Just as you need to go to the doctor from time to time when your body isn’t working as well as it should, you should take your car to an auto mechanic regularly, and especially if he’s trying to tell you it’s not working. needs a checkup! ‘But how?’ I hear you ask. ‘Cars can’t talk!’ Maybe not in human language, but make no mistake, your car can and will communicate with you when there’s a problem, and it’s your job to be able to successfully interpret what you’re saying. Here are five signs your car may be feeling a little off.
1. Carbon monoxide leaks
Because carbon monoxide is odorless, it is especially difficult to detect a leak. This is a situation where you need to listen to your own body and your car. Carbon monoxide is toxic to humans and therefore can make you feel drowsy, nauseous, or develop ringing in your ears; it could mean that you are suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning due to a leak inside the car. You should stop immediately if this is the case, because aside from the fact that your car is clearly in trouble, so is your health.
2. Squeaky Brakes
If you hear a high-pitched screeching or hissing noise when you apply the brakes, or if your brake pedal feels ‘spongy’ or too soft or you need to push it almost to the floor to stop the car, this means you need to have your brakes looked at immediately. The squeaking is most likely due to water on the brake pads or the brake pads being dangerously low.
3. Rattle, jingle or rattle
Your car is not a percussion instrument. If you hear an abnormal knocking, rattling, or rattling sound coming from the engine (or from any part of the car, as long as you’re not hauling a crate of empty bottles!), it could be an indication that you’ve burned out your head gasket. You should stop and have your car towed to a mechanic or service station as soon as possible.
4. Difficulty starting the engine
If it takes you several tries to get your engine to start or you hear a clicking sound when you try to turn the key but it doesn’t start, it could be an indication that your battery is running low or there is a problem with your alternator. Either way, you should have it checked as soon as possible at a service station.
5. Oil light
This seems relatively simple: how obvious can it be if your car has an oil light? You would be surprised, dear readers, how often this light is ignored or simply overlooked. If any of the lights on your dash come on, the first thing you should do is determine what they mean and then immediately look at the problem.
Having a regular car service is vital to maintaining the health of the car. Even if your car shows no signs of needing one, prevention is better than cure, so make sure you’re in the know to ensure a long and happy vehicle life!