the palm. That's a good one we'll get her held then we'll weld up our little crack. We created yeah. I should hold her still there our crack is fixed.
Now we'll just buzz this around and then we'll stick it up on that top plate and set it where we need it and get it all welded up so it does have a hanger broke off the back of the muffler. We're going to stick her right about where she was and give a little tack on that to hold that still and i think we'll be in good shape. So that should hold it i had to break that one tack back off. There i want to want to move it up just a little bit higher than it was all right that looks a little bit.
I want to make sure it lined up with that figure where it was broke off so we can put a hanger back on his muffler and we'll get that thing fried on there. Oh somebody already put a second hanger on the pipe up. There. I didn't even see that so i just want to let that down a little bit.
Because the mig welder is kind of big to get up in there i want to make sure that it weld all the way around so it's easy just to set this down and then finish it off is all right there whoa oh. It's hitting on my lift that wasn't in the way because i had to put the lift in quite a bit. But the rockers are pretty crusty um. Maybe we'll just throw another hanger here on the back of the muffler.
So if it ever breaks again at least his muffler's not dragging down the road. You don't want to put on your squints for this part too let's chop a piece of rod off here let's put it through the og hanger. Just want to put a little bend in it we'll put it right back. Where it was and like i said this would just keep the exhaust from dragging. If it were to break again beat it down here a little bit too beat it that way looks factory. I think something like this will work just fine stick that in there come on baby. I all could add another bend in the fella. But i think we'll go right below it we'll just weld it right to the body of the muffler.
How it was and put a little tension on it call it a day okey dokey. There i think he's back in business. It's all welded back together put the extra hanger on yeah that'll do oh we did a good job. All right folks that's it uh kind of temporarily slash permanently fixing the pt cruiser exhaust at least until it breaks again and so it's not an uncommon thing to you know have stuff break like that and just leave it back together particularly if the pipe's still halfway decent you get a few more years out of it before it all rots off now down in the comments section.
They're lighting me up because i should have changed everything because the pipe is rusty and you're correct uh as a business. Absolutely should have sold a muffler should have sold an intermediate pipe could have got more labor and then all the markup on the parts and therefore more money in my pocket. Keeping my guys employed and not just busy however i'm the one that did the job you don't know this fellas situation anymore that he knows yours so before you get all judgey on me uh. Just know that and that's all you need to know so anyways go down.
There still criticize me still give me the comment. The insti the facebook you all know what to do and just remember if i can do it you can do it thanks for watching.
Actually I think doing what you did was the right thing. The customers needs are important, and up selling work can absolutely hurt your customer and your reputation. Doing it good enough to keep your customer on the road and happy,,,, if its what they want,, then that is what you should do.
Good work 🙂
Good job by a great guy!
I think you did a good thing for your customer and thats what keeps them coming back when their car breaks down. This isn't an all the time thing you did. Thats a good business man. Give them a break on labor and parts but next time it isn't gonna be fixing old parts thing its gonna be a sell them all new parts and make money thing.
Dude, why didn't you sell him a full cat-back, headers, and a cold air intake? Clearly you're slacking! lol Kidding, of course. Excellent job, and had a good chuckle with all the OSHA violations.
BRAVO ça c'est de la réparation. 👍👍👍👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Well said, good man.
👍👍👍👍🇺🇲
When I do a welding job like that I paint over the weld so it doesn't rust so fast.
With the way prices are going up so much , it is nice to see a trust worthy person looking after his customer . thing like this will bring people back for more service . the customer knows he saved money this time and will be back because of it . The long term customer keeps the shop busy and open .
👍
Nothing wrong with that. You might have made a few more bucks selling an entire system but the car did not need it as you have shown. The fact is, by doing things like this you have got a great business and a huge following here on youtube. If we all help each other a little the world would be a better place.
Safty squents fully ingaged in this video. Also, it was good on you to try and save this guy as much as you could, I would have tried to do the same.
