The exhaust system in your car serves several purposes and determining whether or not you need a repair or a replacement is actually easier than one may think. While it may take a mechanic to fix your exhaust system, it doesn’t take one to determine whether something is wrong or not. Before we get into the ways of determining whether your exhaust system has a problem or not, let’s look at the importance of even having an exhaust that works properly.
4 Things Your Exhaust System Does for You
- Protects the environment by regulating the emissions your vehicle releases.
- Lesson the sound that would otherwise be coming from your car/truck.
- Regulate the temperature of your vehicle (helps in preventing overheating).
- Keeps exhaust fumes out of the cabin of the car.
If your exhaust system has any issues, the easiest tell-tale sign is if you notice an excessive amount of noise while you’re driving. When the muffler has a leak – regardless of the size – it’ll be obvious that there is a problem with your exhaust. The easiest way to check if there is an issue with your muffler is to put your car or truck on a lift – that way you can get a full look at the exhaust system.
When you have you vehicle on a lift to check your muffler, you should check the other components of your exhaust system to make sure nothing else needs to be repaired, including:
- Catalytic Converter
- Resonator
- Tail Pipe
- Exhaust Pipe
All of these components help with ensuring that your exhaust system is functioning properly. If you notice any rusted joints, broken hangars, damaged clamps, or bolts that snapped, you’ll need to take your car in to an auto repair shop – or one that specializes in exhaust system repairs, to have it properly repaired.