#what are the symptoms of a bad muffler

[philsservice]

Wonder how do you know if your exhaust system is bad? The auto professionals at Phil's Service will be happy to inspect your vehicle’s muffler.

[rumriverautos]

Wondering what does an exhaust system consist of? Ask the experts at Rum River Automotive for more information about muffler repair.

[puleosauto]

Wondering what happens when your muffler goes bad? Schedule an inspection of the exhaust systems at Puleo's Auto Clinic.

[garysautorepair]

Are you wondering what does a full exhaust system include? A noisy muffler is a sign of exhaust problems.

[oliviajames1122]

Symptoms and Signs of a Faulty Muffler

Your car's exhaust system should always be in proper working condition since it plays a crucial role in how well it runs. If not, it may result in a variety of issues, including loud noises, hazardous emissions, unpleasant scents, and lower gas mileage. An unreliable muffler can cause exhaust back pressure, which can harm other parts of your car to the point where you might not be able to drive it anymore. Search for car repairs and book an appointment now to find out more.

What is a muffler?

One of the essential elements of the exhaust system, the muffler's job is to reduce noise generated during the exhaust process. Additionally, the muffler guides the vehicle's exhaust outside. This implies that a bad muffler generates not only a lot of noise, but also very significant issues for the driver and other passengers within the car. Mufflers can deteriorate with time, just like most motor parts. As a result, it's critical to be aware of a few warning indications and symptoms that a muffler needs to be replaced.

Symptoms of a bad muffler

Loud noises

When you start to hear any loud or odd noises emanating from your car, it is the first indication that your muffler needs to be replaced. One of your muffler's primary functions is to reduce exhaust system noise, thus a sudden loud noise when accelerating may indicate that the muffler is no longer functioning. A muffler usually becomes noisy because it has cracks or holes in it.

Rust

Condensation buildup makes mufflers and tailpipes susceptible to rust. Everything heats up whenever the car is driven. When the car isn't in use, the exhaust system cools down and can attract moisture, which leads to a buildup of condensation. The rear muffler and tail pipe may eventually rust due to this moisture. A failing muffler may be indicated by excessive condensation. Don't wait until your exhaust is in disrepair if you see even the slightest amount of rust and more humidity than usual. Bring your car in so that it can be inspected and fixed. Search for car garages in Reading and book an appointment now.

Bad fumes

When mufflers begin to release toxic fumes, it is a major red flag that they need to be changed. Given that breathing in these fumes - or releasing them into the environment—is extremely dangerous and frequently lethal, it is crucial to identify this warning as soon as possible. Any fumes that reach the muffler will be directed away from your automobile, but if your muffler has a leak or other damage, those fumes may end up inside your vehicle.

Low fuel mileage

The speed at which exhaust leaves your car can be controlled in part by its muffler. Your engine must work harder to generate enough compressive force when the exhaust system isn't operating properly. It might be your muffler if you're stalling out, your car is not accelerating regularly, or you notice a change in your fuel mileage overall.

[encoremotorcarsofsarasotainc]

Signs That Tell Your Maybach Muffler Needs Attention

Maybach is an exotic German limousine that gives you the grade-A experience the moment you get behind the wheel. The interior with sophisticated ambiance, engine with pigheaded power, & comprehensive safety package- take a Maybach ahead of its extroverted rivals.

The comfort it gives to a driver is absolutely acoustic & the reason is its lustiness, lightness, & suppleness. If you are putting your money into something like Maybach, then you should not bother at all because you will unquestionably find it a huge bang for your buck down the road.

It is a vehicle that does not need maintenance so often. But when you use it for a considerable period of time, you may experience the failure of various components. Because all components come with a certain life expectancy, so, their failure is quite obvious. One of those components of Maybach the failure of which may put you in trouble is Muffler.

If you fail to give the needed amount of attention to your muffler when it needs the most, then the situation may become worse & turn into a very high repair bill. So, always give timely attention to the muffler. And for that, you have to be aware of the signals that a muffler usually sends after becoming faulty.

Let’s get into this article to know all the possible signs of a faulty muffler in detail.

What A Muffler Does?

A muffler is a very cardinal component of the vehicle’s exhaust system. It is there to dampen the noise produced by the vehicle during operation. When the exhaust valve goes open, the high-pressured gas collides with the low-pressured molecules that create loud sounds or loud pressured waves. This loud sound gets canceled out with the introduction of a back-pressured wave of the same intensity that a Muffler does at its functional state. The muffler regulates the flow & direction of the back pressure which helps in canceling the noise in all possible directions. So, you have a noiseless ride as long as your vehicle has a functional muffler.

Signs of a Damaged Muffler

When the muffler fails, the performance of your vehicle gets impaired in different ways. However, the good news is- with certain awareness, you can catch a faulty muffler in the first place & prevent it from becoming a serious headache. That awareness lies with the symptoms. Let’s know those symptoms in the following.

