Noticing Car Exhaust Problem and Installing a New One

Regular and proper car maintenance is something that every car owner should do. There are certain parts that have to be regularly checked, so that you can detect any potential defects and be able to fix them before it's too late. A car exhaust is one of those parts that you don't have to be a mechanic in order to fix them. You just have to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms that the exhaust system gives away, so that you can replace it with a new one, which can be done relatively quickly. There are a couple of things that you'll need before you get to work, including a jack, a screwdriver, a pair of safety glasses and gloves.

The first thing you should do is put on your safety glasses and your gloves, so that you don't get injured, as small pieces of metal or dirt can fall off and hit your eyes. Then, apply your car's emergency brake, and then lift the car, using a jack. You should have a jack, as all vehicles come out from the factory with one. Then, take a good look at the exhaust and look for damaged areas. There might be rust on some places, or some cracked spots, which are definite signs that it needs to be replaced.

Now you are ready to start removing the exhaust. First, unscrew all the bolts that are on the exhaust, and then disconnect the exhaust from the catalytic converter. You can do that by removing the clamp that is keeping the exhaust attached to the converter. After you have done that, take the exhaust off the hanging brackets, and put it away.

Afterwards, comes the part where you have to start installing the new exhaust. It's recommended that you buy new hangers, as well. The best way to install an exhaust is to put the hangers on the exhaust, before you can start mounting it on the car. You should start by hanging the exhaust on the front end of the car, aligning it with the hanging brackets all the way to the rear end. At the end, make sure to check if all the exhaust parts are properly attached to each other. If they are not, they can fall off while driving and damage your car's undercarriage. Then, start your engine and take a look underneath the car to see if there are any leaks. If not, it means that you have done a good job replacing the exhaust and you can drive without worrying about that annoying noise that a broken exhaust makes.

If you follow these tips, you should be able to replace an exhaust in no time. But, you have to pay attention to the symptoms of a defective exhaust, so that you know when it's time to replace it. Those symptoms include rattling sounds and dark smoke coming from the exhaust.