5 Signs That It’s Time For An Engine Checkup
Just as you need to take yourself off to the doctor from time to time when your body isn’t running as well as it should, you need to take your car to an auto mechanic regularly, and especially if it’s trying to tell you that it needs a checkup! ‘But how?’ I hear you ask. ‘Cars can’t talk!’. Perhaps not in human language, but make no mistake, your car can and will communicate with you when there’s a problem, and your job is to be able to successfully interpret what it says. Here are five signs that your car may be feeling a little under the weather.
1. Leaking Carbon Monoxide
Because carbon monoxide is odourless it’s especially difficult to detect a leak. This is a situation in which you need to listen to your own body as well as your car. Carbon monoxide is toxic to humans, and therefore may cause you to feel drowsy, nauseous, or develop a ringing sound in your ears it could mean you’re suffering carbon-monoxide poisoning from a leak inside the car. You must stop immediately if this is the case, because aside from the fact that your car is clearly in trouble, so is your health.
2. Squealing Brakes
If you hear a high-pitched squealing or whistling sound when you apply the brakes, or if your break pedal feels ‘spongey’ or too soft or needs to be pushed almost to the floor in order to stop the car, this means that you need to get your brakes seen to immediately. The squealing noise is most likely due to water on the brake pads or the brake pads are dangerously low.
3. Rattling, Clunking or Clattering
Your car isn’t a percussion instrument. If you hear an abnormal clunking, clattering or rattling coming from the engine (or really anywhere in the car, providing you’re not transporting a box of empty bottles!) it could be an indication that you’ve blown the head gasket. You need to stop and have your car towed to a mechanic or service station ASAP.
4. Difficult Starting the Engine
If it takes you several tries to get your engine to start or you hear a click when you try to turn the key but no ignition, it could be an indication that your battery is running low or that there is a problem with your alternator. Either way, you should have it checked out as soon as possible by a service station.
5. Oil Light
This seems like a relatively simple one – how obviously can it be if your car flashes the oil light? You’d be surprised, dear readers, at how often this light is ignored or simply overlooked. If any of the lights on your dash light up the first thing to do is determine what they mean, and then have the problem seen to immediately.
Having a regular car service is vital to maintaining car health. Even if your car doesn’t show any signs of needing one, prevention is better than a cure so make sure you stay on top of it to ensure a long and happy vehicular life!
5 Things to Consider With Car Repair
Car repair is a necessary evil that we must all deal with over the life of our vehicles. All cars are going to break down and need to be fixed eventually, needing both care and attention that is not always connected to a car accident.
There are a couple of different things that you are going to want to consider when thinking about the repair of your vehicle. Taking various things into consideration and giving thought to some important subjects will help you to make sure that your car gets the exact kind of care that it needs to operate again.
Labor
It is important for all people to realize that labor costs are simply the name of the game with car repair. While you may not be thrilled with the amount of hours needed for a fix or with the price of those hours, it is the cost that you must pay to have something fixed by an experienced mechanic. Focus more on working the price of the parts down. Repair shops are much more likely to budge on this price than the cost of labor.
Time to Fix the Vehicle
Some repair jobs are simply going to take more time than others. Even ASE Master technicians need to take time with certain types of repairs. Just be patient and know that engine fixes and certain part replacements need time to complete. Remember, repair shops want to get in as many cars as possible. They are not going to simply sit on your vehicle.
Reputation and Expertise
If you do need your car fixed you will want to find mechanics that are known for their expertise. Car repair locations that are not reputable may not give you the level of service that you expect.
Getting One Thing Fixed
It is true that there are some car repair locations that will try to get you to fix more on your vehicle than you need to fix. Most reputable locations will not do this, however, and will be honest with you about the needs of your vehicle.
Checkups can Prevent Issues
If you want to make sure that your car works as efficiently as possible for as long as possible, get regular check ups on your vehicle. You will find that you do not need car repair as often when you do some preventative maintenance with your vehicle.
These are not the only facets to car repair that are important. These are simple five different things that you are going to want to consider before, during, and after any potential care repair experience. The more thought that you put into the repair of your car, the happier you will be with the results and the better that your vehicle will run. Thinking of things like location, time, and expertise will help you to ensure that you have chosen the right car repair company, helping to completely provide you with your repair needs.