| Checking Exhaust System |
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Note that the catalytic converter’s job is to cook some of the exhaust emissions so they are less harmful to the environment. The operative word here is “cook” meaning that lots of heat is involved. So make sure the entire exhaust system—but especially the catalytic converter—is cool before attempting an inspection. What are you looking for? There may be some road damage to the pipes, converter, or muffler that, unless significant, probably won’t stop them from doing their job. However, water is a byproduct of the exhaust process and water-plus-metal means rust. So you’ll also be looking for obvious rust or holes caused by rust. Fortunately, most rust damage is on the lower side of these components where it can more easily be seen from underneath the car.
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Another crawl-around job is inspecting your car’s exhaust system. You’ll be looking for obvious damage to the exhaust pipe, the catalytic converter, and the muffler. Some cars have a single exhaust system coming off the engine to the rear of the car while others have a dual exhaust system.
