# Part name? Possible exhaust issue **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** avenger, dodge\ **Created:** [October 7, 2017, 5:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/part-name-possible-exhaust-issue/108422 "2017-10-07T17:43:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Xxdevildog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/xxdevildog/32/8974_2.png) [@Xxdevildog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Xxdevildog)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 5:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/part-name-possible-exhaust-issue/108422/1 "2017-10-07T17:43:56Z")
So my cars been running like crap lately. Sluggish when going up hills or accelerating. Not getting much hp. When accelerating sounds like air going through a hole. The other day while driving my car filled up with smoke (Exhaust ). Once I got home I looked under the hood and seen this. It’s right where the exhaust meets the engine. You can see the mesh is ripped. What is this part called and would it cause the problem with exceleration or is that another issue? Thanks 2010 dodge avenger ![20171007_130635](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/8/878cccd76ec3cf7f2c8ebc2a96ee229cf7437f9b.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/part-name-possible-exhaust-issue/108422/2 "2017-10-07T19:27:19Z")
The leak appears to be at a flexible joint ahead of the catalytic converter which is likely plugged up. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 8:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/part-name-possible-exhaust-issue/108422/3 "2017-10-07T20:13:24Z")
Usually referred to as a flex joint or flex pipe but sold as part of a larger assembly that includes the exhaust pipe before and after. Agree with Rod, clogged cat is where I’d start. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/part-name-possible-exhaust-issue/108422/4 "2017-10-07T20:18:28Z")
How old is your Dodge, and how many miles on it? ---
**Author:** ![Xxdevildog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/xxdevildog/32/8974_2.png) [@Xxdevildog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Xxdevildog)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 8:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/part-name-possible-exhaust-issue/108422/5 "2017-10-07T20:50:13Z")
2010 Dodge Avenger 127,000 miles ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 10:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/part-name-possible-exhaust-issue/108422/6 "2017-10-07T22:58:27Z")
The flex joint is actually part of the catalytic converter assembly on this vehicle Either install a direct fit cat yourself, or bring it to a good exhaust shop ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 1:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/part-name-possible-exhaust-issue/108422/7 "2017-10-08T13:30:28Z")
![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/2X/7/7e8125d09d561d2901f207c691e1be3e782ad474.jpeg) does not look like an easy job to only replace the flex joint At least you don’t have the 2.7 motor. You would be replacing the motor soon enough. ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 2:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/part-name-possible-exhaust-issue/108422/8 "2017-10-08T14:45:53Z")
> [@Cavell](#): > > At least you don’t have the 2.7 motor. You would be replacing the motor soon enough. What is your point? What does that mean? Please explain. _ **CSA** _ ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 3:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/part-name-possible-exhaust-issue/108422/9 "2017-10-08T15:49:47Z")
The OP did not say what motor they had. You might say having a V6 or a4cyl motor may affect the cost to replace an exhaust component. The poster asks, what is this? You can say, well it might be this. Depending on a few variables. It’s no secret the 2.7 is one of the worst engines dodge ever made. And that’s saying a lot. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 10:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/part-name-possible-exhaust-issue/108422/10 "2017-10-08T22:41:03Z")
That tube-like thing coming in at 90 angle looks like an o2 sensor. If that one is the pre-cat sensor, an air leak there could confuse the computer’s ability to measure the actual amount of o2 that comes out the engine and set the proper air fuel mixture ratio. That’s another thing that could be the cause of your poor engine performance.