Loud Exhaust or Fumes in the Cabin? Here Is What to Do

A muffler with a small hole is mostly a noise problem and can usually wait for an appointment. A leak closer to the engine, a cracked manifold or a hole anywhere near the passenger compartment is different, because carbon monoxide can get inside. If you smell exhaust in the car or feel lightheaded, stop driving, air the car out and have it towed to a shop.

It will start and run, but it will be extremely loud and the check-engine light will likely come on. Exhaust now exits under the middle of the car, which raises the risk of fumes reaching the cabin. Many owners choose to tow it instead. File a police report first, since your insurer may ask for one, then call us to haul it to a shop for the replacement.

Pull over somewhere safe and away from dry grass, since hot exhaust parts can start a fire. Don't touch the pipe; it stays hot for a long while. Some people wire it up temporarily, but on a highway a loose section can fall off and strike another car. Calling for a flatbed is the safer move, and the deck keeps the hanging pipe off the pavement.

No. We are a towing company and have no repair bays. Our job is delivering the car to a muffler shop, the garage you trust or an independent partner. The technicians there inspect the system, write up an estimate and does the work if you approve it. Price, parts and timing for the repair are all worked out between you and the shop.

It ranges from a clamp or hanger to a full converter replacement, so we don't guess. A technician looks it over on a lift and sends a written estimate first. Towing is a separate bill, and our rates page shows the hook-up fee, mileage and the surcharges for nights, weekends and highway pickups.

That sulfur smell usually comes from the catalytic converter. It can mean the engine is running rich, a sensor is sending bad readings or the converter itself is failing, and it often shows up alongside a check-engine light. A shop scans the codes and tests the converter and sensors to see which part is responsible before recommending a repair.

If there is any chance of an exhaust leak, no. Idling while parked is when carbon monoxide builds up most easily inside a car, and snow packed around the tailpipe makes it worse. Turn the engine off, crack the windows, and wait outside the vehicle if the spot is safe and well away from traffic. In cold weather, keep warm layers in the car rather than relying on the heater.