Servicing & MOT
Repairs
Engine & Drivetrain
Diagnostics & EmissionsPelsall Village Garage
Exhausts
If your exhaust is louder than it should be, rattling or smelling, we find exactly where the problem is and tell you honestly whether it can be repaired or needs replacing.
Why book with us
Exhausts with clear advice.
The exhaust carries hot gases away from the engine, quietens the noise and, through the catalytic converter and on diesels the DPF, cleans up the emissions. It runs the length of the car underneath, where it gets hit by water, road salt and potholes. Drivers in Pelsall and Walsall usually come to us because the exhaust has got louder, there is a rattle or knock from underneath, or they can smell fumes inside the car.
A louder exhaust usually means a hole, a crack or a failed joint letting gas escape before the silencer. Rattles often come from a broken rubber hanger, a loose heat shield or a broken internal baffle in a silencer box. Fumes inside the car can mean a leak near the front of the system, which is a safety concern, as exhaust gas contains carbon monoxide. A flexible joint near the engine, often called a flexi pipe, is a common place for leaks on many cars.
We put the car up on the ramp and look along the whole system: the manifold joint, the flexi pipe, the catalytic converter, the pipes, the silencer boxes, the clamps and the hangers. Where there is a leak, we find exactly where it is. Some faults can be repaired with a new section, a clamp or a hanger. Others are past repair and the section, or sometimes the whole system, needs replacing. We explain which is the better fix for your car.
Some cars have oxygen or lambda sensors, temperature sensors and pressure pipes in the exhaust. A leak can upset these and cause engine warning lights, so we check them as part of the job. On diesels, the DPF is part of the exhaust and has its own page. We will not remove a catalytic converter or DPF, as that is illegal for road use. Every repair is quoted first, and nothing starts without your say-so.
We repair exhausts on cars and light vans for drivers from Walsall, Bloxwich, Brownhills and Walsall Wood. If your exhaust has got louder or you can smell fumes, call us on 01922 682200. Fumes in the car should be checked soon, so tell us when you call. We are at 45 High Street, Pelsall, open Monday to Friday 8:30 to 17:00 and Saturday 8:30 to 13:00.
Whole system checked
Manifold, flexi pipe, cat, pipes, boxes, clamps and hangers inspected on the ramp.
Leak found exactly
We find where the gas is escaping, not just which section looks old.
Repair or replace
A section, clamp or hanger where it will last, and replacement where it will not.
Sensors checked
Lambda and other exhaust sensors checked so warning lights do not come back.
Kept legal
Catalytic converters and DPFs stay fitted so the vehicle stays road legal.
Cars and vans
Exhaust repairs and replacements on cars and light vans.
Exhausts
What our exhaust work includes
Clear expectations, no surprises. If anything extra is needed, we explain it first.
- Inspection of the full exhaust system on the ramp.
- Check of the manifold joint and flexi pipe for leaks.
- Check of the catalytic converter for damage and rattles.
- Inspection of pipes, silencer boxes and joints for holes and corrosion.
- Check of rubber hangers, brackets and heat shields.
- Repair of sections, clamps or hangers where it will last.
- Replacement of sections or the full system where repair is not sensible.
- Lambda and exhaust sensor checks, with fault codes read where needed.
- Final check for leaks and rattles with the engine running.
Exhausts
Common questions
- Why is my exhaust so loud?
- A louder exhaust usually means gas is escaping before it reaches the silencer. The common causes are a hole or crack in a pipe, a blown joint or gasket, a split flexi pipe or a rotten silencer box. We put the car on the ramp, find exactly where the leak is and tell you whether it can be repaired or needs replacing.
- What is that rattle under my car?
- Rattles from underneath are often a loose or rusted heat shield, a broken rubber hanger letting the exhaust knock, or a broken baffle inside a silencer box. A rattle from a catalytic converter can mean the inside has broken up. We check each part with the engine running and quote for the right fix.
- Can an exhaust be welded instead of replaced?
- Sometimes, if the metal around the damage is sound. A small hole or crack in good pipe can often be repaired. If the pipe or box is rotten, a weld will not last and replacing that section is the better fix. We look at the metal and tell you honestly which makes more sense.
- Is it dangerous to drive with an exhaust leak?
- It can be. Exhaust gas contains carbon monoxide, which is poisonous and has no smell of its own. A leak near the front of the system can let fumes into the car. If you smell fumes or feel drowsy or get headaches while driving, open the windows, stop driving the car and call us on 01922 682200.
- Will a blown exhaust fail the MOT?
- It can. A leaking exhaust, a system that is too loud, missing or insecure parts, and emissions outside the limits are all MOT fails. A missing catalytic converter or DPF on a vehicle that should have one is also a fail. We carry out Class 4 MOTs on cars and light vans and can repair the exhaust before your test.
- Why is my engine warning light on after an exhaust leak?
- A leak can let air into the exhaust near the oxygen or lambda sensors. The engine computer then reads the mixture wrongly, which can bring on the warning light and affect how the engine runs. Once the leak is fixed, we check the sensors and clear any fault codes.
- What is a flexi pipe?
- A flexi pipe is a short woven section in the front of the exhaust that lets the engine move without cracking the system. It takes a lot of heat and movement, so it is a common place for leaks. A split flexi pipe often sounds like a blowing or ticking noise from the front. It can often be replaced as a section.
- Do you repair van exhausts?
- Yes. We repair and replace exhausts on light vans as well as cars. Vans often have long exhaust systems with several hangers, and they work hard, so hangers and joints can fail. On diesel vans we also check the DPF and related sensors, as these are part of the exhaust.
- Can you remove my catalytic converter?
- No. Removing a catalytic converter or DPF is illegal for a vehicle used on the road and will fail the MOT. If your catalytic converter has failed or been stolen, we can fit a replacement that is correct for your vehicle. We will give you a clear quote first.
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Areas served
Serving drivers across the local area
We provide exhausts for customers from across the region — book online or call us.