Dodgey exhaust jobs

[Apu]

I've got to do a plug for Mania here - I got my exhaust from them, and yes, a lot of people say they are expensive, etc etc. but what I have is a great bit of kit, love the sound, the welds are really really nice.

Sounds like a nag, but a lot of the time you get what you pay for.

My only complaint is there's a bit of buzzing in the muffler - a baffle has probably worked itself loose.

And before anyone starts going on about China made crap, I've had that happen in my brand-name-made-in-Germany exhausts as well.

[Mr nanotech]

Ok another update. In short, I'm F***ING PISSED OFF And no it's not fixed.... FFS what is wrong with people.

So I decided the hell with it, I'm taking it into a reputable and good shop in Geelong that has a great name here among the forum. I explained in graphic detail my dilemma, what needed to be done and apprehensiveness about exhaust jobs after all I've been through with this job. The job that should have been a quick fix.
After a while of talking I left it with him and made it bone clear that if anything were to go awry, CALL before doing ANYTHING.

Ok so the good news first. I got the call.

The bad news.... The really bad news.....

So it turns out that the last shop did SUCH a massacre of this unit that it's beyond saving now. The proprieter of the good place I'd dropped my car to today told me that my mx5 was currently still on the hoist and to come and have a look. So... I did.
Oh my god... Oh my F***ING God..... Having a look under the car myself with a jack is not the same as face to face on a hoist (captain obvious). But holy crap... I do not think I have seen welding this bad before. but it takes the cake. I'm pretty sure someone with palsy could have done a far better job than this.
For starters, every single weld has leaked. And yes, there are many leaks per weld. If you are wondering what I mean when I say 'every'; there are multiple points the exhaust has been cut up to put the cat back in and 'repair' the damage that had already done. The welds actually look like someone has super glued steel popcorn around the joins... And one join looks like they didn't even grind the pipes back first. They've cut along an already shocking weld and then welded over the bad welds at the end of either pipe to join them, creating this horrible looking thorny plant like 'weld' which has leaked heaps.
My awesome rare imported exhaust is now a heap of scrap metal, so I'd like to shout out a big "F*CK YOU" to the shop I sent it to the first time.
So pretty much all the piping has to be cut away now and redone from scratch just keeping the muffler and resonator sections as well as my cat.
All the piping.... How the hell do you ruin a job this bad?

I'll try to get pics up but right now I feel like crying, this is just bullshit. I'm on the virge of driving to the original shop and breaking some people's faces.
The real plan though, is to go back there and show them their shocking handiwork and FORCING them to fix it properly. One look at this system and you cannot deny it was welded by a retard.

So thanks to them, I'm still stuck with a broken setup. The new shop was fantastic but to do what they need to do to fix it, it's going to take a whole day. Even the hanger positions are messed up so it doesn't sit right. So yeah, it's a massive job.
Since it's basically worth nothing again, I'm looking at modding the exhaust significantly and changing it into something a little different now. But I'll see how I go with the old shop.

I'm trying to be professional and not name any names here, so I'm sorry if people get lost reading "this shop" vs 'that shop'.

I'm just really disappointed

EDIT- PICS UP


^^ retard spec hanger.... Welded onto the bottom of the pipe and scrapes the road.

Crappy phone pics I know but it shows what I mean. Looks waaaay worst in real life.

[Old Dude]

I can understand how angry you are......that exhaust would make a great Suppository for the owner of the original shop, Get as much documented/ picture info you can, get a quote from the good place and take them to the small claims court and get the bastards to pay for your new exhaust.
good luck with it

Cheers
Dale

[Mr nanotech]

That's a good idea but is it a long process to go through? I just want this over and done with and it's doing my head in. They destroyed something good so now I'm really cut up.

[deviant]

www.accc.gov.au

Call them.

I called them once when I needed some advice on demanding a refund on some work on a car I had and they were very helpful. They gave me enough information that I was able to draft a letter that got me what I wanted. Their advice is free.

They can probably advise what to do if the business does not play ball. They can also investigate said business and might be waiting for another complaint.

www.vcat.vic.gov.au for small claims. Something like $40 or $50 to lodge a claim. Obviously there will be other fees involved.

Personally I would happily spend as much as the exhaust costs to replace just on principle. Businesses like this keep operating because nobody ever complains or makes a noise. They belittle people in to backing down and accepting their shoddy service or going elsewhere and spending more money fixing their crap.

I think that you have to give the original business fair chance to fix the mistakes before going any further with a claim but ACCC could probably tell you more on that.

[username]

I can be a witness if this goes to court.

(fyi, i was with him when we took it in to get the st mays fitted. we both specially said 'it needs a flange on the end of the midpipe')

[hks_kansei]

I think that you have to give the original business fair chance to fix the mistakes before going any further with a claim but ACCC could probably tell you more on that.

He already has.

Took it there first and said "I want A and B done"
They did a bad job, but also didn't do what was asked, they did C
He took it back and said "I didn't ask for this? what is this!?" They said they had fixed it and did what was wanted.
Turns out the repair was worse than the original job.

[pcmx5]

Josh,really feel for you.Sometimes there can be confusion about what the customer wants that leads to disputes but this is just terrible workmanship and makes you wonder if they are capable of repairing it!!

Basic consumer law is that a good or service must be fit for purpose and a leaking exhaust of that quality certainly doesn't fit that description.

Hope you have success with your action and at some time feel able to name these fools as we wouldn't want any forumites getting this " quality".

Peter.

[wozzah1975]

That is one of the worst jobs I've seen in a while, even from that joint. I'd be F%&king pissed as well.

Hope you get it sorted bud,

Cheers
Woz

[wiztek]

That looks shocking.
Hope it works out for you mate.

[Mr Morlock]

If you have a prob then you need to take action as a consumer. 774 in Melb often touch on these matters and you can ring for advice - Tuesdays I think - listen for the Perry Mason theme- the small claims tribunal now has a different name. No point in anyone cursing about it- we at least have consumer rights and Govts that have put these things in place.

[Jace]

not naming names is probably good for your case against them too.
blows that the exhaust is now ruined seeing as how it was a rare and unique part!

forgive me for being 10-70 years younger than you but who or what is perry mason?!

[Kikuchi]

That really is poor work. I think a monkey could have done better.

ACCC will probably be the best bet, although it might take a while. What you can do is call them up for the advice, go back to the store and tell them the advice you'd just learned. If they don't play ball pursue it with ACCC, they can launch an investigation, and in the end the business will be on their knees.

When i had my exhaust done on my previous car, there was a problem with their job, went back to get it fixed. It was fixed, but then find there was used chewing gum stuck on my protein shaker. Petty creatures.

[RJ45]

I'm getting angry just reading about this!

You'd think that after one stuff up you'd chain the retard out back while the A-team get the job done right, to avoid a 3rd visit.
I know you're anxious to just get it sorted so you can just drive, but do you really trust them to not stuff up, again?

I'd be inclined to just pay another hopefully good place to fix it properly, then make claim via SCT for the cost.
Get some proper advice first, but I guess if you take high res pics before getting it fixed & possibly save some of the really bad parts for show'n'tell a claim might be easy.

forgive me for being 10-70 years younger than you but who or what is perry mason?!

TV series about a Lawyer in 50's/60's, possibly the first such show.

[NitroDann]

Isnt it a T & C exhaust? Can you not have TnC build a replacement?

I honestly dont think the authorities will care much for an exhaust, I think personal negotiation will be easier.

Good luck with it.

Dann