Signs Your Muffler or Exhaust System Needs Attention

Your exhaust system carries hot gases away from the engine and out behind the vehicle. When part of it fails, you usually hear it before you see it.

It got louder

A deep rumble or a raspy tone that appeared recently almost always means a hole, a cracked pipe or a failed muffler. Sound that changes when you accelerate is a strong clue.

Rattles over bumps

A rattle under the floor when you go over a bump is often a broken hanger or a loose heat shield. This is a cheap fix early and an expensive one after the pipe drags and tears.

Exhaust smell inside the car

Do not wait on this one. If you smell exhaust in the cabin, get the vehicle looked at right away and drive with the windows down until you do.

Fuel economy dropped

A leak ahead of the oxygen sensor can confuse the engine computer and change how much fuel it delivers.

Visible rust or soot

Heavy surface rust with flaking metal, or a black sooty streak around a joint, marks the leak point.

What repair usually looks like

Many exhaust problems are repaired by welding rather than replacing the whole system, which keeps the cost down. Bring the vehicle in and we will show you what we find and quote it before we start.