A muffler is an important component of your car; it’s responsible for safely removing all of the exhaust gases from your vehicle and reducing noise pollution. Although regular checkups are advised, it helps to know signs that your muffler might need repairs yourself. Here are a few of them:
Holes in your muffler:
This can be extremely dangerous, as it allows carbon monoxide to leak from the vehicle. Continual exposure to carbon monoxide can lead to fainting or death.
Bumping/thumping or increased volume:
Either of these signs emanating from the back of your vehicle indicate that something is wrong. Don’t wait to get them checked out, even if the overall health of your vehicle otherwise seems fine.
Rust:
If you can see rust on the outside of your muffler, chances are the inside is much worse. This will cause problems with the exhaust system.
Smoke:
If thick, billowy smoke is coming out of your muffler in large amounts, something is wrong. Your car shouldn’t look like a factory.
Water:
Condensation build-up is normal. Some mufflers have a drain built in to get it out. However, if there is a lot of water dripping from multiple places in your muffler, you need to get it checked out.
Overheating:
One of the causes of your car overheating is a dysfunctional exhaust system.
These are the basic things to keep an eye out for to preserve the health of your muffler. Here at J1 Auto Repair, we can repair mufflers and also offer a host of other auto-services. For more information, please give us a call at (630) 932-4427.