Exhaust Problem

Found a small exhaust problem that's making a rattle sound on my 2005 aveo LT hatchback. There is an exhaust pipe that connects the bottom of the catalytic converter to a funny pipe that appears to be made of woven wire about 8 inches long (I'm guessing it's to handle vibration in the exhaust system). Around this exhaust pipe is a loose metal washer (or collar) that no longer connects to anything. It's rattle is minor now, but I wonder if this small problem will get bigger and I'll end up buying a new section of exhaust system. Any ideas what the collar is supposed to do, and what I can do? Picture should be attached to give you a better idea of what I'm talking about.

Looks like it may have been a cap for the Flex pipe (the woven wire pipe) It's to late for me to look under my car to be certain what it was though. If it's not important I'd just cut it off and forget about it.

That's my problem...I don't know if it's important or not ! lol !

Is the Flex Pipe supposed to have a heat shield around it ?

that piece just makes the flex pretty. cut it off, if your not leaking, dont worry about it.

Thats what i was thinking, thank rabbit.

Yeah, this is a fairly common issue we've talked about before. I had it with my Aveo. I just chopped it off as rabbit says.

Hey Daox! While browsing around the forum I checked out your "garage" and saw the pic of your new "underdrive pulley". You had the same problem as mine. Now I'm not so worried ! LOL !

mine did the same thing when it was still under warranty got it fixed happened a couple years later, cut it off no problems since.