  Unrestricted Engine Noise

  Reduced Gas Mileage

  Bad Fumes

  Condensation In The Exhaust

Unrestricted Engine Noise: Every vehicle is designed to give noiseless rides. So, if your vehicle engine is not sounding normal, instead it is producing a loud rumbling or whining sound and then you have to guess that something is wrong with your vehicle’s muffler. It happens when the muffler suffers from rust or has a hole in it. Whatever may be the case, you should not let the situation exist for too long. Rather you should allow a trusted professional to work on it straight away.

Reduced Gas Mileage: To extract the best mileage from your vehicle, the engine must be in tune with the exhaust system. But when the muffler malfunctions for any reason, the tuning between the exhaust & the engine becomes inferior & the fuel economy gets dropped thereby. So, if you notice that you are filling the gas tank more often without covering the average miles, then you can take the car for muffler inspection. Don’t take it as a minor issue. It can be wallet-draining with time. So, fix it in no time.

Bad Fumes: Your vehicle won’t smell bad as long as everything is working fine. In fact, nobody would like to have a ride in a vehicle that smells bad. So, if your vehicle smells something usual, then there may be a chance that the muffler is sick. The muffler plays a key role in taking the unwanted fumes away from the vehicle. But when the muffler gets damaged by a leak, the fume gets stuck & you may feel like the engine is burning. Inhaling these fumes can be unhealthy. So, don’t wait until everything becomes too harsh to deal with. Rather, make a quick trip to a reputable auto repair shop for diagnosis & repair.

Condensation in The Exhaust: The deposition of moisture inside the exhaust is a thick sign of a malfunctioning muffler. The exhaust system heats up when the vehicle is running. And when you park the vehicle after having a ride, the exhaust system cools itself down. During this process, it attracts moisture that leads to condensation build-up. It would be fine if condensation occurs in a normal way. But if excessive condensation is spotted in the exhaust, then you can assume that the muffler is in the extremis. Well, in that case, you should bring your vehicle in for a service before experiencing a complete failure of the exhaust system.

Bottom Line

No matter what vehicle you are driving, the muffler will fail someday. Depending on the model of the vehicle & the frequency of use, the longevity of the muffler varies. But whenever it is spotted faulty, it must be given the needed attention promptly. Turn to a Maybach specialist every time you experience safety & performance issues with your vehicle.

[elkrivertireandauto]

How do you know if your exhaust system is bad? There are several signs, including a noisy muffler, that you should inspection of your vehicle's exhaust system.

[cannonauto]

Are you wondering what are the symptoms of a bad muffler?  Loud noises, decreased fuel efficiency, and a bad smell are signs of problems in exhaust systems.

[dependablecarcare]

Wondering what are the symptoms of a bad muffler? Call the automotive experts at Dependable Car Care for more information about exhaust system problems.

[vannahfanfics]

Before you read, here’s the previous chapter. New? Start from the beginning!

Cherry-Orange Blossoms 

Ao3

Chapter 3: Lies, Lies, Lies

Katsuki sucked his breath in through his teeth as he held his hands behind his head and sank himself into a squat. He held it for several seconds before gradually rising, keeping his back perfectly straight on the ascent. His calf and thigh muscles burned with exertion. Sweat glistened on his skin and dampened the fabric of his loose muscle tee and gym shorts. It had begun to roll down the ridges of his body to drip down and puddle on the laminate floor. His cheeks burned with a rosy pink hue, not unlike the color of the cherry blossom-like buds blooming within the tissue of his lungs.

His eye twitched as the tight feeling in his chest worsened. It felt like every muscle was spasming at once and giving his lungs no room to inflate. He coughed weakly, feeling an earthy must spread over his tongue as the spores floating in the infected sacs traveled up his windpipe. Apparently, Hanahaki disease was a fungal infection; the original species lived in woodlands, and its fruiting bodies mimicked flowers to attract insects, who would get trapped in their sticky secretions and slowly dissolve. By some evolutionary process or another, the fungus became parasitic, learning to survive in the harsh environment of the body’s gas exchange organ. They remained dormant, supposedly, in spore form until activated by certain hormones circulated during unrequited affection. Serotypes had differentiated from there, but the fungus reproductive structures retained their flower-like imitation.

Katsuki coughed again; he wasn’t sure if the little specks floating before his face were just dust particles illuminated by the sunlight streaming through his bedroom window, or tiny spores of the fungus. Either way, it irritated him. With a grunt, he abandoned his workout and fell back on his haunches. He gritted his teeth as he stretched out his legs, feeling the soreness of exertion pulsing deep within the tissue. He rubbed his thighs and calves, attempting to work out the tension, but paused when his phone pinged with a message notification. Frowning, he grabbed his cell phone and opened the message in the group chat Eijirou had added him to (without his permission).

Eijirou: Hey, Baku-bro, do you want to go to the mall with us today?

Denki: The videogame store is having a sale on new arrivals today! We can totally stock up!

Hanta: Denki, you just want to get Animal Crossing.

Denki: >o< Shut up! I find it therapeutic!

