5 Signs A Car Needs Maintenance Or Repairs

Posted on: 30 November 2022

Staying in front of auto repair and maintenance needs is critical if you want to keep a vehicle on the road for years to come. Fortunately, cars tend to tell you when they're starting to have trouble. However, you have to know what the signs are.

Check Engine Light 

It is tempting to dismiss the check engine light as an endless annoyance. However, modern onboard computers in cars provide the first line of defense when it comes to maintenance. Small changes in sensor readings can trip the check engine light, but this is a good thing. If the fuel mixture degrades because several sparkplugs are old, for example, a sensor will pick that up. Addressing the problem will protect your vehicle's engine while also likely improving its fuel economy.

Vibrations

Bumpy roads happen, but your car should constantly experience vibrations. If your vehicle vibrates everywhere it goes, there is more likely than not an auto repair issue. It might require a simple fix, such as tightening the lug nuts on the wheels. The solution could also get more involved, such as requiring a technician to pull apart the suspension system to replace damaged components. Vibrations always risk the vehicle falling apart so you should handle even small issues as soon as possible.

Declining Fuel Economy

Many problems don't necessarily stop the car or even trigger the check engine light. Instead, they may just reduce performance a bit. When this happens, your ride might only lose a couple of MPG. However, you shouldn't ignore this unless there's a credible explanation, such as you were driving in a more mountainous area than usual. If the fuel economy drops, it's a potential sign that some system is asking for auto maintenance.

Noises 

Modern cars don't make tons of noise. If a vehicle is operating louder than usual, there's probably an auto repair problem somewhere. The exhaust system, for example, could have a leak. This can cause it to operate louder than usual because the air pressure is bypassing the muffler.

You also could hear noises from loose components or even parts grinding against metal. Virtually every unusual noise from a car is bad news so take the vehicle to a mechanic right away.

Drips

Cars are tightly built these days, and that means they should have lots of drips. If you're seeing colored drips, there's a good chance radiator, brake, or transmission fluid is leaking somewhere. You might also see relatively clear drips from the tailpipe if the engine isn't operating optimally.

Contact auto repair services to learn more. 

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