A Ford Puma came into us here at Platinum Vehicle Services with a complaint the owner had been noticing for a little while. The exhaust had become louder than normal and there was an occasional smell making its way into the cabin. Those two things together told us straight away that this was worth investigating properly, and not something to leave and hope it settles on its own.
The Exhaust Was Blowing and the Owner Could Smell It Inside the Car
When we got the car up on the ramp and took a proper look underneath, we found a fault in the exhaust system where gases were escaping before they should have been. An exhaust is designed to carry waste gases from the engine all the way to the back of the car and release them safely away from the passenger compartment. When there is a break or a failure anywhere along that path, those gases start leaking out in the wrong place.
The increased noise the owner had been hearing is one of the first signs. Sound travels through the leak before it can be contained and absorbed by the rest of the system, so the car gets noticeably louder, particularly on acceleration. The smell coming into the cabin is the more serious concern. Exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, which is colourless and has no strong odour in small concentrations, but at higher levels inside a vehicle it becomes a genuine health risk to anyone sitting in the car.
Leaving an Exhaust Fault Makes It Worse and More Expensive to Fix
An exhaust fault does not stay the same size. The heat and vibration the system is constantly exposed to means a small blow or a hairline crack will work itself into a larger failure over time. What might be a straightforward repair at one point can become a full section or full system replacement a few months later, and the cost reflects that. Beyond the expense, there is the engine performance side to consider. A leaking exhaust disrupts the flow and pressure that the engine relies on to breathe correctly, and you may start to notice a drop in power or a rougher idle if it is left long enough.
We Repaired the Exhaust and Road Tested the Car Before Handing It Back
Once we had identified exactly where the fault was and assessed the condition of the surrounding sections, we carried out the repair to bring the system back to how it should be. Before the car went back to the owner we road tested it to confirm the noise had gone, there was no further blowing, and the repair was holding as it should under normal driving conditions. The owner left with the car running quietly and no smell in the cabin.
What to Listen and Watch For on Your Own Car
Exhaust problems are worth catching early. If your car is louder than it used to be, particularly when you pull away or accelerate, that is worth paying attention to. A rumbling or hissing noise from underneath the car is another indicator. Any smell inside the cabin, even a faint one, should be treated as urgent and not left. A small drop in fuel efficiency can also point to an exhaust issue, as the engine is working harder than it needs to.
We carry out exhaust repairs and a full range of mechanical work here in Walsall, covering customers from across the area including Bloxwich, Aldridge, Willenhall and Brownhills. Whether it is an exhaust, brakes, a service or something you are not quite sure about, we will take a look and tell you exactly what is going on and what it will cost before we do anything.
Leave us a message any time, 24 hours a day, on 07970901354 and someone from the team will be back in touch as soon as possible. You can also find out more about what we do at platinumvehicleservices.co.uk.
