Every driver knows that breakdowns don’t happen as they do on TV. There’s no big sudden “failure”; there are no “it came out of nowhere” scenarios. And while it might feel like that, the reality is that the car they’re driving will have been giving out warning signs. Some subtle, some not so much, and when things grind to a halt — quite literally in some cases — the event is less of a surprise, more of an “I knew I shouldn’t have ignored it” moment.
But what are these warning signs you need to think about, and how can you ensure you don’t risk putting yourself at complete failure? Let’s take a look.
Unusual Noises While Driving
Yep, those ones you turn the radio up for so you can’t hear them. Any new or suspicious sounds you can’t lock down to something inside the vehicle itself moving around, i.e. bottles, bags, or items you threw in randomly, need investigating.
Squealing during braking, grinding noises indicating metal-to-metal contact, knocking or tapping from the engine all indicate all is not well with the car and requires further investigation. Sometimes you can take a look yourself, find the obvious cause, and fix it, but for a lot of noises that shouldn’t exist when driving, you’ll need to take it to a good, reliable mechanic such as Reliable Automotive.
Dashboard Warning Lights
When your dashboard warning lights come on during driving or don’t go off after starting the engine, there’s a problem. They don’t come on for nothing, and while some might be advisory (i.e. you need to refuel), others are a warning that you need to stop driving immediately — the oil light, for example.
The reason these lights come on is because they have been triggered by sensors around the car that something has changed. For example, an engine warning light can indicate anything from a fault related to emissions, ignition, fuel delivery, or even airflow. It’s not one single cause and likely not something you can fix without heading to a repair shop.
Changes in How It Drives
You know how your car feels to drive. You know how it performs in certain conditions and environments. And this means any deviations you’ll feel immediately. Those little “oh, that’s not right” moments, take notice of them; they are warning signs.
From sluggish acceleration to rough idling, delayed gear changes to pulling to one side, warning signs range from severe to subtle, and once you feel the pattern, ignoring them only leads to a slippery slope as far as performance and safety are concerned. If you fail to rectify them, you will simply put more strain on the system until you get that huge failure moment. Dramatic, but true.
Smoke, Smells, Visible Leaks
It goes without saying your car shouldn’t show any of these warning signs at all. And if you do notice one or more of them, you need to get it fixed immediately. Leaks mean there’s a major problem with pipes or seals, and fluid isn’t getting to where it needs to be. Smoke from the exhaust is never a good sign and should be treated seriously.
Any burning smells, leaks, or smoke issues need to be investigated as a matter of urgency because this indicates your car needs attention ASAP.