I’m hoping I didn’t get ripped off. We have a 2000 Nissan Pathfinder. In June we had to replace the “rear mubbler/tailpipe assembly” for around $200.00. I just brought the car in because we could hear the muffler banging around, you could see it was loose. When I picked the car up, we had a new muffler, tail pipe, 2 mid pipes, & 2 clamps for approximately $425.00. When I questioned the muffler work given it was repaired in June, I was told there are 2 mufflers on the pathfinder (he explained it as a front and back one) and it was so rusted out that he couldn’t weld it and it all had to be replaced. He offered to give me the parts, but we wouldn’t know anything. I won’t be getting my money back, but I was wondering if he was telling the truth, or was I totally ripped off? I know the fact I didn’t confirm a cost estimate was my fault (they he said they were ordering parts - not a whole new muffler!) I don’t like my local nissan dealer, anywise I would ask them. Thanks if you can help!
The age of the truck is about right for exhaust to rust. They typically last longer these days because of extensive use of stainless steel to get the exhaust past the 8 year federally mandated emissions warranty. But, if your in the snow belt, and the winters see a lot of salt on the roads, you’ll see a lot of this happening.
I’m not sure of your pathfinder, but a lot of cars and trucks use a pre-muffler, sometimes called a silencer, before the main muffler. My '88 Supra and my 2000 Ford Explorer both have these. It sounds like everything behind the catalytic converters had to be replaced.
JMHO, but it sounds a bit pricey. I managed to get an entire dual exhaust system with two separate mufflers from the catalytic converters to the rear bumper done for just over $200 on an '86 Ford Crown Vicky a few years back. But, it was not a stock system and used mild steel pipes. If they used factory-spec pipes and mufflers made of stainless steel, it may be closer to fair.
The age of the truck is about right for exhaust to rust. They typically last longer these days because of extensive use of stainless steel to get the exhaust past the 8 year federally mandated emissions warranty. But, if your in the snow belt, and the winters see a lot of salt on the roads, you’ll see a lot of this happening.
NO…They’ve been using stainless steel in the Pathfinder since 97. Stainless steel DOES rust. Mufflers don’t rust from the outside - in… They rust from the inside out. Where you live is no where near as important as how you drive. Short 5 minute drives is a great way to shorten the life of an exhaust system.
The Pathfinder DOES have 2 mufflers. But there really is no way a muffler can rust out in 6 months. Didn’t the muffler come with a warranty??
For future reference…stay away from that place.