The muffler on your car is there to lower the noise of the exhaust gasses coming out of the exhaust system, but weather and other conditions can damage the muffler over time. So there are some things to watch for that can signal the need to take your car to the shop for muffler repair.

Loud Exhaust

One of the most common signs that your car needs muffler repair is a change in the volume of the engine exhaust coming from the vehicle. If a hole or crack develops in the muffler, exhaust gases can escape from the muffler, and the sound of the exhaust sound will often change to a deep tone and be much louder than before. 

The crack in the muffler case does not have to be very large for the exhaust tone and volume to change, so if the car suddenly seems louder and you can't determine why, you should take it to a muffler repair shop and have the exhaust system inspected. 

Exhaust Odor

A leak in the exhaust system of your car or truck can also be detected by smell. If the muffler is directly under the passenger compartment, and on most cars it is, a leak can allow exhaust to escape and seep inside the car or truck. 

If you smell exhaust gases inside the vehicle, you need to take it in for muffler repair right away. The exhaust gases are extremely dangerous for you to breathe and contain carbon monoxide, which can build up in your blood over time, making it hard to get oxygen to your cells. If you breathe it long enough, it can cause carbon monoxide poisoning and eventually lead to death.

A muffler technician can easily fix exhaust leaks, and it will make the vehicle safe after the repair is made. Eliminated the odor from the inside of the car will also make it more pleasant to drive.

Visual Inspection

If you suspect there is a problem with the muffler under your car, look under the vehicle to see if there is a hole that you can see. The most common place for a hole to start is in the rear of the muffler at the bottom. Moisture that condensates inside the system can settle there and cause rust to develop inside. 

Eventually, the muffler will rust through, and the exhaust system will get louder. If you can see the hole in the muffler, you need to take your vehicle to a muffler repair shop and have it replaced. Sometimes the hole will develop in a spot that you can't see, like under a heat shield or panel on the bottom of the muffler, but you may see black soot on the panel, which can indicate exhaust escaping somewhere above it. 

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