What to Do If Your Car’s Muffler Falls Off
When we drive along in our cars, happy as buzzing bees, we hardly think of the stuff that’s under the car. Parts like…the muffler.
There are things you should and should not do if your muffler falls off. I say this from experience and from the scar my hand still holds, and I blame my sister.
I was about fourteen years old when my older sister was driving us both to see our grandparents. The trip always took us up a long hill that we called “Dracula Hill” because the trees towered over the houses, sidewalks, and street. It was a gloomy hill. First, we heard a bang we could not identify. Next, the car was spitting loud noises so my very nice sister pulled the car over; we were only half way up Dracula Hill. “What was that?” I said. “The muffler fell off,” she told me. “Go get it.”
Oh, I did go “get it” and I got it alright. The muffler was very hot and I burned my right hand, badly. I took off running up the hill with no muffler—just screams of pain. Don’t let this happen to you and don’t ask anyone to pick up a muffler if it falls off. Here are some great tips on what to do if your muffler falls off.
First off, a car’s muffler does three things. It keeps toxic gases away from the engine. It reduces noise, and reduces engine exhaust. Most mufflers are oblong in shape and have two pipes. These pipes are the input and the output pipes. In my case, the entire unit fell off, pipes and all.
If the entire muffler system falls off while driving, pull over, and if you can get to it without dodging in and out of traffic, use your car jack crank to push it to the side of the road. It will cool off pretty quickly, but when it first falls, it will be hot. If you are on a busy street or highway, don’t try to go get your muffler and pipes; it’s too dangerous to dash in and out of traffic. Drive to the nearest auto repair facility and have your muffler system replaced.
Depending on the type of vehicle you have and the parts you choose, expect to pay anywhere from $110 to $550. Pricing depends a lot on whether you choose manufacturer parts or aftermarket parts, which are fine. These prices include the technician’s labor time as well. If your muffler problems are caused from wear and tear, then Warranty Direct’s Wear and Tear Extended Car Warranty will cover it.
Sometimes, your muffler may just be hanging and hasn’t fallen off. If this happens, you can quick fix it with a coat hanger until you can get to an auto repair center so they can install the proper parts. Don’t think the hanger trick is a good fix, let the experts handle your muffler and exhaust repairs.
Do try to have your muffler repaired or replaced as soon as you can. Beyond the noise your vehicle makes without a muffler, you must also consider the toxic emissions the muffler keeps from going into the environment. No one wants to drive behind a vehicle that is puffing smoke and sounds like a volcano.
Remember, if your entire muffler falls off, including the input and output pipes, don’t try and pick it up—don’t do what I did, and never listen to your older sister!
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Filed under: Wear and Tear
I was driving home and hit a pothole and my muffler started dragging on the ground and by the time I could safely pull over my muffler was about five feet behind my car. It resting in my trunk now. My question is if it is safe to drive my car without a muffler and if it actually needs to be fixed?
Driving without a muffler is safe but you will want to get it repaired as soon as possible as your car will be very loud and you probably won’t be in compliance with your state’s emissions laws.