How to Spot Early Warning Signs That Your Car Needs Repair or Service

 

Car Repair Richmond

As per the manufacturer’s guidelines, you should service your car regularly. Failing to do so, the car will give you unexpected problems on the road, such as breakdowns, lower mileage, skidding, an uncomfortable driving experience, etc.

However, if you forget to service your car, it will start showing you signs that it needs servicing. Recognising these signs and acting on them will lead to fewer and affordable repairs. Otherwise, you can see the car breaking down in the middle of nowhere, resulting in towing costs and servicing expenses.

In this blog, you will learn the early warning signs that tell you your car needs a repair or service.

Car Service Richmond

  • Unusual Noises
    Always remember the car ride has to be smooth and comfortable, with no abnormal sounds reaching your ears. Sounds like grinding, squealing or knocking sounds indicate that there is something wrong with your car. It also tells that the parts of the car are working overload to make your car travel on the road. Ignoring those sounds and continuing to drive your car will lead to expensive problems. You can easily avoid this by regularly servicing your car or acting on it whenever you hear weird noises from the car.

  • Warning Lights
    Your dashboard will turn on the warning lights if there is something wrong inside your car. Always check these lights and act immediately by going to a car repair station. You can observe lights such as the engine light, oil pressure light, battery light, engine temperature light and the Anti-Brake Locking System light. Ignoring these lights will lead to bigger and costlier problems that you can avoid by regularly servicing your car.

  • Changes in Handling
    When you steer your car, it should drive exactly how you want it to go. However, if you observe the car getting pulled to one side or vibration while you steer, there is an issue with handling. You should not ignore the poor steering response from your car, as it indicates there is a problem with suspension, wheel alignment or tyres. Having proper steering and handling is essential for safe and efficient driving, especially if you are driving on hills and uneven terrain.

  • Fluid Leaks
    When you park the car, there should be no leaking drops on the ground. If you see fluid leaks, you should immediately go to the servicing station. Also, keep an eye on the colour of the liquid: pink suggests transmission leaks, green or orange suggests coolant leaks, brown or black suggests oil leaks, and clear liquid indicates brake fluid leaks. Always ensure that there are no leakages under your car, especially if it’s been a long time since you last serviced your car.

  • Exhaust Smoke and unusual odours
    If you find unusual smells around your car, it’s a sure sign of trouble. Different smells indicate different issues present in your car. For instance, a sweet smell indicates coolant leakage, a burning smell indicates an issue with the engine, and a musty odour means there is something wrong with the air conditioning system in your car.

    If you observe these smells and there is coloured or excessive smoke from the tailpipe, don’t forget to go to a service station for a quick diagnosis.

  • Reduced Performance: Difficulty starting, poor acceleration, or stalling
    There is an issue with your car if it’s not giving its best performance. You can easily compare the driving experience of the car that’s serviced and that isn’t. You can tell there is a reduced performance of the car. If you have trouble starting your car, poor acceleration and stalling of the car, it means the car’s performance has diminished. Servicing your car will fix the issue. Also, diagnosing the issues at an early stage will not result in bigger and expensive repairs.

Final thoughts

These are the signs that you need to observe when you are driving a car. They will tell you that you need to service your car in case you forgot to do it in your busy schedule. You can extend the lifespan of your car and improve your safety while driving with regular servicing and timely repairs.