Avoid Muffler Repair
Are you hearing a clunk coming from your car? Before calling the nearest car care center for a muffler service, learn how to fix it yourself and save some time and money.
Steps
- Don’t even think about muffler repair on a hot muffler. When you finish driving the car, leave it for around an hour. That will be enough time for the engine and all the other auto parts to cool down.
- Lift up the car and carefully secure it on jack stands so that you can go underneath and start some damage control. The exhaust pipe is likely to be found about two feet behind the engine pointing toward the rear of the car. If you are looking at the right place, then you will be able to see a thin metal shield right in the middle of the exhaust pipe and the car floor. If you still can’t find it, it is approximately under the car seats.
- Do everything possible to make it rattle. Poke, prod, push, pull, by all means, do what you can so that you will be able to hear the same thumping sound your car is making when you drive. You want to be 100% sure that all you have is a loose muffler or exhaust pipe, otherwise the steps outlined here won't work.
- Find the source of the problem if there is no rattling. Cover all your bases. Start the car engine. Do not go back underneath the car while the engine is running unless you like the idea of pain inflicted in your own skin. Rather than going under the car, simply lean your head down and listen attentively to distinguish where the clunking sound is coming from.
- Tighten the heat shield up, if that's where the noise is coming from. Turn off the engine first then go underneath the car. With a screwdriver, tighten all the bolts connected to the heat shield.
Tips
- While you are down there, check if the heat shield has been twisted or curved. You can fix a bent heat shield through a pair of pliers or a screwdriver. Pull the heat shield away from the spot where it makes contact with the exhaust pipe.
