Exhaust System Repair

Your exhaust system redirects toxic fumes away from the vehicle and reduces the noise your car’s engine makes. Without your exhaust system, driving would be unbearably loud, terribly inefficient with fuel, and extremely hazardous engine fumes to you and your passengers.

Parts of an Exhaust System

Not all exhaust systems are the same. Aftermarket exhaust systems are available to make your vehicle louder, quieter, or more fuel-efficient. However, these parts are common in just about any exhaust system.

Catalytic Converter: Uses catalysts to clean dangerous gases like carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides, and more and converts them into safer fumes. This keeps our environment and air cleaner.
Exhaust Manifold: Collects gasses and channels them to the catalytic converter.
Muffler: Reduces the sound of your engine.
Resonator: pairs with a muffler to reduce engine sounds even further.
Tailpipe: releases the gases out the back of your car and into the air.

Common Repairs

So what can go wrong with an exhaust system? Several different parts can break down over time, and untreated exhaust system issues can lead to further damage. These are some of the most common repairs we see.

Exhaust Leaks

Exhaust leaks are dangerous for your health and bad for the environment. If exhaust leaks out without going through the catalytic converter, they are still in a dangerous state. A Leak in your exhaust system will also impact your vehicle’s fuel efficiency, and continuing to drive a vehicle with an exhaust leak can lead to catalytic converter damage, which is a more expensive repair.

All that to say, if your vehicle is displaying leak symptoms, bring your vehicle in right away to fix the issue for your vehicle and for your own health.

Gas pedal vibrations (these vibrations can expand to the steering wheel and floorboards as the leak gets worse)
Frequent fill-ups at the gas station
Whistling sounds in the engine bay area
Rattling in the catalytic converter
Heavy vibrations in the exhaust system

Muffler Damage

Mufflers wear down over time. Most drivers can expect a muffler replacement every 100,000 - miles or 5-8 years. That wide range is due to the variables in driving conditions, such as cold weather, road salt, and the presence of potholes, all of which can damage mufflers.

Muffler damage shares many of the same symptoms and risks of exhaust leaks. Oftentimes, the two repairs go hand-in-hand. A bad muffler may rattle, cause more noise, have a bad smell, and more. Because an exhaust leak might be present too, it’s important to get your vehicle to a mechanic right away to avoid breathing in toxic gases.

Catalytic Convertors

Your catalytic converter is the “filter” that cleans out harmful particles from the environment and air. When first introduced, catalytic converters were engineered to last from 50,000 - 80,000 miles. As cars have become more efficient, the converters have lasted even longer. However, they don’t last forever!

Many modern cars have two, three, or even four or more converters to meet today’s efficiency requirements set by the EPA. A bad converter can cause premature engine failure when it doesn’t do its job.

Because Indiana does not have an annual emissions test, many auto shops neglect to recommend replacing catalytic converters as often as they should. Save your engine, help the environment, and breathe healthier air by checking on your catalytic converters.

Reliable Repairs

At TMT, we can help fix and replace exhaust system parts, or help you install a new aftermarket exhaust system. Each appointment at TMT Automotive comes with a complete vehicle inspection that allows us to diagnose your current vehicle issues and help you predict and prevent future breakdowns. Most fixes are complete the same day, and we can provide you with a loaner vehicle so you don’t have to put your life on pause. Book your appointment at a TMT Automotive near you today.