Eijirou: I like the ones that are really manly and into working out. :)

Katsuki rolled his eyes as the conversation derailed to a discussion about the kiddish videogame. He had nothing better to do on a Saturday afternoon, and being cooped up in his house with only his thoughts was liable to drive him insane. Already, three times that morning, Katsuki’s mind had wandered to the bubbly girl with the glitter planet charm, and he had suffered coughing fits. One of them had resulted in another cherry blossom petal, which he had buried at the bottom of his trash bin because all hell would break loose if his mother found it. Katsuki typed up a quick affirmative before climbing to his feet so he could find something suitable to wear. He didn’t care much about what people thought of his outfit, but he still had the decency to not walk around in sweat-drenched clothes.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Yooo, Baku-bro!” Denki called excitedly and waved as Katsuki hopped off the subway train. His friends clustered at the base of the stairs leading up to the street. Katsuki shoved his hands deep into his cargo pants pockets, fingering the small collection of cherry lozenges he had thrown in last minute. He didn’t look fondly upon choking out in front of the team and the cheerleaders. Hopefully, his chances of being tackled to the ground on an outing to the mall were meager. Katsuki would much rather suck on one of the sickly-sweet throat tablets than cough up a petal in front of the three. “Why the grumpy face, bro?” Denki asked as he pranced up to him and jabbed him a few times in the bicep.

“Fuck off, Pikachu, I’m not grumpy.” The natural black streak in the electric blond’s hair reminded Katsuki of the shitty little Pokémon, so he had taken to referring to Denki as such. Katsuki clicked his teeth and ran his fingers through his ash-blond hair, finding the strands still clumped with perspiration despite the crude towel-dry he had subjected the fluffy locks to. Whatever. Not like some idiot is gonna come up and sniff my hair. If some whackjob did, Katsuki would kindly provide them a knuckle sandwich.

“So, Eijirou said you had a summer cold or somethin’,” Hanta said casually as the four began to mount the steps to the surface world. “Are you feeling better?”

“I wasn’t feelin’ bad in the first place,” Katsuki growled with a pointed look at the redhead. Eijirou flushed and tugged at his collar with a nervous chuckle. Katsuki rolled his shoulders and slumped a little, feeling his already volatile mood worsening with the reminder of his humiliating experience. “It was just a shitty cough. I slept it off just fine.” The cherry lozenges bounced in his pocket, their little clacks and rustles evidence against his falsehood.

They reached the small veranda that covered the entrance to the subway system. Katsuki blinked rapidly as the harsh sunlight greeted him, burning his eyes. As he shielded his face from its onslaught, his ears gradually processed the din of conversation and traffic assaulting them. The already warm air was hot with the fumes pouring out of the mufflers of the cars lodged bumper-to-bumper on the blacktop road waiting for the light to turn green. Small crowds milled at the crosswalks or scurried in groups across the neat white lines. A steady flow of people streamed along the sidewalk, chattering into their cell phones, scrolling through their social media feeds, or talking amiably with their companions. Katsuki’s blood instantly cooled with the flush of anxiety.

So many people meant so many witnesses if things went way south.

His throat began to itch just thinking about it, and he scratched compulsively at his Adam’s apple, as if to silence the angry screams of the irritated cells. His friends seemed not to notice his anxieties; they strolled on ahead to melt into the throng. Katsuki forced his feet to follow lest he be left behind or lost in the horde. The mall was a short jaunt from the station and towered on the distant city horizon. Its glass dome reflected the light blue of the sky and shimmered like diamonds as the light beams played over its surface. He half-listened as Hanta energetically babbled about the apocalyptic survival game he intended on purchasing.

“-Bakugo. Hey, earth to Bakugo!” Katsuki’s lashes fluttered when he was yanked out of his blank thoughts by Denki. He was snapping his fingers in front of Katsuki’s face. Scowling, Katsuki shoved his hand aside and demanded to know what the hell he wanted.

“What’s up with you spacing out, dude? You were legit about to walk into the fountain.” Katsuki blinked and looked ahead to realize that the large, bubbling fountain situated in the mall’s front plaza was indeed not more than a foot in front of him. His cheeks burned with embarrassment, and he hunched his shoulders, grumbling about how he totally saw it. The three of them exchanged suspicious glances but elected to shrug off the incident. Katsuki’s mouth curled into a frown, and his gaze shifted through the various patrons as they strolled through the automatic glass doors of the mall entrance.

The cooled air pumped by the building’s massive air conditioning units admittedly did feel nice on Katsuki’s raw throat. He breathed in deep, relishing the way the icy oxygen chilled the inflamed passage. Denki squirmed about in excitement in front of him, bleating about all the things he was going to build on his Animal Crossing island. Hanta made a very unflattering gesture behind his back, which Eijirou reprimanded him for with a sharp jab to his ribs.

