Technical Fiat 500 (2012) Exhaust Flexi Pipe hole

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Technical Fiat 500 (2012) Exhaust Flexi Pipe hole

cprobertson1

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The Missus just had her car in for an MOT and have an advisory for a hole in the flexi-pipe on the exhaust - but it otherwise passed great!

Now, I see I can get a new flexi-section for remarkably cheaply - BUT I haven't had a look at the car yet to determine the feasibility of fixing it myself.

So - I have some questions:
  1. How feasible is it to do myself?
  2. If feasible; how are they typically fitted onto the pipe section?
  3. If welded, I take it I'll need to get all up in there with an angle grinder to remove the old one?
  4. How is the new one fitted - does it have to be welded in? (surprisingly, getting it welded isn't actually a problem - I'm friends with six coded welders after all!


Ps - I don't know where the hole is or how big it is - only info I have is "Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gasses Front (flexi section) [6.1.2(a)]" - it might be fixable with a GUM repair kit ::shrugs:: - until I take a good look at it myself I'll be in the dark!

Pps - I couldn't find much on the forums here about flex pipes - am I missing something or is my search-fu just not as good as I thought it was? :p
 
I've fitted several flexi pipes in my time but not on a 500. Make sure the car is safe to work under as there will be a bit of faffing about. Cut offending flexi out, fit new flexi with exhaust clamps, I would also use exhaust paste. Easy enough job, make sure you measure new flexi & allow plenty length when cutting old one out. If you're any good with the spanners once you get under the car all will become clear.
 
You know what,,, why not just replace the whole thing new? yes more expensive, but in the long run less hassle ?

£81 complete new system
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Exhaust-...chback&hash=item33d4828565:g:T3QAAOSwZA1ZjGBZ

I must have had an epic-fail when I was having a search; every exhaust I was finding was £400+! Maybe I had been including the catalytics in there as well...? ::shrugs:: - my search-fu has failed me!


Replacing it sounds like it may be an idea - a bit more work and more moneys, but as you said, a lot less hassle in the long run!

I'm just trying to picture how I'd go about doing this - I only have 2x jackstands at the moment... which might suffice, but it might leave me a bit limited for space.

Erm... can you safely lift a car on 4x jackstands or not? I'm seeing conflicting advice on the internet (in retrospect, it's the internet - I should have known it'd be like that!).

I'm seeing opinions ranging from "it's perfectly safe - safer than using 2x stands!" to "it will kill you if you sneeze..." and my personal favourite: "just get halfords to do it":bang:

Thanks internet - you never cease to amuse :LOL:
 
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I've fitted several flexi pipes in my time but not on a 500. Make sure the car is safe to work under as there will be a bit of faffing about. Cut offending flexi out, fit new flexi with exhaust clamps, I would also use exhaust paste. Easy enough job, make sure you measure new flexi & allow plenty length when cutting old one out. If you're any good with the spanners once you get under the car all will become clear.

Oops! Sorry, missed your post!

Definitely needs cut out? Interesting... I do take every chance I can get to use my angle-grinder!

I have a hydraulic trolley-jack, 2x jack stands and 2x wheel-chocks and a creeper, so I can get under one side of it easily enough

As I mentioned in my previous post, I'm considering replacing the whole thing - as I haven't had a chance to actually inspect the exhaust yet I'll wait and see how it's looking, first - if everything is looking good I'll probably just do the flexi-pipe; if it's looking worse for wear then I'll replace the whole lot. (y)
 
You e not mentioned the age of the 500.

Our pand has covered 97k in its 15.5 years on the road.

5 cheap rear boxes.. from a period of short..occasional drives.

But the rest is all original.

If yours is 5 years old.. do the flexi.

Over 10 years.. change the lot..

The rubber hangers are crucial.. so change them too

Charlie
 
You e not mentioned the age of the 500.

Our pand has covered 97k in its 15.5 years on the road.

5 cheap rear boxes.. from a period of short..occasional drives.

But the rest is all original.

If yours is 5 years old.. do the flexi.

Over 10 years.. change the lot..

