camry got stuck on a pole

[hottmamita]

hi,
while i was at a parking spot i didnt notice that there was the remains of a pole coming up from the ground and i drove over it and it made a loud crack. after the loud crack, the car suddenly sounded really loud. I finally got some help getting off the pole but i think i put a hole in something down there. Im gonna talk to my mechanic tomorrow but right now i was hoping for some insight cause i heard it could also be my catalytic converter. The car sounds like a motorcycle now when i drive it and it lost a lot of its power due to this so if anyone has any suggestions as to what it sounds like it could be please i would appreciate hearing about it. I have to make a long drive tomorrow and i dont know if i should still do it or take it right to a mechanic. Its a 93 camry le 4 cylinder.
So im between the exhaust system, the muffler, or the catalytic converter.
Thanks

[amerikim]

They are all connected. Could be more than one problem. Sorry.

[Brian R.]

Get it fixed ASAP - could be letting exhaust gas into your passenger compartment.

[hottmamita]

ok so I took the car to my mechanic and it seems that I put a hole in my exhaust system and its going to cost me about 200 with tax and everything. Does that sound reasonable? Would it be cheaper if I got the part somewhere else and brought it to the mechanic? Also, does it sound reasonable that I look into holding the owner of the property liable for the damage to my car since it was their lot and that piece of metal had no reason for not being removed? Just wondering.
Thanks for the insight

[Mike Gerber]

It's hard to know if $200 is reasonable unless we know what part(s) of the exhaust system need replacing.

As far as bringing your own parts to the mechanic, most won't do it. They have to be the one to guaranty the part and it's installation if something goes wrong and the job has to be done over. What if the part you brought them turns out to be defective; who pays the labor for the job to be done over again? It's kind of a stickly situation which most techs would rather avoid. In addition, they do make a certain amount of money on the parts too.

As far as contacting the owner of property, I would give it a try. You have nothing to lose. If it's a retail location, they might just send you directly to their insurance company. I would do this right away, rather than waiting. If you are going to do this, I would also suggest going back to that location and take a couple of pictures of the piece of metal. You could contact them and they could remove it and then you have no proof.

Good luck.

Mike

[Brian R.]

Hard to get anything done now for $200. Probably not a rip off.

[hottmamita]

I went to take pics of the pole and it appears that someone took a hammer or something and flattened it down some, I took pics anyways and I have pics of the before and after from the mechanic so I think im still gonna look into it. As far as the work, My husband found a mechanic who was willing to the work for less than 140 which is real good for my pocket except it turned into a we didnt get the part today so tomorrow deal so i went back to my mechanic and payed 196. I figured you get what you pay for and Im not a patient person and I dont like to be jerked around so at least now the work is guaranteed, it wouldnt have been from the other guy it would have been a side job so i dont regret it. I think the price was reasonable.
Thanks to all for the info especially Mike about taking the pics.

[Mike Gerber]

hottmamita,

You're welcome.

Mike