Exhaust flex pipe leaking

Hello all,

some of you may have heard a little bit of my story before. I have an aveo LS 2008 115000miles.
Last year the flex pipe was loose after shop inspection so I had it replaced (cut and weld a new flex pipe).
I have an engine light since I had the repair performed: code P2096: Post Catalyst Fuel Trim System Too Lean Bank 1.

Today I went under the car to take a look at the flex pipe and upload some pictures for you guys to help me:
front weld:Image - TinyPic - Free Image Hosting, Photo Sharing & Video Hosting
Image - TinyPic - Free Image Hosting, Photo Sharing & Video Hosting
what you see on the second picture is not really a crack, it's a "bulk" of material.
Back weld:
Image - TinyPic - Free Image Hosting, Photo Sharing & Video Hosting

I then moved my car on a sidewalk to get more space to try to get better pictures.
front weld:
Image - TinyPic - Free Image Hosting, Photo Sharing & Video Hosting
back weld:
Image - TinyPic - Free Image Hosting, Photo Sharing & Video Hosting

you can see that the pipe is leaking at the weld. It was dry and when I started the car to move it I could notice that. I

I was about to replace the O2 sensor until I found that.

Here are my questions (some might be obvious):
It should not be leaking anything at the flex pipe correct?
Can the leak at the front and back of the weld be the reason for the code to appear?
As the flex pipe is brand new, can I have the leaks fixed without replacing the flex pipe?
How to fix the leak? re-weld,
other options? (i saw online a video that uses clamps, tailpipe sealant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ1tpiHrl0Q)

If the shop is responsible for the defect, I don't have any warranty anymore and I tried through the BBB without success, so I need to either fix it myself or in a shop.

Thank you very much for your time looking at this topic.

Ben

That code is most likely caused by air leaking into the system. Nothing in there should be leaking. I'm not a welder, but it kinda looks to me like the gut that repaired you car wasn't either!!!! I'd really suggest getting it all re-welded. I'm torn. If ya take it back to the guys that did this, you get the same results, but if ya take it to a better shop, you gotta pay for it again! I'd probably find myself a new exhaust shop.

Maybe, and this may sound a little redneck, try some of that JB Weld stuff? If it doesn't work you can always have a shop grind everything down and weld it again (properly this time).

I will ask for some quote to have it reweld. I think they can add filler to reweld, without having to cut the whole thing again.
I wait before I apply any kind of putty because it can be painful to remove.
the other product called host gun gum flexwrap only exists in GB.
I try to find a similar product in the US but have not found it yet.

Will keep you posted. If anyone has suggestions please let me know!