Symptoms of a failing Exhaust Muffler
Your car is LOUD
Like, really loud. Annoy pedestrians and fellow drivers loud. Have to really crank up the volume on your radio loud.
Your exhaust muffler serves one main purpose, and that’s to keep your car from being too noisy. If your car is too noisy, it’s probably because the exhaust muffler is failing at its job.
Diminished fuel economy
While the exhaust muffler is primarily responsible for shushing your car, it is still a part of the exhaust system, and it plays a role in most of the things that the exhaust system does. One of those things is efficiency.
If your exhaust muffler is partially collapsed or restricted your car will likely end up getting worse fuel mileage than you’re used to. And no one likes that.
Poor engine performance
A collapsed or restricted exhaust muffler can choke the engine and rob it of power. In extreme cases, it may even prevent the car from starting.
Rattling noise
One of the things that can happen to an exhaust muffler is it can become loose. When that happens, it will rattle and shake, and you’ll hear that noise from inside the car. It will sound like a chain fence in the wind, directly under your car.
Visibly falling off
This is a no-brainer. If you see your exhaust muffler literally dangling beneath your car, it's time for a new one.