“Do we want snacks first?” Hanta wheezed as he held his bruised intercostals and leaned down over a decorative wall containing various ferns and flowers. Their aromatic pollen tickled Katsuki’s nose and throat, returning that insufferable itch. Katsuki edged away from the plants while holding the collar of his shirt over his mouth. When Eijirou looked at him expectantly, he dropped the cloth and grimaced.

“I don’t care. Let’s just get a move on.”

“Let’s do pretzels, then!” the redhead suggested, spying a small stand squashed in the corner of the nearby food court. Katsuki’s heart sunk, because he just knew the salt and toasted breadstuff would aggravate his symptoms; his stomach soon took over the emotions, rumbling in his abdomen to demand sustenance. Soon he was sitting on a bench and wolfing down a salted pretzel dunked in nacho cheese. Every few seconds, however, the itch would come clawing back up his trachea, and he had to douse it with a large gulp of soda, forcing it from the entrance to his throat. It lurked in the shadows of his insides, prowling like a beast.

Katsuki’s vermilion eyes anxiously skated the crowd as he ate the pretzel. Aside from his three friends, everyone in the mall was a stranger to him- but that didn’t matter. Among them could be news reporters, sports journalists, and any number of professionals who could latch onto his woeful story and make money off his downfall. He pulled at the collar of his shirt, now finding the material irritating on his neck. He slightly resented not wearing a lower-cut fit.

He tore his gaze away from the crowd, knowing that dwelling on his illness would only lead to trouble. He found Denki staring dreamily into his container of caramel sauce with his half-eaten pretzel raining cinnamon sugar onto his clothes as he just held it up.

“Yo, Earth to Pikachu. Who’s the one spacing out now?” Katsuki jeered. He blinked when a faint pink hue rose to the lanky blond’s cheeks.

“I wonder if Kyoka likes Animal Crossing.”

“Oh, here we go,” Hanta sighed and pushed his forehead into his hand with a sardonic grin. Denki blushed darker but was determined to keep the stoic noirette the topic of conversation.

“She’s just so… you know! And I’m so… you know!” Denki lamented, gestating wildly with his pretzel and shaking more of the sweet spice and sugar all over himself. Katsuki pouted and reclined against the bench, trying not to focus on the romantic implications of the conversation. He’d suffered enough of romance in the last few days. It’s like I can’t escape from this Hell! He seethed, desperately trying to prevent his thoughts from spiraling to a certain cheery brunette. Denki whined and pushed his fist into his cheek. “I just don’t know how to impress her, you guys.”

“You mean your ravishing good looks aren’t enough?” Hanta joked, earning an affronted shove from the blond. Hanta munched on his pretzel hot dog and didn’t even bother swallowing. With his cheek puffed out like a chipmunk’s, he posed matter-of-factly, “You gotta make her laugh, dude. Chicks dig a guy who can crack a good joke.”

“I’m funny, right…?”

“O’course you are, Denki!” Eijirou encouraged and looked at Katsuki, eyebrows knit and requesting a follow-up. Katsuki licked some nacho cheese from the corner of his mouth and bared his teeth like an angry hound.

“Funny-looking.”

“Baku-bro, why’re you so mean?” Denki whined and flopped his head back against the metal bar of the bench. Katsuki bristled, then looked away aggravatedly.

“Why’re you asking me, anyway? Do you think I give two shits about your little crush problems? Just man up and ask the girl out, Jesus,” he growled and violently tore a chunk of the pretzel off with his teeth. Denki pursed his lips thoughtfully, then sighed wistfully.

“It’s just not that easy, y’know…”

“Yeah, but he’s right, man,” Hanta frowned. “At least that way, you’ll get an answer. Keep pinin’ like this, and you’ll end up like Kendo.” Hanta made a coughing up motion and then sneered, obviously jesting. Denki snorted with laughter while Eijirou grinned, but Katsuki felt a blast of fire pulse through his nerve circuits. His cheeks flushed with anger, and he clenched the container of nacho cheese until it caved in and spilled the thick paste all over his fingers.

“Shut the fuck up,” he snarled. The three boys looked at him, their smiles each falling from their faces as they beheld Katsuki’s rigid posture and death-grip on the crumpled plastic packet of cheese. When Eijirou began to ask if he was all right, Katsuki’s red eyes flashed to him with a livid glare. “Shut the fuck up. You assholes have no fucking idea what you’re talking about! Keep fucking joking like that, and you will be choking on flowers soon!” he roared and threw the messy container of cheese onto the floor. Denki protested as the yellow-orange substance splattered all over the tile, but Katsuki was already up and walking, dripping the sauce from his fingers as he stalked off into the crowd. He didn’t have a destination in mind. He didn’t even have much of a reason other than he just had to get out of there. Or else, the bitter tears that he was so desperately trying to hold back would spring forth, and he couldn’t have that.

