You'll know when you develop a crack or a hole in your Chrysler Sebring's resonator. The exhaust note, i.e., the sound your exhaust makes when driving, will drastically change for the worse. That throaty sound you're used to will become distorted and sound like it's rattling. Replacing a resonator can cost several hundred dollars that you just might not have to invest right away. If you need a few weeks but you don't want your car to sound like it has a "problem," then patch your resonator with a dab of putty.
Jack the rear end of the Chrysler Sebring off of the ground with the scissor jack located under the spare tire in the trunk. Jack one side of the car up and place a jack stand under the rear axle. Jack the other side of the car's rear off the ground and place a jack stand under that side. This will allow you to safely raise the rear of the car off of the ground so you can access the cracked resonator.
Sand the area around the crack in the resonator. Remove all rust and dirt from the affected area. The surface should be slightly shiny, and you should be able to see bare metal around the crack. The more rust you are able to remove, the less chance you will have of the resonator cracking or rusting through again.
Wipe any dirt, grease and sanding dust off of the resonator with naphtha using a clean disposable shop towel. Naphtha is a grease remover and will not leave any residue on the metal that could prevent the high temperature metal repair compound from adhering to the resonator's surface.
Knead the high temperature metal repair compound in your hand until it softens into a putty. Place the putty into the crack in the resonator. The putty should overlap the metal by 2 to 3 inches in all directions. Push the putty firmly against the metal to ensure a proper seal. According to Permatex.com, their repair compound should be allowed to dry overnight (12 to 18 hours).
