Top 8 Signs of Car Trouble You Should Never Ignore

There’s no doubt that a car is an investment for one’s personal convenience. If you have your own, you don’t have to stick to the established schedule for public transportation, such as buses or trains. Along with this, you can go pretty much anywhere you please and anytime you want. It is for this reason that most people find the high cost of a car completely worth it.

And because of how expensive a car is, it’s imperative to take care of it. One of the best ways to do that is by staying on top of car maintenance services. This should be easy now that buying a new car provides owners with a service passport. This passport lists all the maintenance responsibilities that need to be carried out based on mileage and how many months you have been using the vehicle.

However, despite how helpful the service passport is, it remains crucial to know the signs and symptoms your car can manifest that indicate there’s something wrong with it. To help you with this, our experienced auto mechanics have listed the eight signs of car trouble that you should keep an eye on.

1. Unusual noise

Any type of noise your car makes that it previously didn’t should be checked right away. It may not always indicate wear and tear or some other kind of trouble, but it’s good to establish the why and what behind it. 

Usually, though, if your car starts making unusual noises, it can be that there’s a build-up that’s causing congestion or a part is broken. Have a mechanic inspect it right away so the appropriate repair work can be carried out.

2. Rough shifting

If shifting feels jerky, this automatically indicates a problem with the transmission. You may already need to replenish the transmission fluid. Other possible reasons are stripped gear and worn-out clutches. Whichever of these may be the reason, you need to have it checked right away.

Otherwise, you would have to deal with a more complicated car issue. For instance, if rough shifting is due to low transmission fluid, your car is already at a high risk of complete transmission failure, which is a nightmare for car owners. Not only is this car trouble costly to repair but it can also take a long time to fix.

3. Nasty odor

There are usually two kinds of foul odor in cars: a metallic one, and another that’s like burnt rubber. Whichever of these two you start smelling whenever you run your car, it’s always bad news.

If it’s a burnt rubber odor, there’s probably a gasket oil leak or a worn-out brake pad. If the smell is metallic or chemical, it may be due to a leaky radiator cap or damaged fuel filters. All of these require the immediate attention of professional mechanics.

4. Smoke

The moment you see or smell smoke in your car, pull up and turn off the engine. This may be due to an overheated radiator, which is incredibly dangerous because it can damage the radiator and the engine as well. This may likewise indicate leaking fluids or electrical issues.

Do not attempt to rerun the engine lest combustion occurs. Instead, call a car repair service to the site right away.

5. Slow start-up and stalling

If turning on the ignition takes longer than usual, and if it stalls often, the car may be experiencing electrical issues. Another possibility is that you may already need to replace the battery (car batteries usually have a two-year lifespan).

Do not take this lightly or else and have your vehicle inspected right away. The risk you’re facing is that your car will break down anytime, which will surely derail all your plans. So, schedule your vehicle for an emergency automotive electrical repair, or place an order for a new battery already.

6. Tire bulges

Tire bulges usually form when tires are overinflated, or you have hit a piece of debris that compromised the inner lining. The danger here is the tire can burst suddenly.

For tire bulges, it’s best to have the whole tire replaced. This is bound to be costly, but it’s really just a small price to pay compared to what you would pay for a middle of the road accident due to a busted tire.

7.Wobbly steering wheel

A wobbly steering wheel is dangerous because it can change the direction of the car, and it isn’t very easy to regain control of it. When a steering wheel is wobbly, this usually means that the suspension is not aligned correctly. This can lead to an accident. In addition to this, it can cause the premature wear of tires, which can lead to other problems in other parts of the car.

8. Squeaky belts

When belts are squeaky, this indicates that the timing belts are thin, worn down, and at a high risk of snapping. Fixing timing belts is easy; however, broken timing belts can damage your car engine, which is actually costlier to repair. So, when you start hearing that irritating squeaky sound, make an appointment with your trusted car service center as soon as you can.

These are among the top eight trouble signs to keep an eye out for in your vehicle. 

The moment you spot any of them, do not hesitate to bring your car over to us at DT Service Center. We’ll identify the causes of these issues right away and have your car properly running in no time.