Subconsciously, he was able to navigate to the nearest men’s restroom. He startled a little boy washing his hands by throwing the door open with such force that the handle banged against the tile wall and cracked it. The boy decided to skip the paper towels and hurried out of the room, leaving Katsuki alone. Panting as the emotions threatened to overtake him, he paced in front of the sinks like an angry tiger, snarling curses under his breath. With a sudden shout, he punched the metal bin of paper towels. The surface dented, and the automatic dispenser registered his movement and spat out a single white piece of thin material. Something about the dull whirring of the machine swept his frustration away, leaving him just an empty shell. Dully, he plucked the napkin from the dispenser and began wiping the cheese from his hand.

“Fuck,” he whispered suddenly and flopped back against the wall, running his clean hand over his face. What the fuck was his problem? Growing angry at the smallest things, barely able to contain his temper… Rumor would begin to spread if he kept it up. He looked morosely at his knuckles, which were already turning blue and purple -purple, like Ochako’s glittery Saturn charm that she was so excited to pull out of that crappy little coin game at the bubble tea shop sophomore year.

Ochako…

What would she think, to see him acting like this- yelling at his friends and punching things? It would sadden her, absolutely. The brick scraped against Katsuki’s back as he slid down into a sitting position. He tucked his legs to his chest and rested his arms on his knees, then buried his face into the flesh of his forearms. His red eyes gazed miserably at the shadowy tile peeking between the ridges of his sneakers.

Stop freaking out so much. That’s all you have to do, Katsuki tried to convince himself. He narrowed his eyes and clenched his jaw. Stop being a pissbaby. So what if you’ve got some dumbass disease? Who cares what those Internet bastards say?! I ain’t dyin’, at least not for some time yet! He clenched his fists together, renewed determination flooding his body. I don’t gotta lay down and die or walk on eggshells for this bullshit! I’m Katsuki fucking Bakugo, basketball superstar in the making! No pussy-ass fungus bitch is taking me out!

His nostrils flared as he blew hot breath from his nose. His arm shot up to grasp the sink nearest him and haul himself up. He wiped the rest of the cheese from his hand and then glared at himself into the mirror. Red eyes swam in a pale face that was gradually returning with the color of life -red eyes, like red sneakers, like red hairpins, like red blood. I’m not choking on it yet, he growled to the slightly sickly reflection. Not fucking yet.

His friends were still on the bench when he finally ventured out. They had finished their pretzels and were now drinking slushes. Eijirou had a blue one tucked neatly beside him, untouched.

“Hey, Katsuki, we saved you one,” the redhead smiled and offered the icy drink to him. Katsuki took it with a quiet word of gratitude, electing to stand and shake off the rest of his nervous energy by shifting his weight continuously from one foot to the other. The three boys on the bench awkwardly glanced at one another.

Hanta nervously piped up, “You were right. Hanahaki isn’t somethin’ to joke about… Sorry.” Katsuki stared blankly into the slushie, plucking up the straw to swirl the slushy liquid-ice concoction around in the giant cup.

“S’fine. ‘S just… I saw her, y’know. Kendo.” Katsuki had passed her in the hall the previous day. The girl crouched by the water fountain, clutching her neck as yellow narcissus petals sprouted from her trachea. They fluttered slowly down to pile at her feet; some of the buttery flowers were tinged red with blood from where they had brushed against her raw throat. After a hacking bout, she had shakily tried to drink some water, only to spit it up and start all over again. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and broken sobs leaked out with the coughs. “It’s fucking miserable. I don’t wish it on anybody,” he whispered with lidded eyes. He continued swirling the slush without drinking it, watching the ice melt. The three boys fidgeted on the bench, shamed into silence. Of course, Katsuki was no better; up until this point, he had haughtily discounted anyone who fell victim to the ailment as weak-willed and stupid.

He was such a conceited prick.

Sullenly, he sucked more of the half-melted concoction into his mouth. The cold mush soothed his burning throat even better than the cooled building air. Blinking, he cast a look back into the crowd-

and saw a glittery purple Saturn charm swinging within the mass of bodies. He coughed a little and spit up some of the blue liquid back into the cup, then rubbed his eyes to make sure he didn’t imagine the tacky charm. Sure enough, Ochako had the accessory clipped to one of the belt loops of her white jean shorts. Her smile was radiant, spearing light throughout the room like the stars through the universe. Her pink blouse swished about her frame, giving her a dainty and cute look. She was in avid conversation with someone as she strolled along, and had her fingers linked with theirs.

Katsuki didn’t have to look to know whose hand she was holding.

His fingers twitched, itching to crush the slushie just like he did the little container of cheese, but he refrained from doing so. He couldn’t stop the wracking cough that rattled his body, however. He turned away from his friends on the bench as his chest spasmed. That familiar feeling blossomed in his trachea. The petal was soft as it landed on his tongue, spreading it earthy flavor over his taste buds. He discreetly spat it out and tucked it underneath the fingers holding his cup as Eijirou asked him if he was all right.

“Just fine,” he lied. The blossom-like fungal body seared against his skin, like it was reprimanding him. Not that it did much good- for the next several months, Katsuki was going to lie and lie and lie until it got to the point he couldn’t anymore.

He didn’t know what he would do when that time came. Hollowly, he drank the slushie, feeling the numbing cold spread throughout his entire body- cold like death.

