My 2011 Ford Escape XLT with a 2.5L I4 Engine 6 speed automatic transmission has an exhaust problem. It looks like the muffler broke and is hanging down. I moved from Illinois to Arizona 3 weeks ago. Before I left I had the car looked at by a mechanic because the exhaust was rattling a little when the engine idled while in drive. I was told they would need to replace the whole exhaust system to fix it. I took a gamble and went ahead with the move. Today while driving it came loose and I am in full panic mode as my savings are near to nothing after the move and I am delivering food to make money.
Any advice would be appreciated. I have hand tools that I brought with me and am prepared to ask neighbors for help if I need a reciprocating saw or it needs welding. Not sure if I can possibly repair this myself. Online seems to suggest using tape or putty or a short pipe. I am watching videos like crazy. I have 800 bucks to my name but need to pay rent. Looking for day labor with in walking distance. Pretty desperate. If I can't repair this myself, what might a mechanic in the Phoenix or Mesa area charge?
Well, you need a muffler obviously. The metal where the pipe broke off it may be too thin to weld. Fortunately it looks like your catalytic converter is OK. Possibly you can temporarily install a length of pipe in place of the muffler but that may make the exhaust loud enough to attract the attention of the local constables. It looks like there's some kind of muffler or resonator behind the broken muffler so it might not be too bad. (I eliminated the center muffler on my car years ago and you can't even tell.)
Or, you could try shoving a coupler of slightly smaller diameter between the muffler and pipe and welding it into place. That might hold for a while if the muffler is strong enough.
This diagram of your exhaust system is from rockauto.com. They sell a replacement muffler for about $100:
