Exhaust Resonator on 99 SW

First thing that came to mind was that it's just for noise suppression. So far it appears to be just that. So, being an item I could not ignore(depending on how loud I listen to the radio) I would try to repair it. If it failed, I'm guessing you mean it developed a whole. I would use some muffler wrap on it to hold it over till I "had" to repair it.

Now as far as inpections go, well a wrap could be considered a temperary patch of the exhaust system, and if they can not get a valid sample I'm sure they will fail you. I chance it. I mean if you 'fix it' and it holds exhaust back, and out the designed flow path, could it be considered tampering?

A google search turned up the typical warnings about a failed resonator, same kind of warnings you get with open mufflers in fall:

search for 'resonator' theres the typicalwarning about broken ones could lead towards a fire under the car. BTW, here is a page where people talk about replacing it yourself: Wish you luck, been years myself since I had to work on any exhaust piping(was a toyota thing), and with my saturn I seem to come accross electrical problems mostly.

later,

I also have a 99sw2 and my resonator went bad. It sounded like the muffler was shot because it's right under the front seats. I took it to the dealer and originally was told around $250. When I picked it up, it was free because it was a saturn defect.I didnt argue and left quickly. A mechanic told me it happens alot on older style resonators. The old style looks like a small cheap narrow muffler. The new one is a long welded one that looks like a long cat converter only much better made than the old one. I don't remenber if it's a one piece welded exhaust. Hope this helps