I'm always wondering, why not give the welding seams a bit of a spritz with a zinc spray? Did that once to use up the zinc spray I turned out not using, I brushed the rust off that was already setting on the new exhaust pipe I got and sprayed it on. As far as I could see the seams stayed completely intact for years (until I finally got rid of the car).
Thanks Eric for always showing us how to fix stuff and not replace the whole car.
I appreciate the stuff you give the community here on youtube AND in your town. When half the car is way worse than the pipe, I see no reason to replace a whole pipe.
I find your style so nice and great for customers. You do deep analysis and troubleshooting if it needs to be fixed, but you're not shy of just slapping on a bandaid in order to help a fella that might be concerned about his wire he used to hand the muffler. This guy will remember and probably come to you again. Maybe when he has a shiny new car in a couple of years. And this is long term investment by being just a good guy and helping others and not stuffing your own pockets.
Keep up the great work and don't let Judgy McJjudgersons in t his comment section pull you down.
Somedays, it's a REPAIR shop… not a REPLACEMENT shop. Great work and thanks for bringing us along.
I knew a really good mechanic who was the cheapest guy in town. And he could not figure out why he was so busy. You remind me of him. Always honest and busy.
Eric has another loyal customer. People appreciate businesses that treat them right.
Surprised you dont have a snap on exhaust pipe cutter its a adjustable chain with tubing cutter wheels its fast easy no sparks dont know the number i am not a dealer just a retired mechanic
Those who judge others from the comfort of their living room have an erratic ding dong dinger due to a failing cluster. Frankly when I was 16, I had the guy a Midas weld one of my pipes using a pepsi can. '73 Duster. That cheap fix last the two years I had the car. The car was mechanically sound, but the floor pan, and trunk were holier than I was….
Good job,I do the same,that’s y we are so busy,the pt got a 50/50 chance of going to the crusher before the pipe fails,good video thanks.
Hey, no criticism from this quarter. Not sure who these “renew everythibg” viewers are, but those are the ones who don’t have the skill set to repair the item.
Your a highly skilled guy, trade and business wise, and you mix them both to keep the customer happy, and yourself in business. I think PT Cruiser will go away happy, recommending and maybe return in the future, if it doesn’t rust out. Wish there was a shop like yours round my neck of the woods, they always seem to be on the make, and don’t get me started on dealerships.
Is there anything NAPA doesn’t have?
good job
Here is a man that values his eyes more than he values his lungs and skin!
That said, you may find a transition to 0.023" – 0.025" wire a worthwhile upgrade (if you aren't using it already) for most things automotive related. You may need some new drive rollers.
Also, I bet a $10 band clamp (if available locally) would have been a quicker repair. I've learned that keeping a wide variety of these in stock has saved me a bunch of time and effort. These days, the smaller eco-car sizes have been difficult to find at the parts store, but Jeff Bezos seems to have them.
Honest as the day is long. Don’t worry Mr. O. We got yer back. Heck, that exhaust will be working fine till that rust bucket goes to the crusher.
Thank you for another great video. 👍👍
I hope you made sure he got his wire back as requested. The man drives a PT Cruiser, he's suffered enough!
My 21 year old Greek Audi looks better from below than a 6 month upstate NY car.
I’m surprised it’s still running
Good going My friend. Always look out for your customers with a car that won’t last much longer.
The PT can cruse once again and again. Right ups till the rust gets it.
do you lot not have like a 'hammerrite' type paint to prevent rust?? (nice lash up btw)🫡👍
Eric O, that was the correct repair for the PT Cruiser. Thank you for helping out a fellow human being.
That repair will most likely outlast the timing belt if it has not been changed yet 😂
Madd hatter mr muffler lol
When I was a kid, just a few years ahead of you, I was taught to REPAIR things. From the way I was taught, you did exactly the right thing. Sure, the business guru's will say the same things you did at the end but you told the full truth. There is no point in trying to get money from someone who maybe doesn't have it and additionally when people know they can trust you to do the best thing for them, they come back and spend the money when they have it.
