Listen to Your Car
BUTLER — Pick your route out of town: North Main, East Jefferson or Mercer Street, Center Avenue or New Castle Road.
They're all uphill climbs.
And if you need a new muffler, this is where you're likely to find out, says Mark Iarrapino Jr.
The sound is usually the first clue of an exhaust issue, said Iarrapino, who co-owns Iarrapino Muffler and Brake, 404 W. Cunningham St., along with his father, Mark Sr.
But hesitation and sluggish performance on an uphill ride also points to potential problems, including a muffler is on the way out.
In these days of computer diagnostics, car owners tend to leave everything to the technicians.
“But if you pay attention to your car, especially when it's going uphill, it can tell you a lot about what it needs,” Iarrapino said.
Those of us who aren't savvy with cars may still detect when something needs repair. If we hear strange pings and the car just doesn't “sit right,” it may be time for a trip to the garage. When it comes to your muffler, there are ways you can tell it's time for a replacement. You may not be able to remove it yourself, but if you pay attention to how your car runs you can head off a problem that could increase if you ignore the signs.
Another indicator: fumes.
If one day you start to smell something unusual in your car, like a gassy stench or odor you'd associate with a faulty car, you should have it checked immediately.
“It's not good enough just to roll down a window,” Iarrapino said. “In fact, that could make it worse by venting the fumes outside into the car.”
Intoxicating fumes can prove hazardous to your health, particularly carbon monoxide, which has no odor or color but can be deadly. Infants and children passengers are especially susceptible.
Iarrapino's sells and installs different grades of mufflers, and all carry warranties, Iarrapino said. He recommends stainless steel exhaust systems for their resistance to rust in winter driving conditions.
“I tell customers the standard mufflers are good for one to three years,” he said. Stainless lasts a lot longer than that.”
Sometimes the diagnostics confirm the need for a new muffler; other times it's something altogether different. Your muffler could be fine, but another car part may be responsible for the anomalies. Whatever the issue, you do not want to take chances with car problems. Waiting too long could result in repairs that cost even more to fix, or the loss of your warranty protection.
Besides mufflers, Iarrapino Muffler & Brake specializes in custom pipe bending, 4-inch and 5-inch diesel exhaust systems, Magna Flow and Flow Master exhaust, state inspections, brakes and struts and general mechanic work.
