2002 2.4L Sebring, Question re: exhaust manifold

I am trying to diagnose an exhaust leak on my sister-in-laws car.
Hopefully you guys can educate me on what this should look like.

Is there supposed to be a clamp where the exhaust pipe connects to the
exhast manifold? I see what looks like steel wool packing in the joint,
however I am not certain if the joint is a slip fit or there should be a
clamp. If there is supposed to be a clamp then hers is missing.

Thanks,
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"Ed Bacon, Jr." <ebacon RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
news:Xns993CC0E3D6B23ebaconcomcastnet@216.196.97.136...
> I am trying to diagnose an exhaust leak on my sister-in-laws car.
> Hopefully you guys can educate me on what this should look like.
>
> Is there supposed to be a clamp where the exhaust pipe connects to the
> exhast manifold? I see what looks like steel wool packing in the joint,
> however I am not certain if the joint is a slip fit or there should be a
> clamp. If there is supposed to be a clamp then hers is missing.
>

The only way I've ever been able to diagnose exhaust leaks is to
put the vehicle up on jackstands (and use decent ones, not the little
piss-ant ones) insert earplugs (in my ears) start the car, then use
a creeper to get under the vehicle and carefully examine the entire
exhaust system. The leak will be very noticable, both loud and you
can feel the exhaust puffing out when you put your hand up to it.

Make absolutely sure before you do this that you CANNOT push
the car off the stands. For jackstands I use the big Harbor Freight ones
and put them under the axle. For safety, you can also put a stack of
(mounted) spare tires under the car.

Common places for leaks are muffler connections, and the pipe to
manifold connection.

Ted