Well, I appear to have an exhaust leak...

"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
09/05/2020 at 11:07 • Filed to: Exhaust, Hyundai Accent

I’ve noticed it for a few weeks now and guessed it was the front flexpipe because the ‘webbing’ around that has slowly been disintegrating, but I took a look under Humdrum today and...

Huh....that’s not supposed to happen. It looks like the rear exhaust hanger has rusted and detached from the pipe, or possibly was a bit rust and got knocked by a rock or something I drove over that ripped it off because it was no longer very st rong, I have no idea....it’s this hange r, at any rate:

From what I can tell, the leak is from somewhere around here:

My guess is that, with no hanger at the back the weight of the exhaust pulling down is pulling the clamp apart at that muffler and causing the leak....I’ll have to book it in to get that hanger re-welded or replaced in the next week...

DISCUSSION (17)

InFierority Complex > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
09/05/2020 at 11:39

If you go to open headers there’s no exhaust pipes to leak.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > InFierority Complex
09/05/2020 at 11:58

True, but I don’t think the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation would pass my next Safety Inspection then :P

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
09/05/2020 at 12:03

I’m glad you are so on top of repairing rust damage. It isn’t something I am really familiar with as even ultra rust prone vehicles like 2000s Tundras won’t rust over here. Exhaust pipes and hangers last a good bit longer than the running gear for most cars. I did notice the bottom of Humdrum is remarkably free of any visible rust from that angle.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
09/05/2020 at 12:22

Thanks! :) I try to keep Humdrum in decent shape!

Yeah, anything up here will rust quickly if you’re not on top of it....I have to thank Hyundai for, I think, doing pretty well on treating the metal on these cars....I also get it undercoated EVERY year to try and keep her going and touch up any small spots I see when they pop up. Bodywork here is really expensive, but I love my little car and want to keep it going! :)

Going to try and book an appointment next week maybe....I’m hoping it’s just a matter of re-welding that hanger and tightening the exhaust clamp again...the pipe looks rusty, but it’s mostly surface rust, I think!

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
09/05/2020 at 12:27

Yeah but it is almost always more cost effective to keep an old car on the road as long as possible. If people would be as good to their cars as you are they would last much longer and save people lots of money. It simply doesn’t pay off to miss oil changes and leave damage unfixed if you are able to get it rectified.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
09/05/2020 at 12:37

Yup, that’s the way I look at it! On the flip side, as ‘cutesy’ and stereotypical as it sounds, I know it’s ‘just a car’. so if it was ever in an accident or the like, it’s just a thing that can be replaced...but I tend to think of her more like a loyal dog, haha. Always there when you need it, never lets you down if you take care of it :)

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
09/05/2020 at 12:49

There is definitely something to be said for an extremely reliable car that is enjoyable to drive and offers enormous peace of mind while simultaneously being cheap enough to replace you never worry too much it. My Cruze is just such a car but I will be selling it to my parents because I’d like to get into something a little more fun while I don’t need any sort of practicality. Since my college has very expensive parking I’ve left it at home and it is used for some errands every once in a while to keep it getting driven.

onlytwowheels > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
09/05/2020 at 14:00

Last year my 1997 F150 developed a bit of a rattle from the exhaust. In my mind, I was thinking the muffler internals were going south on me, it is the OEM factory exhaust after all. Several weeks go by before I investigate, because winter in Maine will do that sort of thing. Turns out nothing is wrong with the exhaust itself, but all of the factory clamps have rotted. The bridges on the U-bolt clamps were all but gone, one to the point that it allowed the U-bolt to move about on the pipe. A quick trip to NAPA, and for less than $10 all clamps were replaced.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > onlytwowheels
09/05/2020 at 15:08

Lucky! I think a lot of the clamps / hangers on Humdrum are welded to the wipe...pretty sure this wrecked one is, so the garage will have to see if they can put it back...