Enjoy this story? Here’s the next chapter! Want more stories? Check out my Table of Contents!

Tag List: @deliathedork​  @simplybakugou​ @sadistiks​ @wesparklebitch​ @cellotonin​ @pixxiesdust​ 

[marithlizard]

Ace Attorney: Rise From the Ashes (Day Two, Trial Latter) (part 3)

Wherein I attempt to liveblog a mostly text-based videogame.  The trial continues!  Lunch is over and yet we’re still being fed indigestible statements. 

Court has recessed briefly for information-gathering. The clock says it's not even noon, but I feel like we've heard hours’ worth of (mostly untrue) testimony.

Lana has been called to the judge's chambers for reasons unknown.  Ema is realizing just how much of a, what's the polite word, “freewheeler” she's chosen to represent her sister.  But Phoenix is still flailing about when any other defense attorney in this world would have given up, so she'd best appreciate him.

It's the cowboy!  Who pointedly mentions Lana's scarf, which he saw her wearing on the day of the murder.   Since she wasn't wearing it in the photograph taken afterward, presumably the missing muffler is...in the car muffler?  Was she trying to hide something, or give Edgeworth carbon monoxide poisoning?  And just why is Marshall dropping us this helpful hint?

Court resumes with Edgeworth on the verge of some kind of conniption fit.   The judge lists off his symptoms concernedly - oh NO surely you didn't eat one of the lunchboxes, Edgeworth!  I've already been wondering how Angel Starr resisted the urge to give you food poisoning for two years, and that was before you verbally eviscerated her on the witness stand.

...Hello, who's this?

Peach suit, white hair, pink glasses and an avuncular folksy charm.  You. I don't like you.  

"Udgey?"  Is that the judge's name, or some sort of twee pig-latin nickname for Judge?  And "Wrighto" and "Worthy".  And he can get away with calling people slightly demeaning and offbeat nicknames, because apparently he's the district chief of police,  Damon Gant.  Phoenix is chastised for not recognizing him, which is probably fair.

Okay, that technique of taking away the dialogue box for several seconds while Gant cocks his head and blinks at us is quite effective.  This, we're silently being told, is a character so powerful they can interrupt the flow of the game itself. 

The judge notes that it's been "over two years" since Gant was in the courtroom.  That matches when Angel was fired.   This is all about one case, isn't it?  The case Lana and the victim worked on, the case that got Marshall demoted.

Gant has brought some false sympathy for Edgeworth and also Lana's missing scarf, which was indeed found stuffed in the car muffler.   (So the lunchlady was telling the truth about at least something.)  The scarf was wrapped around a switchblade with a tag on it. So, not a personal possession like Edgeworth's knife, but...an exhibit?  Something from storage? Like, evidence storage?

Edgeworth is justifiably upset that the police investigation didn't notice a scrap of red cloth hanging out of the car muffler inches away from the body.  Gant's initial sheepish admission that "this is embarrassing, even for us"  suddenly turns into that blinking Look again.   I feel like a trap is about to be sprung.

It's the envelope from yesterday, the one delivered by the hapless mailman!  Who told Edgeworth it wasn't related to the case, so he refused to take it.   Ouch.  It is Edgeworth's error, but there's something gleefully malicious about the way  Gant just set him up and then sucker-punched him.  There was no need for this to be a public humiliation.  In fact, it could've been discreetly sorted out before Gant got on the stand.  Or before trial started this morning.

(Why IS he on the stand? He's not a testifying witness. He just kinda...strolled in and took over. )

The judge asks Phoenix to examine the switchblade.  The knife tip is broken off and the blade and handle have bloodstains.    The tag, when I zoom in focus to max, says "S-L 9 2".   As for the envelope, it appears to be an autopsy report on Goodman, and doesn't mention the muffler or switchblade at all.  It also has a much vaguer timeframe than 5:15. 

Edgeworth tries to regain face by demanding an explanation about the missed evidence.  This is a bad, bad idea. I could've told you that even before Gant delightedly agrees  to testify.

Gant says the knife is special, but that he can't say how unless a  "connection is proven between the knife and Goodman."   Um. Doesn't the very presence of the knife, deliberately concealed at the crime scene, in itself mean it's not only connected but vital to understanding what happened?  I don't think you should get to withhold that information.

Nor do I think "we were having a bad day" is an acceptable excuse for not investigating the crime scene properly.  Cops get aggressively motivated when one of their own is attacked, everybody knows that.  Or was Goodman some kind of pariah?  

...wait.  What???   What Gant's saying is so bizarre I misread it.  There was a SECOND murder, at precisely the same time (and that's an awfully precise time),  at the police department?  "Not officially linked to this case" my aunt Fanny.

And Phoenix isn't supposed to ask about it in cross-examination?  I predict that will last about five seconds, because we're going to press every one of these statements hard enough to extract olive oil.

