7 Signs Your Car Needs Servicing

Though millions of people drive a car every single day, many of us don’t know vital basic information about how they work. This includes how to spot problems with our vehicles.

If you don’t know a lot about cars, that’s okay. But it does mean it’s important to keep up with regular servicing at your local mechanic. This can help you make sure nothing is seriously wrong. Plus, if you let problems go, they’ll likely worsen over time. In the short term, this leaves you with a bigger repair bill. In the long run it can also shorten the life of your vehicle and make it less safe to drive.

However, most cars will give you signals that something is wrong even before your dashboard lights pop on.

Here’s what to watch out for:

• Squealing or grinding noises: Sometimes you will hear these as you come to a stop. This could indicate that it’s time to replace your rotors, calipers, or brake pads.
• Leaks: The green liquid in your engine is radiator coolant. If you spot it, this could indicate a coolant leak, something that eventually causes engines to overheat.
• Oil spots: Finding oil under your car usually indicates an oil leak. Be sure to get it fixed before it stops your engine from running properly.
• Noisy start: If you hear squealing when you start your car, it may be time to replace one of the belts that powers vital components of your vehicle.
• Slow start: Batteries wear out over time, and a slow-starting vehicle may indicate it’s time to replace yours.
• Lots of vibrations: A lot of vibration while driving may mean you need to change your tires, or that your car is out of alignment
• Running loud: If your car is running much louder than usual, you may need to replace your muffler

Obviously, each car is different, and these signs don’t automatically indicate your car is broken or beyond repair. However, if you notice them, it might be a good idea to have a trusted mechanic check over your car so you can save yourself grief down the road.

Some tools can even help you diagnose problems as they come up. These little devices plug into your car’s on-board diagnostics port, which is what mechanics use to diagnose problems. Plus, they relay the problem in easy-to-understand language so you know exactly what’s wrong and how urgent the problem is.