• Your exhaust system is an important component of your vehicle.bike exhaust image by Dumitrescu Ciprian from Fotolia.com
  
  A faulty exhaust system can be dangerous for both you and your family. As the Free Online Auto Repair website recommends, you should check for holes in your automobile's exhaust system regularly, especially those that may affect your passenger compartment. Even if the holes are small in diameter, you should take your car to a mechanic for evaluation.
  
  

Noise

• According to automotive expert Larry Carley, noise emanating from your exhaust system is something you shouldn't ignore. It could be the sign of a faulty muffler or resonator replacement. If the new resonator or muffler is of poor design, it may not perform its intended task of quieting your car as it should.
  
  

Leaks

• Leaks are serious and can even lead to death from carbon monoxide poisoning. This compound is a colorless, odorless gas. It can easily seep into the passenger compartment of your automobile. Even if you inhale small concentrations of carbon monoxide -- only 800 parts per million -- symptoms such as stupor, dizziness, and headaches can manifest themselves within hours. A 1 percent concentration of it can be lethal in less than three minutes. Thus if you even suspect that your exhaust system is leaking, contact a mechanic forthwith.
  
  

Catalytic Converter

• The catalytic converter is an essential part of your vehicle. Converters have been a requirement since 1975. They convert harmful carbon monoxide and other poisonous gases to water vapor and carbon dioxide. The catalytic converter on your car sits between the exhaust manifold and the muffler.
  
  Symptoms of a faulty converter, according to the Free Online Auto Repair website, include a loss of power, heat that emanates from the floor of your car, or a sulfur-like smell. Also look for rusted or broken converter body or end tubes, and bits of substrate in other areas of the exhaust system.
  
  

Rust

• Rust is your exhaust system's arch enemy. When you park your car and shut off your engine, water vapor in the pipes condenses and returns to liquid form. If you tend to travel short distances, the liquid in the exhaust system does not have a chance to turn back to water vapor. Whatever liquid remaining in your pipes will corrode them. Living in climates that require rock salt to remove snow tends to exacerbate the problem. Salt serves to hasten the rusting process. To counteract this, wash the underside of your vehicle every few weeks.