Signs That Your Car Is Telling You Something

Driving a car can be a lot of fun, or simply a necessity to get where you need to go. Populated areas through high traffic volumes can kill the pleasure of driving. Another thing that places a damper on driving is when your car makes noises but you don’t understand what it is trying to say. If your car simply lasted, without ever breaking down, driving would be far more of a pleasure.

When spring first arrives, and you have your windows rolled down for the very first time in months, it is rather disconcerting to hear the sounds your car is making. You begin to wonder if most of these noises have been around for long, and whether they mean anything serious is wrong with the car. Your car or truck will last much longer and your mind-set be a lot less troubled if you find yourself a mechanic you can trust. A great relationship with a mechanic or being one yourself is advisable in regard to the maintenance of your car. Most people need to know an outstanding mechanic whose advice they can follow, since they themselves know only the slightest amount about cars and the idea of working on one leaves them cold.

Generally maintain a search for fresh fluid stains when you pull out of a parking space. You cannot always tell if it was from your vehicle or somebody else’s, so you should also check your own driveway. If you do see some fluid staining, what color are they? An oil problem may cause a dark brown or black stain. A yellow or green color will be easily identified as antifreeze, which also has a particular odor. When the fluid color is red, it most likely is either power steering fluid or transmission fluid. Do you give consideration when you’re driving to how your car is handling? If there’s an obvious pull to one side at times of slowing or stopping, this could mean the front end needs to be realigned.

Under-inflated tires wear faster, and decrease your car’s gas mileage, therefore always check the pressure of your tires. When you listen to your brakes start to squeal, this is a definite sign that you need to visit your mechanic. You never want to go so very long that you must replace rotors, along with the brake pads. Have you considered acceleration? Is your car even now as quick as it used to be, or is it a bit lazy? It could be time for a tune up, or maybe a fuel filter. Plus switch the oil every single three thousand miles – religiously.

Carry out these things and you will greatly improve how your car runs, be it new or an older model. It is possible to appreciate your car devoid of problems for many years if you pay attention to what it says.

Proper Car Tire Care

Recent research by the Rubber Manufacturers Association tells us that more people wash their cars each month than properly check their tire pressure. But a clean car is not going to do much to keep us safe on the roads. Adding a few minutes to your fall car care routine to check your tires will help keep you safer this season. Here are some simple tips:

Examine the tread on your tires once per month and before every long trip. Your tires should have at least one-sixteenth of an inch of tread depth, which is the legal limit in most states. Perform the “penny test” by inserting a penny in the tread at several points on the tire, with Lincoln’s head pointed down. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, the tread is worn and the tire probably needs to be replaced.

Take a good look at your tires. Uneven tread wear could mean a number of different problems: under- or over inflation, tires out of balance or wheels out of alignment. According to automobile experts, your car’s tires should have the right amount of pressure because these serve as the medium between you, your car, and the open road. If you do have under-inflated or over-inflated tires, you would be experiencing much too many rattles and shakes as you drive your way through various types of roads. Also, tires that are not inflated properly give you a more bumpy ride. They also tend to wear down quickly compared to tires that are inflated just right.

To check the your tires’ pressure, make sure that you do it when your tires have already cooled down. Keep in mind that tires get more inflated when warm for the air inside expands. Then, you should first remove the cap from the valve on the tire that you are checking. Put in and press a tire gauge hard into the valve and take a look at the given reading. You would know if you have inserted the gauge properly if you hear the sound of escaping air.

Rotate your tires every 6,000 miles. If your tires show uneven wear, ask your automotive service professional to check for and correct any misalignment, imbalance or other mechanical problem involved before rotation.

Check your vehicle alignment periodically. Have an automotive professional check your alignment if you notice your vehicle is pulling to one side.

Inspect and measure your tire tread. You can do this yourself by placing a penny in the tread groove and if you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, then it is time to replace your tires.

Fortunately, tire makers today are consistently improving tire performance and safety. Nevertheless, we, as car owners, have to cooperate. All things mechanical can only take so much wear and tear. Although excellent quality standards are built into tires today, they do have their useful life. It’s up to us to provide ongoing maintenance in the form of correct tire pressure, regular rotation, proper alignment and balancing. Even though we may be scrupulous about tire maintenance, there will come a time when we simply have to replace them.

Let’s Talk About Cars

Cars are big investments. And as the car owner, it is your duty to make sure that your car is always in its best condition. Join us as we tackle the most common auto repair issues as well as some valuable maintenance tips. Also, browse through our articles that will guide you to a hassle-free car buying or selling process.

In addition, we will also discuss road safety measures and other important things to remember when you’re out driving.  By taking a more proactive approach, your car will be on the road more often and you will enjoy a more efficient performance. Let’s go!

A special thanks to our trusted partners from Unlimitedprofessionalservices.com for sharing some of their thoughts about cars!