Honesty and integrity are hard things to come by these days. It helps me sleep at night knowing that you are out there and there are others like you still in business. Keep doing what you do, and we'll keep watching as long as you let us.
Good repair on that old banger of a car.
👍👍👍
Lol judgey… Lolol, I’ve used a soup can and a couple hose clamps as a temporary fix. Absolutely zero judgement here.
Lmao…Az trusts you pardner..😁
What you did was good. That's how you get customers back. That is the way I would have did it.
The old temporary repair….. nice job , I did a temporary repair on a customers shop door about 15 years ago still going strong lol
Never hurts to help, not everything is about making a dollar.
Sometimes we make money, sometimes we make friends!
No criticism at all – I'm sure this is exactly why your customers keep coming back: you can fix things, at a reasonable price, in a reasonable way, and get their vehicle going again. Love ya.
Thats how i redid my exhaust on my 95 chevy silverado. cept i went with 3 inch and my hangers were threaded rod.
Great job Eric O. Love all your videos. You and your family are awesome and down to earth.
Low cost solutions are the way to go and you are the master. Keep up the good work.
I still say the best repair for any PT Cruiser is a Honda or Toyota.
Probably made a repeat customer for many years .
This is exactly how I would have made the repair Great job
U don’t have the time to a full repair like that! Might as well keep it cheap for the customer unless the customer is an insurance company or warranty, then u feel free to stack the bills up 😎
Nice repair video but no cooking by Mrs. O.?
Remember 1976 when we didn’t have squat. I fixed that Gremlin exhaust pipe with two cut up beer cans and bailing wire. Somehow it felt right recycling those Old Style cans even back then. Lasted for the summer anyway.
I reckon the only thing you should have done was get 'Rainman Ray' there for some welding lessons. He can really do with them. The fact that you did not blow through the pipe when welding it would indicate there was enough parent metal left to make this the best outcome.
Good honest job! BUT, take it from a guy with one eye, closing your eyes when doing a tack weld still lets the actinic light fry your retina. It takes time but it happens. Otherwise, well done.
No criticism here Mr. O! Enjoying your content a lot! Thanks Eric!
The best
Ja Ja…you didn't mention this customer has 4 other cars in the family ! Of course its best to make it last as much as possible…no one wants all that down time.
Love that welder…a cooling fan comes on I presume? My local muffler shop (old school) with the drive up ramps and a pit below has one of those welders…fine machine.
Hey, a customer goes into a restaurant or orders a burger well done…same thing here, he's happy and the business got paid. SMA Custom.
What I like about you Eric you're an honest mechanic , if you would have taken this to a muffler shop that would have spent over $1,000 to have that car fixed when the car isn't even worth $1,000 so you did it good and it will hold up and the way that thing was rusted out you're welding will probably outlast in that car you did good sir thank you .
That's great! Keeps the vehicle NYS street legal while not throwing excessive money at something that could have a major engine/transmission failure at any point.
Cruiser Bruiser!
Brings back memories. Did custom and free hand bending for 17 yrs. That's a stainless system. We did the same. Virtue will be rewarded. Hence ,we had em' lined out the door 365. You wanna make some money?… Get yourself a Ben Pearson and a guy that knows what he's doing, running it.
Eric, you did a great job. This should last a few more years.
I’m sure the customer appreciate it. Thanks for the video 👍👍
Nice work Eric. The custom hanger was icing on the cake.
I smell popcorn!
better welding job then I could do at this time. maybe later just as good maybe better. lol
I do alot of rusty exhaust repair, where can I buy that kind of "rod" you used? What would it be called at home depot so I can make the boss go get a length, along with an expander finally.
Been there a million times myself. Sounds like you did your customer a solid as best you could do for him. And he'll likely remember and come back to you in the future. Now that's service!
Works for me!
