Exhaust and Muffler Repair in Calgary
Road salt and gravel work on your exhaust every winter. We repair and replace mufflers, pipes and catalytic converters, and muffler replacements come with a 1 year or 20,000 km warranty.
A louder engine, rattling underneath, vibration in the floor or pedals and an exhaust smell inside the car all point to an exhaust problem. Our Calgary shop repairs and replaces mufflers, front pipes, intermediate pipes, tailpipes and catalytic converters. Muffler replacement carries a warranty of 1 year or 20,000 km on parts and labour, and quotes are free.
Your exhaust hangs under the car where Calgary's road salt, slush and gravel hit it all winter. Steel pipes rust from the outside, and condensation from short trips rusts them from the inside. Eventually something gives: a pipe cracks, a hanger breaks or the muffler rusts through.
We repair the whole system, from the catalytic converter back through the front and intermediate pipes, the muffler and the tailpipe. Muffler replacements come with a 1 year or 20,000 km warranty on parts and labour.
Signs your exhaust needs attention
Exhaust problems usually start small and get louder. These are the common ones:
- The engine sounds louder than it used to, especially on a cold start or when you accelerate
- Rattling or clunking underneath, often over bumps, from a broken hanger or loose heat shield
- Vibration you feel in the floor, the steering wheel or the gas pedal
- A ticking or puffing sound near the engine, often an exhaust manifold or gasket leak
- An exhaust or rotten egg smell, inside or outside the car
- Worse fuel economy or a check engine light, sometimes from a leak upstream of an oxygen sensor
Exhaust leaks are a safety issue
A loud exhaust can sound like just a nuisance. The real concern is carbon monoxide. You can't see it or smell it, and a leak under the cabin can let exhaust into the car. That's worse in winter, when you've got the windows up and the heat on. If you notice exhaust smell inside, feel drowsy or get a headache while driving, open the windows and get the car checked.
Also, if you're stuck in snow, clear the tailpipe before you idle to stay warm. A blocked tailpipe can push exhaust into the car even with a healthy system.
Mufflers, pipes and catalytic converters
Many exhaust repairs are smaller than people expect. A rusted-out section of pipe or a broken hanger doesn't mean replacing the whole system. We'll show you what's damaged and quote the parts that need replacing.
Catalytic converters are the expensive part. They usually fail because of something upstream, like a misfire sending unburned fuel into the exhaust or an engine burning oil. If your converter has failed, we'll look for the cause too, so the new one doesn't fail the same way.
How it goes at the shop
Listen and look
We put the car on the hoist and inspect the system from the manifold to the tailpipe.
Find the leak
We locate leaks, broken hangers, loose heat shields and rusted sections.
Free quote
We show you what's damaged and quote only the parts that need replacing.
Repair and check
We fix it, check for leaks again and confirm the noise is gone. Muffler replacements carry a 1 year or 20,000 km warranty.
Questions we hear a lot
Still not sure? Call 403-454-7500 and ask. It's free to ask.
Is it safe to drive with a hole in the muffler?
For a short time, it's usually more a noise issue than a safety one, since the muffler is at the back of the car. But a muffler with a hole often means the pipes ahead of it are rusting too, and a leak closer to the cabin can let carbon monoxide in. Get it inspected soon, and open a window if you smell exhaust inside.
What does a broken exhaust sound like?
A leak or failed muffler makes the engine sound louder and rougher, often like a rumble or roar when you accelerate. A leak near the engine can make a ticking or puffing sound that's worse when the engine is cold. A rattle underneath, especially over bumps, usually means a loose heat shield or broken hanger.
What are the signs of a bad catalytic converter?
Common signs are a rotten egg smell from the exhaust, sluggish acceleration, worse fuel economy, a rattle from under the car (a broken inside), and a check engine light with a catalyst efficiency code. Converters usually fail because of an engine problem like misfires or oil burning, so the cause needs fixing too, or the new converter won't last.
Does muffler replacement come with a warranty?
Yes. Our muffler replacements carry a warranty of 1 year or 20,000 km on parts and labour. Every service we do comes with a full warranty, and we'll go over the coverage for your specific repair when we give you your free quote.
Exhaust louder than it should be?
Call 403-454-7500 or stop by 404 40 Ave NE. We'll put it on the hoist, show you what's going on and give you a free quote.