The rubber hangers are crucial.. so change them too

Charlie

So, let's see - it's a 2012 model with....... 58'000ish miles on the clock
 
If you live on a quiet road park one side just on the kerb, the two axle stands the other front rear, this gives better clearance?

I don't think I could find anywhere quiet enough for that I'm afraid - my street is packed with cars and hers is busy - and, amusingly, my parents have no kerbs!

Maybe I could get the front or rear wheels up on a pair of ramps and put the other side up on stands? Actually, if I'm doing that, then maybe just 4x stands would do.

Its a pity I don't have access to a pit anywhere - I wonder if there is anything like that nearby that I could use...
 
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I don't think I could find anywhere quiet enough for that I'm afraid - my street is packed with cars and hers is busy - and, amusingly, my parents have no kerbs!

Maybe I could get the front or rear wheels up on a pair of ramps and put the other side up on stands? Actually, if I'm doing that, then maybe just 4x stands would do.

Its a pity I don't have access to a pit anywhere - I wonder if there is anything like that nearby that I could use...

Aye, this is a problem when you live in a congested area. Not too bad up here. I have a garage five minuets from the house but with no electricity. I can work outside the house, but it's opposite a primary school & you have mothers in cars doing all sort of things....:bang: so it's a weekend job outside my house if I need electricity. Not of any help to yourself. I remember back in the day there would be a handful of us spanner monkeys out working on our cars & help was at hand no matter what. A lot of problem solving went on.(y)
 
Eh up all,

For what it’s worth I just finished changing my daughters 500 1.2 tonight :slayer:

The xkdly thing failed at the flexi and fell apart.

I got the car in my garage jacked up on the underside with two trolley jacks and then propped with two axle stands again on the strongest point on the chassis.

I’m no lightweight and I managed to get more than enough height at the front and took an angle grinder to the front clap, then used an easing tool (y) and large mole grips and penetrating oil and managed to get the sleeve off without resorting to the grinder.

Chopped the rear section under the heat shield at the rear and the sections came off no problem.

You don’t need a massive amount of height underneath it’s a doable DIY

Got the exhaust from a local factors with a stainless rear exhaust tip at £130.00 and paste for £1.20.

Fitted tonight and it’s an easy job.

She got quoted over £270.00 from the usual halfauds etc , so good saving.

The back box was ok condition but there was no way I was fighting splitting that rear section off, best to get all new.

Hope this helps in your decision

Cheers
 
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I find that even if the exhaust is in sections, you still tend to need an angle grinder to separate the sections, since they inevitably rust together. If it's the back box coming off, I can sometimes extend the original slots (with a grinder) enough to be able to peel back or cut off the expanded section that slots over the mid-section. If the mid-section is knacked then it's easier to remove it all and salvage the back box off the car.

The flexy section usually can't be repaired.. it's a concertina'd sectionundeneath a braided steel sheath to protect it. You'd have to remove the braided steel, somehow make a flexible repair on the concertina section where it's coming away/rotting and then run without the braided steel (since it disintegrates when you pull it apart).

Flexi' usually bolts to the cat' so you should be able to unbolt it, remove the whole thing and then separate the silencer from the flexi and mid section whilst off the car, especially if the flexi is welded to the mid section.

If you have a huge jack, you can lift the car high enough to put it on two stands (front and back) so that you can get good access. There's nothing wrong with 4 axle stands if you want to get the whole car in the air... and if the wheels are still attached, you won't die if it falls off one or two of the stands. You'll be in hospital for a few months... but not dead. :D

Ralf S.
 
If you have a huge jack, you can lift the car high enough to put it on two stands (front and back) so that you can get good access. There's nothing wrong with 4 axle stands if you want to get the whole car in the air... and if the wheels are still attached, you won't die if it falls off one or two of the stands. You'll be in hospital for a few months... but not dead. :D

Ralf S.

::Nods approvingly::

I do enjoy being not-dead!

I'll need to jack it up and take a look to see where this hole is and grab some measurements - so I'll see what sort of clearance I have at that point and whether I should fork out for an extra pair of stands (or a pair of ramps to use in conjunction with the stands, or on their own when I want to be lazy).
 
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