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
09/05/2020 at 22:11

I don’t blame you! I could get something less practical, but I’m at the age where I should have something at least a bit practical, and a 2-door hatch (so far) still fits that bi ll!

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
09/05/2020 at 22:21

Basically I’m afraid that I’m going to want a small impractical car too late. It’s always been a dream of mine to own a Mini (not necessarily a MINI but they’re good too) but then again, Miata is always the answers. And there are some other tempting cars that are within my price range. It’s really hard to find them but I’ve seen V6 6MT Accord Coupes with some life left in them for like 6k (obviously not this year). And it is all complicated by the fact that I simply do not want a silver car.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
09/06/2020 at 07:46

I don’t think it would be too hard to find a classic Mini, to be honest...I imagine there are plenty for sale in the UK and you could find a decent one. I would think there might even be an Oppo somewhere in the UK who could be willing to help if you ever legitimately wanted to import one!

I know a few of us have classic Minis, but I think at least one of us did the import to to North America themselves rather than buying it already here? They could help out as well!

Could always get something even more obscure/basic/slow like Jonee’s Citroen LNA which I really love :P

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/sunday-storytime-how-i-bought-an-old-citroen-in-france-1820153733

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
09/06/2020 at 15:21

I’ve read that post before but it still makes me smile. Such boundless love for what he admits as “probably the least interesting Citroen.” I haven’t seen Jonee around lately and he post quite seldom.

It’s tough though. Right now there are 11 manual transmission MINIs within 250 miles of me under 8k and almost all of them have the boat anchor engine. Most are an S but still.

And I found one (1) classic Mini for sale near me within a reasonable price range. It’s LHD but also has some more issues than I’d like at 10k.

https://knoxville.craigslist.org/cto/d/maryville-1973-mini-cooper-1300/7184103313.html

Though there are deals on cool classics out there. This nicely restored 1962 Corvair Monza 900 is only 6.5k and has been on th emarket long enough to leave some negotiating room.

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/d/marietta-1962-chevrolet-corvair-monza/7181079777.html

Kinja'd!!!

But do I think I could pull off something like this? I’m not convinced. There are just so few good used cars that are not listed for astronomical prices. At least I’m not exactly in a hurry to find something and my parents would like to have my car as a replacement for my mom’s unreliable and rapidly aging Volvo so I know I have a buyer.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
09/06/2020 at 18:39

I’m guessing you want something ‘nippy’? If you just wanted something interesting, I’d think an old Beetle would be a cool alternative...they can be hopped up with performance goodies if you want, but they’re also very simple, so they tend to be pretty reliable. Could throw an Electronic Ignition kit on one and it would be even moreso! :)

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
09/06/2020 at 18:50

I want something fun that I can keep on the road without much expense as all in I wouldn’t want to spend more than 8k on the car and any initial work it needs. Preferably less than that but the used car market is crazy right now. Right now my idea of “fun” seems to be a small light car with a manual as I want to try something new. All I’ve ever driven are rather slow and pedestrian cars with automatics.

I’m not sure I would want to go the classic route but I’m not opposed to it. I just don’t know the first thing about repairing a car as I pretty much have never done something more demanding than an oil change. I’m willing to learn though.

I’m also not sure about how much driving I would be doing, though I would probably be driving waaaaaay less interstate miles than I used to.

EDIT: As you can see, my local craigslist has been slim pickings with the used car market driving up prices.

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/search/nat/cto?sort=date&search_distance=25&postal=30063&min_price=5&max_price=8000&auto_transmission=1

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
09/06/2020 at 20:39

Yeah....slim pickings....any non-Abarth FIAT 500s about? Not the fastest thing in the world, but they’d be a nippy little daily driver, especially in 500 Sport form?

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
09/06/2020 at 20:41

They were out there before used car prices spiked, but few and far between with the manual. I found medium trim ones as low as 5k but it’s hard to get them in the good colors.