Starting with the knife.  Both Phoenix and Edgeworth push for more, but Gant refuses.  Can I make a connection that will impress the judge?  My inventory contains a phone, a shoe...and a note found in the trunk of the car that says "6-75 12/2".    Which looks a lot like "2/21 SL-9" if you turn it upside down.

Gant is acting as though this is a circus and he's never seen a clown before, delighted at everything Phoenix and the judge say.    This conveys an impression of total contempt behind a fig leaf of friendliness that can't be questioned.  It's a passive-aggressive masterpiece.  Somewhere in the audience Himemiya Anthy is probably taking notes.

And his facade barely flickers when faced with the memo.  The knife was evidence in a case (duh).  Stolen from the evidence room...and that's it? That's all we get?

Oh, this guy is skilled.   Edgeworth quite reasonably asks why he wasn't told about this impossibly coincidental murder, and Gant promptly insinuates that he's incompetent because he didn't proactively ask.  As though a proper prosecutor would have called the department every day with a checklist of possible events.  Why, I bet you didn't even consider a Godzilla attack contingency, did you?   Tsk tsk.

Gant continues to playfully refuse to give information on this second murder (except that a suspect has been arrested).  He offers to give Phoenix one data  point of his choice: where, how or when.  Apparently this trial has turned into a game show.

We already know when, so I choose where.  And Gant makes a curious distinction.  The crime took place in the evidence room (where the knife came from), but he won't say where the corpse was found.    Was the body moved?  As they say, he is playing a game and it is called silly buggers.   I'm absolutely assuming he is behind both murders (though sadly he can't have committed both, unless something paranormal or very complicated is going on).

Phoenix points out that a knife being stolen from the evidence room and then found at crime A, precisely when crime B is committed in the evidence room, is a pretty "duh" link.  Edgeworth supports by mentioning the note.   Whoever wrote it (Goodman, the murderer, or Lana)  presumably either stole the knife or was investigating its theft.    Even the judge agrees this has to count.  Gant just does his blink thing again.

And says his men took two days to assemble that logic.  In other words, he knew. And he STILL wants to play games.  He'll talk "unofficially", but not reveal the name of the victim.  (Why is that so important?)  When pressed, he offers  another one-data-point choice.   I choose ID number which should be easy to link to a name...although apparently Gant doesn't think so.

Victim ID number: 5842189.   The judge looks expectant.  I have a horrible idea, and check the court record.

Yep. It's Goodman's ID number.

Simultaneous murders of the same victim in different locations? That's an impressive level of silly buggers, chief.  And you didn't want this to come out in the trial? If I didn't already know Lana was innocent by video-game rules, I'd know it now.

Even this doesn't faze Gant.   (I really wanted to see him look thwarted. Damnit.) 

Edgeworth keeps on asking "Why didn't I hear about this?"  even though the answer is always "Because Gant has it in for you, and you just gave him another opening to attack."   It's as though he can't quite believe what is happening.  

Yep, there's that trap-springing look again.  With the first honest expression I think we've seen on Gant's face so far!  Just for one frame,  a flicker of anger and malice. This time he claims the police department sent Edgeworth all the information in that envelope delivered by Hapless Mailman Meekins, which Edgeworth didn't look at.

Hang on.  That's not even true.  We have that envelope in the court record, and...*scrolls up*...it's an autopsy report on Goodman.   It doesn't say which.  Even if Edgeworth had read it, he would have had no reason to think there was a second crime and victim.   Moreover,  Gant already raked him over the coals for not reading it,  in this same trial session!   No...as the trap unfolds,  Gant seems to be claiming this is an entirely different envelope also delivered by Meekins(?)  It doesn't make sense.

But truth isn't going to matter here.  This is a career-destroying maneuver, and it's uncomfortable to watch.  Edgeworth is helpless under the crushing accusations,  protesting vainly that Gant could have submitted all this evidence  when the trial started.   Well, yes, that's what anyone but your enemy would have done...    The flicker of malice is back as Gant rubs it all in with a technicality about evidence law.

(Ah, this detail might be relevant:  Edgeworth  apparently submitted a list of evidence to be used in the trial, which of course did not include things he didn't know existed.    That flies in the face of all Phoenix Wright games past and present, in which new evidence is produced about every five minutes during trial, this one included.)

This morning's Public Career Assassination, I mean trial,  comes to an end with Gant mentioning the rumors about Edgeworth, and even using his own brief status as a defendant against him.  Edgeworth can do nothing but formally grovel.  He begs for one more day of trial to investigate all this new information.   The judge grants it,of course, but joins in condemning him.

I don't know why Gant wants to get rid of Edgeworth, but it's obvious the plan is to fire him after tomorrow's trial no matter what happens.   The only way to save Edgeworth (and oh yeah, our actual client who's barely been mentioned lately) is to bring Gant down.  I am on board with this.  He's a mean lying stinkyhead and he's smug about it.   Get him, Phoenix!

(Rereading my notes from last time,  I'm remembering the moment when Angel Starr told Edgeworth "I might be able to save you".  Did she know this was coming down? )

[rumriverautos]

Wondering when does a muffler need to be replaced? Ask the professionals at Rum River Automotive for advice about the exhaust systems.