It's your typical Pt cruiser exhaust repair, with your classic desperate times calls for desperate measures description. 😄 Thanks south main auto. I enjoy my time off working on cars by watching your videos…of working on cars. (Yeah I know, I think theres something wrong with me.) Anyways…always enjoy. God bless south main auto!
Way to paint a smile on a pig there Eric. And nicely done
The only thing that spare tire is good for is decreasing fuel economy
Awesome job
Well done mate! No criticism from me.
If the customer wanted everything rusty replaced they would be talking to a new car salesman. Repair ‘in-kind’ isn’t unusual at all. Keep ‘em safe & happy!
Get some used stanchions from your local bank, and some cheap rope, make you a nice deal where people can form up into a cute line and KISS YOUR ASS !! Your shop and its AMERICA, do it the way you want to!!!
Meh, I would have done the same thing, but worse 😂
Nice exhaust repair Eric O @SouthMainAutoRepairLLC
Great job, saving people money is giving back to the community. You get more in return.
Yep never judge but advise (if In this instance the exhaust was fairly decent) small repair could mean food on the table this week
You could have jacked up the radiator cap, and run a brand new Cruiser right back under it
I think you enjoy cheating the supply system out of their profits.
Appreciate your compassion and understanding for your customer's situation. You didn't say what year the PT Cruiser was, but they where last made in 2010, so at the very least it is 12 years old.. So what would a high mileage, New York State rust bucket be worth – $1000 -$1200? And a full exhaust is what, at least $500 on the low side? Install a complete new exhaust system and the car is still only worth $1000 -$1200! The car still runs, you need a car, can't afford a new one, so he pays up, and he doubles or triples his ramen noodles consumption for a while. You could have "got yours" and told him he needs a complete exhaust but you didn't. You made a safe legal repair that will allow him to safely drive his car for a while longer. You will "get a little more of what's yours" when the next time he comes, and also when his brother-in-law, and that brother-in law's sister and all their friends come in. You're an honorable man. living an honest life (but my sense is that doesn't includes taking any crap from anyone!) Plus, I'm sure you sleep well at night. Kudos to you, and I don't mean the candy bar! 😄
You're a good man. Thanks for helping a guy out. The world needs more people like you. Cant wait for the next video! Cheers! =)
Wassup
Hello mr O the only problem I seen was that you would weld with the bare hand and had the gloved hand on the safe side ..🤣
nice guys finish last
Nice job. Nothing like being a cold iron black smith. Working on a PR JUNKER!
Nice job. Nothing like being a cold iron black smith. Working on a PR JUNKER!
That's why i went out and got myself a good welder. Just so i can patch the exhaust without having to replace the whole system. The shop i used to work would get mad that I would do the same thing you did and not make the customer pay for a whole exhaust system. I knew some of the customers that we're on a low budget and did it cheap for them
Churnin' them out, Putting 20th Century Fox to shame🎬 🎥 🍿
Good repair Eric O. Criminals stole the catalytic converter from my commuter car. The quote to replace it was more than the car is worth. No inspections here so I straight piped it. Ck Eng light is on now because they also made off with the after O2 sensor. A piece of electrical tape over the light keeps it from bugging me.
Should have expanded the new pipe
I don't judge anyone for doing work on a vehicle as long as it's not going to put anyone in harm's way. I've done enough shade tree repairs that a real auto shop would've suggested parts be replaced. Hell, I did this very similar thing (except I used a clamp sleeve, couldn't weld to save my life) to repair a busted exhaust pipe.
I click LIKE even before I watch every video because I know they're gonna be good.
Your right give the customer what he or she wants they might be hurting to pay other bills it makes a customer happy that's very important.
You are a good dud sir. I do my work out of my lounge to help people not to get rich. And I like a good challenge. California prevents people to open a small shop.
you whistled i thought we going to see Mrs. O
whenever i fix stuff i always tell the wife "it's only temporary, unless it works"
You did the right thing. Keep doing right by your customers.