Car Exhausts Repair

Your car’s exhaust pipe serves a number of purposes, but it needs to be in good condition and working well for you to get the best fuel economy possible and reduce the CO2 emissions produced by your car.

Exhaust system repair is a lot more than just a box and a pipe. On today’s vehicles, the exhaust system has three main functions. They are:

• Safely move the exhaust gasses from the engine out through the tailpipe
• Reduce or muffle the noise created by the combustion of fuel
• Trap and remove harmful pollutants from your car’s exhaust emissions

It’s important to understand that in some cases/vehicles exhaust gases are poisonous and contain carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide can be deadly.

Exhaust systems are prone to damage from a number of different sources, whether they come from external knocks and bumps or from corrosion caused by the age of the vehicle. For this reason cars over three years old it’s important to check exhaust pipe for physical damage at least once every 10,000 miles, or once a year- whichever comes sooner.

Exhaust checks are part of our free vehicle health check service, so if you’re in any doubt about your exhaust system’s condition, visit us in-centre and our technicians will be happy to offer their professional opinion.

Repair and replacement of damaged exhausts

Damage to exhaust systems can not only make running a car more uncomfortable from additional noise, smoke or worse fuel consumption, but it may make your car’s noise levels and CO2 emissions higher than the legal requirements. This could potentially be cause for an MOT test failure, as the car will not be deemed legal for road use.

Sometimes you will be able to spot visual damage to the exhaust, giving you a clear idea of any work required, however as the exhaust pipe travels across the entire length of the underside of your car, it can be difficult to know for certain without your car being placed on a hydraulic lift, as found in our centres nationwide.

You can take advantage of our free vehicle health check’s which will give you a clear indication of your car’s exhaust condition as below:

• Contact us, someone from our team will contact you shortly or at a time that suit’s you.
• Call us on 0333 090 5020
• Alternatively visit our Centre for best information and advice possible with no obligation.

Exhaust System Solutions 

• Usually we can get replacement parts for your vehicle in minutes.
• We will only replace or repair areas that are damaged or require replacement
• In many cases to save your pocket we weld your clamp/exhausts.
• We supply and fit exhausts and catalytic converters for all makes of  vehicles
• All of our exhausts and pipes come with a 3 years manufacturer guarantee.
• All Catalytic Converters also come with the manufacturer guarantee for 2 years or 20,000 miles (whichever comes sooner)

Signs of exhaust failure

Your car’s exhaust system may show some tell-tale signs of failure that indicate repair work or a replacement may be necessary such as:

• Excessive smoke coming from the exhaust
• Louder engine noise while driving
• Louder exhaust noise while driving
• A knocking or rattling sound indicating something may have come loose
• Rust or corrosion on the pipe as well as cracks, especially where the pipes connect could indicate a problem.
• A low-hanging or dragging pipe

Emissions

• Blue smoke – this could indicate a fault in the engine which is putting burnt oil into the exhaust system and resulting in blue smoke
• White smoke – white smoke when first started is normal. If it continues, this could be due to an internal coolant leak and the white smoke is the result of burning antifreeze. If there are no water leaks underneath your car it could be a leaking head gasket or a crack in the engine

What causes exhaust failure?

Damage to the exhaust is the single most common reason that an exhaust needs repair or replacement, although for older cars rust is can also be a cause for concern. External knocks and bumps can damage the exhaust. Often this comes from a speed bump or from backing too close to a high curb.

A misfiring engine can also cause extensive damage as it overheats the catalytic converter, as this allows rich fuel to run into the system, which can lead to potential extensive issues. Similarly, driving through deep water can cool a catalytic converter at a faster than normal speed, causing damage.