Inspection and Verification
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 Mercury Montego, 2005 Ford Freestyle, and 2005 Ford Five Hundred. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- Verify the concern by running the engine (with the vehicle on the ground) or road testing the vehicle to duplicate the condition.
- Visually inspect the components of the exhaust system and related controls that may affect exhaust gas quality or loss of power.
- Visually inspect for obvious signs of mechanical damage. Refer to the following chart VISUAL INSPECTION .VISUAL INSPECTION
Mechanical - Exhaust pipe pinched or crushed
- Damaged muffler
- Broken or damaged exhaust hanger brackets
- Damaged catalytic converter
- Cracked exhaust manifold
- Dirty engine air cleaner
- Loose or damaged heat shields
- Verify that the exhaust system is installed correctly, with clamps correctly located and tightened to specification.
- If the fault is not visually evident, determine the symptom. GO to SYMPTOM CHART .