Exhaust noises mean exhaust problems. And when you have exhaust problems, you need to get them taken care of quick. Some unresolved exhaust issues could become deadly to your passengers or yourself.
The first step in solving any auto trouble situation is locating the source. When your auto repair troubles lie with your exhaust system, there are many tell-tale noises you may be able to use to help diagnose your specific exhaust problem. Once diagnosed, you can then determine if you need an auto repair shop that offers muffler and exhaust repairs.One sound you may be hearing while your engine is running is a rattling or buzzing sort of noise. This is at times caused by loose heat shields that are located in the region of your catalytic converter or exhaust pipes. Rust weakens spot welds that are holding the heat shields to the exhaust system. When a shield has gotten loose enough to start vibrating it may create a rattling or buzzing noise that can often be heard through the whole car. There are other noises that may only be able to be detected while running at certain RPMs or only when you are decelerating. This is attributable to harmonic vibrations. The vibrations are shaking your exhaust system at a resounding frequency.
Finding loose heat shields can get tricky because they are not always easily visible. a medium-sized screwdriver can aid in inspecting shields, utilizing it to check for looseness. If you do find a loose spot weld, loose heat shields can be re-secured by re-welding, and in some cases, by installing some clamps. Replacement of a heat shield is recommended if badly rusted or showing other more extensive damage. NEVER remove a loose heat shield without replacing it! These are necessary parts to keep the intense heat away from the car’s floor pan and other sensitive mechanisms in the vicinity.
Another buzzing variety of noise you may hear originating from your exhaust is harmonic resonance. This is frequently seen with high revving four-cylinder engines. This type of noise is typically loudest when operating at certain RPMs or while accelerating hard, especially if you are with a load.
If your exhaust related noises seem to come from the tailpipe, you need to listen carefully. If the sound being produced is a whistle or high-pitched hiss, you may have a restriction within your exhaust system. This restriction causes abnormally high backpressure. Another issue often associated with this backpressure is the engine lacking high-speed power. Experiencing reduced fuel mileage is also another indication that your engine is having problems exhaling.
Mufflers and exhaust pipes will all start rusting and get rotted sooner or later. If your vehicle is or has been exposed to large quantities of winter road salt or if it is often driven for short-trips with heavy stop-and-go driving, you may experience this type of damage to appear sooner. Short trips create a high level of condensation in the exhaust system. This is because your muffler and pipes are not being allowed time to reach a high enough temperature to evaporate this water. When your muffler is found further from the converter in the back of the vehicle, moisture will pool inside your muffler, which creates rust and erosion from within. As this water combines with sulfur in the exhaust it creates highly corrosive acids that will then begin to eat through the exhaust system’s metal parts.
Mufflers and resonators that are behind your rear axle are typically quite vulnerable to this kind of corrosion. This is because they usually run a lot cooler than a front-mounted muffler, creating a moisture trap. They often experience trouble or failure due to internal corrosion.
