What happens should my exhaust fail?
Exhausts can corrode from both the inside and outside. How long your exhaust lasts depends on how far and how often you drive your car rather than the length of time it has been fitted.
An exhaust that has failed can lead to noxious fumes being drawn into the vehicle cabin and prolonged exposure to exhaust fumes can make a vehicle occupant feel drowsy, which could lead to an even greater danger, so it’s important to maintain a healthy exhaust system.
Vehicles used for short trips around town tend to experience exhaust corrosion in a much shorter period of time and distance than cars used predominantly for long journeys.
If you hear any strange noises at all coming from your exhaust such as rattling or excessive roaring this would likely suggest that there is a problem with your exhaust system and you should take your vehicle to your nearest Kwik Fit as soon as possible. Our qualified exhaust specialists will then be able to examine the exhaust and help to diagnose the fault.
Should our technicians diagnose a problem with your exhaust that requires new replacement parts you then have the option to replace the whole exhaust or just parts of it. Often, if one part is corroded, it is likely that parts of a similar age could be corroded too. Sometimes the different parts of an exhaust fuse together because of a build-up of heat and they are starting to corrode. This can make separation of the individual parts extremely difficult.
But when they haven't fused together, it's a matter of judgement and consideration based on vehicle usage, driving habits and distances travelled, that will dictate whether individual parts should be replaced or the entire exhaust assembly. Sometimes it can save you time and money in the long run to replace more than the corroded part.
Exhausts and the law
Under existing regulations a police officer can warrant the removal of any vehicle from the roadways on the suspicion that it is producing excessive amounts of pollutant gases from the exhaust. Also, if your vehicle exhaust system is broken and noisy your vehicle will come under police scrutiny. Your vehicle will also fail its MOT test if the exhaust system has a fault resulting in incorrect emissions levels being recorded. If in doubt, get it checked out.
