Signs Your Vehicle Needs Immediate Service
It’s easy to neglect vehicle maintenance. Oftentimes, dashboard lights and strange noises go ignored, since it can be tough to find the time and money to have your vehicle serviced. That said, there are some warnings that shouldn’t be neglected as they’re solid signs of imminent vehicle failure. Here’s a look at what to keep an eye out for.
Don’t Get Left Out In the Cold: What you need to know about battery maintenance
Strange smells
If you find yourself stocking up on air fresheners, your car may have a serious underlying issue. Foul scents usually point to an engine oil issue, but they can also indicate other urgent problems. A sulfurous, rotten-egg-like stink usually means that your vehicle needs a new catalytic converter. But if you smell burning, don’t delay — that can be an indicator that your vehicle has a serious electrical issue. If you can’t identify the scent, but smell something off about your vehicle, you can’t go wrong with bringing it in for a checkup.
Bad vibrations
Feel shakiness when you’re shifting, braking, or steering? That can point to a wide variety of vehicle issues, all of which should be taken seriously. Shaky, noisy, or grinding brakes can mean that it’s time to get the brake pads replaced. Jittery driving can also be attributed to a flat tire or low oil. But if you’ve checked your vehicle and those issues aren’t at fault, it’s possible that your car’s engine could be ailing. Have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible.
Smoke struggles
Unless it’s a small trail coming out of the exhaust pipe, a smoking vehicle is a bad sign. Smoke from under the hood means that your engine is overheating, which can result in long-term, major issues. To limit the damage, turn off your vehicle and have it towed to a service center. If your car has black smoke billowing out the tailpipe, you’re likely dealing with an issue in the fuel line. Blue-tinged smoke indicates oil burning, while white smoke can point to radiator problems.
Dashboard lights
Yeah, you knew we’d mention it — the irritating “check engine” light and its neighbors warrant your attention. When they’re yellow, they’re signs that your car needs maintenance. But when they turn red or blink, it’s a different story. Red or blinking symbols mean imminent vehicle failure. This is particularly critical for brake- and engine-related lights, so don’t delay bringing your vehicle in for service. If your car’s too far from the shop for immediate service, it may be worth it to call a tow truck.
Give your brakes a break
Without a doubt, the brake system is among the most important components of your vehicle. Soft or hard brakes can indicate an issue with your vehicle’s brake lines, brake fluid, or brake cylinder. That’ll ruin your stopping power, so have your car serviced as soon as possible.
Safety is Serious Business: Don’t delay when it comes to brake service
Looking to learn more about car care? Check out our coverage of vehicle maintenance myths.
Kimiko Kidd is a native Daytonian. She graduated from Wright State University with degrees in environmental science and sociology. She loves her trusty old Honda Civic, but dreams of owning a 1974 Ford Falcon XB with a custom paint job and a vintage Kawasaki Z1000. In her free time, Kimiko can be found watercolor-painting, baking muffins, collecting rocks, playing old-school Nintendo games, writing her novel, sewing stuffed animals, and cosplaying as her favorite Mad Max characters. See more articles by Kimiko.