2002
Hyundai
Accent
1.6L DOHC
Standard
73k

The check engine light has been on for some time now. We hooked it up to an Actron scanner and it came back with an Oxygen Sensor code.
We reset the codes and took it in for the inspection. They told us the front exhaust flex pipe had a small leak and that this could cause the code/MIL light to be on and want to charge us around $200 to replace this pipe.
So, our situation is that we have a 10-day extension and do NOT have $200 for this repair.
I'm semi-handy with cars, I've replaced thermostats and temperature sensors and lighter things like that. Is this a repair I could do myself?
And a better question...is this really the issue at hand or could it be something else? I'd be pissed if I replaced the flex pipe and the code was still there!
Thanks so much in advance!

 

Yes, that couuld be the problem but you may have a bad O2 as well. My mother-in-law's 2003 Accent has a CEL light for the O2 sensor. Since it was still under warranty I took it to the dealer. They replaced the sensor but also found a leaking flex pipe. Both were replaced under warranty.

Replacing the flex pipe isn't a hard job when the pipe is new but after 6 years of heating a cooling cycles and rust they can be a pain for someone without power tools and a lift.

 

Oh! Maybe mine is still covered under warranty, I am the original owner!
Going to go look at the warranty and see!

 

Nope, that warranty is only 2 years 24k miles, so we're well out of that.
ugh...looks like we're without a car for awhile.

 

2y/24m for what? The sensor? Where are you getting that info? It shoud be covered. The dealer replaced both the sensor and the flexpipe om my mother-in-law's car last year when it was 4.5 years old and had about 50K miles on it. And she was the second owner, not the original.

 

From the Warranty Information booklet that came with the car:
"Emissions - Federal": 2 years/24,000 miles
"Emissions - Federal - Selected Components": 8 years/80,000 miles
I turn to the page on the 8 year warranty and the selected components are:
Catalytic Converter
Engine Control Module
Onboard Emission Diagnostic Device

Does that clarify?

 

Call up a dealer and ask them. It should be covered. Like I said, my mother-in-law's was.