Insanity? Mechanic Drops Tranny for Exhaust Work?
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Insanity? Mechanic Drops Tranny for Exhaust Work?
This sounds INSANE. My exhaust has a leak. The leak is just before the exhaust intake on the Turbo. From the look of it, the pipe in question is secured by a bracket on the top, and by 3 or 4 bolts lower on the exhaust.
To me it looked like a no brainer. Release the clamps, unbolt the bottom, and weld or replace the leaking part. I'm no mechanic, so I want a professional to do the work.
I take it to a shop that claims to work on Diesel Trucks here in San Diego. I get a phone call from the mechanic saying that he had to lower the transmission to work on the exhaust, and in the process the master cylinder is shot on the clutch - and by the way, it's $300 to fix it all.
I've never heard of this - but the guy claims he called the dealer and they said that this was the proper way to fix the exhaust, and they charge $700 for the repair.
So - am I being fed a load of poop, or is this on the level. I've not searched the forums (yet), but this just sounds insane.
Thanks for any comments.
To me it looked like a no brainer. Release the clamps, unbolt the bottom, and weld or replace the leaking part. I'm no mechanic, so I want a professional to do the work.
I take it to a shop that claims to work on Diesel Trucks here in San Diego. I get a phone call from the mechanic saying that he had to lower the transmission to work on the exhaust, and in the process the master cylinder is shot on the clutch - and by the way, it's $300 to fix it all.
I've never heard of this - but the guy claims he called the dealer and they said that this was the proper way to fix the exhaust, and they charge $700 for the repair.
So - am I being fed a load of poop, or is this on the level. I've not searched the forums (yet), but this just sounds insane.
Thanks for any comments.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: whitney
yeah thats crazy, btw are you talking about the downpipe. It's what it kind of sounds
like. On my 99 it dont look like you would have to drop the tranny, just to pull the
downpipe, it's a tight sqeeze. But not to the point of all that. What year is it? And
unless it's hard to change gears b/c a failing clutch master cylinder I doubt it needs
attention, unless its leaking, is it?
like. On my 99 it dont look like you would have to drop the tranny, just to pull the
downpipe, it's a tight sqeeze. But not to the point of all that. What year is it? And
unless it's hard to change gears b/c a failing clutch master cylinder I doubt it needs
attention, unless its leaking, is it?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,427
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From: Templeton, Massachussetts
i would trust him,$300 to fix a leak is nothing exspecially to pull the trans down.
most likely it is one of the tubes from the exh manifolds that goes to the bottom of the turbo.
very tight in there, and it is most likely rusty and will be using a torch to heat stuff up to get it apart.
hell i am a mechanic and i would pay a guy 300 to fix it on my truck. easier than pulling the tubo to get access to those 2 little pipes.
all rusty i bet.
most likely it is one of the tubes from the exh manifolds that goes to the bottom of the turbo.
very tight in there, and it is most likely rusty and will be using a torch to heat stuff up to get it apart.
hell i am a mechanic and i would pay a guy 300 to fix it on my truck. easier than pulling the tubo to get access to those 2 little pipes.
all rusty i bet.
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Thanks Guys....it's a 1996. As you look at the engine from the front, the turbo is on the right side of the engine. The pipe is on the left side of the turbo, it goes left for a few inches, attaches to a bracket, and then heads straight down - where it connects to the exhaust manifold.
Sounds like it is ok - it just seemed so strange to go in for an exhaust problem, and walk out with a new master cylinder. Yes, the transmission has had problems, it crunched like crazy before my "other" mechanic did some adjustments to the clutch - since then it has worked like a champ.
Thanks for the tips. Sounds like $300 is fair. (It includes the master cylinder and installation).
Sounds like it is ok - it just seemed so strange to go in for an exhaust problem, and walk out with a new master cylinder. Yes, the transmission has had problems, it crunched like crazy before my "other" mechanic did some adjustments to the clutch - since then it has worked like a champ.
Thanks for the tips. Sounds like $300 is fair. (It includes the master cylinder and installation).
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: West Haven, UT
The reason the tranny had to be dropped is because thats the only way to get the stock downpipe out of the truck short of cutting it in two. This is the main reason almost all aftermarket downpipes are 2-piece.
Mike
Mike
Fleet Mechanic
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From: CentralEastern Utah
I think he is talking about the up-pipes to the turbo. Its is very possibe to have to lower the tranny to fix these leaks. Although I have heard of people doing with out lowering it would be a tight tough job. With the work on the clutch, I'd say its a fair price.
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: West Haven, UT
Originally Posted by ltfox
I think he is talking about the up-pipes to the turbo. Its is very possibe to have to lower the tranny to fix these leaks. Although I have heard of people doing with out lowering it would be a tight tough job. With the work on the clutch, I'd say its a fair price.
Mike
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From: SHELTON, WA
and my second thought is unless you got a crack in your plastic housing or the orings on the piston are leaking. it could be an easy fix by replacing a possible leaking oring where the line and slave meet. also for my truck a new slave is 145. so i think you are getting a deal for one of those and some exhaust work and pulling the tranny.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Templeton, Massachussetts
Originally Posted by 1997F-350
and my second thought is unless you got a crack in your plastic housing or the orings on the piston are leaking. it could be an easy fix by replacing a possible leaking oring where the line and slave meet. also for my truck a new slave is 145. so i think you are getting a deal for one of those and some exhaust work and pulling the tranny.
me too. good deal. sometimes the quick connects will not come apart and you must replace the line...which is usually part of the master on the plastic ones.
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