The muffler is an integral part of your vehicle's exhaust system. It reduces the exhaust noises and directs the exhaust gases out of your car. While car mufflers are designed to last, they will wear out or develop a problem down the line just like most auto parts. It's imperative to know when your car needs a new muffler so that you replace it as soon as possible. That's because a delayed replacement will result in a noisy vehicle. Even worse, it can cause air quality problems for you and your passengers if the exhaust gases start leaking inside the car. Therefore, watch out for these warning signs that your car needs a new muffler.

Loud Exhaust

A noisy exhaust is the number-one sign of a failing car muffler because it's designed to reduce exhaust noise. Usually, this will be caused by a muffler that has holes in it. This may be as a result of regular off-roading or driving down poor roads. Keep in mind that failure to replace the muffler early enough will allow the holes to become larger, resulting in a louder exhaust.

Engine Misfires

The smooth running of your engine depends on a properly functioning exhaust system. A fault in any component that makes up the exhaust system such as the muffler can result in engine problems. Your engine misfiring is the most notable of these engine problems and tends to occur when the car is under deceleration.

Odours

Bad smells are another sign of a faulty car muffler. Designed to channel the exhaust fumes outside of the vehicle, a damaged muffler will fail to do this properly. Consequently, some of the exhaust gases will find their way inside your vehicle's cabin. Keep in mind that this can be dangerous, and you need to contact your mechanic as soon as you smell any exhaust fumes inside the car. That's because the exhaust fumes can cause dizziness, fatigue or even headaches, which would interfere with your driving experience and stability. Also, some of the exhaust gases are toxic, and you wouldn't want these inside your car.

Car muffler problems should be dealt with as soon as possible. Besides the issues mentioned above that come with faulty mufflers, the longer you wait, the costlier your repairs will be. In fact, in some cases, such as small cracks or leaks in the muffler, you can get away with repairs instead of replacement with the full range of products designed to create gas-tight seals for such minor issues.