[puleosauto]

Wondering How do you know when your muffler is bad? Schedule an inspection of your exhaust systems at Puleo's auto clinic.

[anzu2snow]

It’s been a long time since I simply wrote something on here, instead of shared a link to my blog. Since it’s a little difficult right now to blog through blogger for me, I might just write stuff here.

I don’t think I wrote about my cancer directly on here before. I was diagnosed with metastatic or stage 4 breast cancer back in April. I had no other cancer diagnosis beforehand. People tell me I’m too young for it. I’m 36. (Was 35 when diagnosed, but had my birthday in November.) Younger than even when the mammograms are supposed to start up. I’ll always have this. There’s no beating stage 4 breast cancer. It’s spread to my bones (all over my skeleton) and skin.

Found out about the bone mets (lesions) first before they found the cancer. I had fallen in the shower back in March and broke my right shoulder. A month later, as I was recovering, ankle/leg swelling wouldn’t go down so I went to Urgent Care to get checked out. They found the bone mets in the imaging. They weren’t exactly sure that’s what they were at the time, and ordered a mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsies of both breasts. They found out that it’s in both breasts, too. My type is hormone positive (all of them), and her2-.

I was put into my insurance’s palliative care program in April. It’s helped me a lot. I have a cane, hospital bed, walker, a home aide that comes by to give me a shower twice a week (the broken shoulder still isn’t flexible enough to shower with), a nurse that calls once a week and sometimes meets face-to-face at home, a social worker who calls once a week, a doctor that deals with meds for the symptoms part of it, and more. I was supposed to start physical therapy through them, but haven’t yet. There’s a lot more to the program than I thought at first.

I had a radical hysterectomy back in July. That took care of the hormone powerhouses which were feeding the cancer. Had more problems with swelling afterwards. It’s been bad off and on since then. Pretty good right now, at least.

I’m on Ibrance for chemo. Luckily, it’s just an oral pill and not through an IV. Also, taking anastrazole for the hormone part. Started taking zometa recently. That is actually through an IV once every 3 months. It’s a bone-strengthening med for people like me where it’s in the bones. I was told it could give me flu-like symptoms after that 1st dose. Sure enough, it did. Had a fever, came close to throwing up, etc. the next day for 2 days after. They said that only happens the 1st time. I hope so. I’m not taking it anymore if I end up that sick every time. So, we’ll see. I take a lot of meds now for things like pain, nausea, cramps, swelling, and more. I have what looks like a little pharmacy in the dining room with all that stuff. I hate taking it all, but if I don’t, I can’t function at all.

I’ve been having a weird symptom lately. I feel like I’m going to faint/slip away sometimes. I told my new oncologist about this and she immediately said it sounded like brain mets. She quickly ordered a brain MRI to see. I just had that done yesterday. The last one I had was back in April, and my brain looked fine. I didn’t remember that there was a contrast for this one. It was louder than I remembered, too. Despite having ear plugs and mufflers on either side of my head. Ended up with a mild headache because of the constant loud thuds. They kept asking if I was ok. I love tight enclosed spaces, so I was fine. I had to have help with the gown and robe, which was kind of embarrassing. They said I should get the results by Monday. Much sooner than I expected.

On Monday, I’m getting both a full bone scan and CT scan. My last bone scan in September indicated progression. I hope it doesn’t this time. I hope it hasn’t travelled to other organs with the CT scan. However, knowing how aggressive this cancer has been, it wouldn’t surprise me if it has spread to another organ somewhere. It’s going to be a long day.

[losech]

For the past couple months my Jeep has been having loss of power problems. It could have been a number of things since the symptoms weren’t specific to one problem. I was having a hard time figuring out the exact cause, and sometime in the middle of March when it could barely make it down the road, I took it to a mechanic just to get a diagnostic check done on it. Long stupid story short, the shop broke FOUR state laws and didn’t come anywhere close to figuring out the issue. I had told them the things I wanted looked at and they completely blew me off, started throwing parts at it, and tried to charge me for the “repairs” I was never quoted on or authorized. After speaking with the manager about it, he took off all the extra charges except for the original diagnostic and gave me my Jeep back. It didn’t even get out of the parking lot, so I yanked the upstream O2 sensor (which I had to do to get it there, and the one they installed wasn’t even hand tight) and bombed off. Back home I did a little more digging and took a guess that the catalytic converter, which was one of the items I told them to check, was bad. So I broke out my angle grinder (I love that tool) and cut the bitch out. This is what greeted me when it dropped out from under the Jeep. Not only was the internal honeycomb bad, it was destroyed and had nearly blocked the outlet pipe. It had also barfed pieces of itself into the muffler. I replaced both the cat and the muffler and the Jeep runs great. I’ve never been a fan of taking my vehicles to the mechanic. Never had a good experience with one. And after this shitshow, I’m done with them. It’s DIY from here on out.