Dodgey exhaust jobs

plohl · Postby **plohl** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 10:44 pm

You should be able to hit up a small claims court and/or the epa - push hard enough and they'll play ball. Pretty sure they could loose a lot more then $10k if you reported it.

I recently some exhaust work done and it isnt the best - but that said, they did everything i asked for. Probably have to get a hole new system soon.

Hjt · Postby **Hjt** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 12:35 am

Had a similar issue recently with my smash repairer. Shove it up their proverbial arse. I'm so sick of people not doing a good job.

Mr nanotech · Postby **Mr nanotech** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 9:09 am

This is the second time this has happened to me. The first was when I was new to the car modding scene and mx5's, I didn't know a whole lot and went to a local joint. asked for a 2.25" mandrel bent system with a free flowing muffler and resonated mipipe flanged to an axle back so it could be taken off. Instead I got a one piece press bent welded job with a cheap muffler, really bad bends, no resonator and as an added bonus, gutted my cat! I sat and took it though... Ever since then I said I'd never get dicked around and now it's happened again and I'm really shitty about it.
I'm not going to let this slide, hence coming here for some advice. I'll give an update when I go in on Monday. Just annoys me that they are denying any responsibility and trying to make it my fault.

mitch_f1 · Postby **mitch_f1** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 11:27 am

Yeh it sucks, but what I would do is tell them to either fix it free of charge (always the risk they are going to shitty job it up in spite) or you will report them to the EPA (who will fine them a decent amount of money). Or you could just report them anyway, cause those kinds of sh*t heads shouldn't be trading.

RJ45 · Postby **RJ45** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 12:52 pm

Sounds a bit scary, especially when you consider the possibility of those massive EPA fines.
Years back some neighbours reported me to the EPA for a car that leaked a fair bit, friends nicknamed it the exxon-valdez.
But I was up and gone so early, then home so late they never did catch up with me before the timing chain snapped and it was no more.

I don't know how reasonable the EPA are, so I suggest being very polite (not soft) in how you approach things with the shop.
Because, you are the one driving a vehicle in an illegal status, emissions-wise, so the EPA could/prob-would hit you with a massive fine.
You say they made an unauthorised change, but I doubt they will admit as much to get you out of trouble.

Hopefully it was the "apprentice" who did the wrong thing and the shop manager is reasonable.
Def interested to know how it works out.

mxfive95 · Postby **mxfive95** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 12:59 am

Definately follow it up mate! I'd be getting a solisitors letter to them claiming damages to you headers aswell (they cut the flange off that too right?). Get some rediculous quotes from other exhaust shops to rectify it! are they a member of any institution? like VACC?

Also get your mate to write a something at the cop shop stating he was a wittness as it will help.

Good luck.

Apu · Postby **Apu** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 7:55 am

And after all that if you still need to pay for it to get fixed, go somewhere else.

rxmx · Postby **rxmx** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 10:28 pm

I feel your pain mate. I went through the same drama when I was going through my build process about a year ago. I got shafted by 2 so called reputable exhaust places. After talking to the first place, we agreed on a full stainless exhaust and intercooler piping. Take a look at what I got (pics below). My cooler piping was the same sh*t. His excuse was I had to leave the shop and my apprentice did it. After arguing with the guy for about a week, I got some of my cash back and I launched what was left of the exhaust at the guy. 2nd place I went to said, yah mate all good, agreed on a price, when time came to pick up car bill almost doubled. All in all I paid about 1k more than what it should have cost as i had to tow the car here and there for all the work. The following week I went and bought a tig welder, havent looked back since. It was a case of something bad turning into a positive because I love to weld now and I have no need to take my car to another dog.

Take a look at this, they put the hanger on the wrong place so they just bashed in on and welded it in place,

rxmx,

Postby **NitroDann** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 10:34 pm

Im with you mate.

Good exhaust work isnt particularly hard. Especially stainless, its just SOOO easy to put nice beads down on stainless it isnt funny, when you have the proper equipment and a little skill.

There are a few people on the forum who can and will build you an exhaust system. Their work is proven and regular forum users like you and me can and will vouch for them.

Dann

pcmx5 · Postby **pcmx5** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 4:01 pm

Josh,
i have already had a couple of people alert me to your post as they have assumed that as you were so happy with T&C's work that you took the car back to them and it is them who have stuffed you around.I understand that isn't the case and also understand you might not want to name the shop you went to but can you confirm it isn't T&C?

By the way they have shifted the otherside of the pub in Fyans street and now have a flat driveway so no more clearance problems!!!!

Hope you get this sorted ok,

Peter.

Mr nanotech · Postby **Mr nanotech** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 6:24 pm

Wasn't TnC

Mr nanotech · Postby **Mr nanotech** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:08 pm

Stuff keeps coming up on the days I'm supposed to go in... Going in tomorrow morning. It's hard to organise since I need another car to cart the old cat back home as well as take mine in to get rectified. Most of my mates either live in Melb now or work during the day so it's not easy to organise a second car.
Dad is free tomorrow so I'm aiming to get there around 9am (opening hour) and push them until they make my car right.
If I found out they threw out my old exhaust though, I'm going to lose it.
Minimum that's a good $700 worth of merch.
$300 TnC axle back
$150 resonated midpipe
$250 MINIMUM high flow steel cat.

I talked to my mate who came in with me as well and he's agreed to sign a witness report at the police station if things do hit the fan. Should be ok but I want to prepare for the worst since I get the eerie feeling things aren't going to be smooth tomorrow.

Postby **NitroDann** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:16 pm

3" magnaflow high flows only cost 150.

Dann

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:27 pm

Retail at local shops seem to be nearer to Josh's price.

If they've thrown out parts don't give them the cheapest price, just give them the easiest.
Which would be for them to pay another shop to do it at full price.

Mr nanotech · Postby **Mr nanotech** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:02 pm

NitroDann wrote:3" magnaflow high flows only cost 150.

Dann

Sorry shoulda mentioned my prices were based on exhaust shops not buying parts individually.

But in response to Nik: I'll call around if they throw it out and get quotes for a 2.25" cat back system with a 12" resonator, exforce muffler, polished tip, fully flanged midpipe to axle back and midpipe to cat, with flanged either side steel cat 2.5".
See what kinda quotes I get. Then use that against this place.