If the exhaust issues prove to be reoccurring (knock on wood), spending 2k and be done with it may be a better option than throwing 1K every time just to see issues return. I personally would be afraid to ship my computer and ("nail-bitingly") wait for it to come back, but a vacation trip to sunny Cali combined with stopping by the shop may not be as scary.
That being said, I hope not have to do it.