Cars are part of our every day and are essential tools in maintaining our daily lives. But vehicles are not built to last forever; they need to be correctly maintained and repaired when the time comes. Usually, these necessary repairs are preceded by the warning signs of a failing car—clues that let you know that something is very wrong and needs to be addressed. Watch for the signs and get your vehicle serviced immediately.
Exhaust Smoke
Typically, large and thick clouds of smoke coming from your exhaust pipe is a sign of trouble. But the type of problem can be determined by the color of the smoke that it produces. Knowing what each smoke cloud means can immediately let you know what is wrong with your car or where to start looking.
Black Smoke
Clouds of pitch-black smoke can mean that your vehicle is burning fuel at an excessively fast rate. Some common problems for this could be a clogged air filter, a damaged fuel-pressure regulator, or a clogged fuel injector. The longer you take to sort this problem, the more you spend on fuel, and the more damaged your engine becomes.
White Smoke
Thin wisps of white smoke coming from your exhaust may not be cause for alarm; that can be a natural byproduct of your car running normally. But thick clouds of white smoke can mean that there are issues with your car’s engine. It can either be a blown gasket, a damaged cylinder, or a coolant leak.
Vibrations
Noticing that your car is excessively vibrating can mean several things, and each of them a sign that your car needs service.
Driveshaft
There are several types of vibrations that result from a faulty driveshaft, and each one can have a different cause for the failure. Common sources of these issues with the drive shaft can come from a worn-out U-joint, problems with the axle, or old CV-joints. Driveshafts vibrations intensify over time if the problem is not fixed, making an early diagnosis an easier fix.
Suspension
Your suspension system is designed to absorb the impact of bumps on the road, making for a smooth drive. But when components within your suspension begin to deteriorate, its ability to absorb these impacts is decreased. These problems can come from faulty springs, your suspension being out of alignment, or just generally loose and worn-out components.
Squealing Noises
The telltale sign that your brakes are finally giving out. While a squealing noise is what you will typically hear, you may also experience a low, metallic grinding noise as well. This can result from worn-out brake pads, old calipers, or a faulty rotor.
The Longer You Wait, the Worse It Will Get
Address problems as soon as they appear. Your car can only handle so much, and the longer it goes with failing and faulty components, the more extensive the damage will be. Fix problems immediately when it is only the one problem before it turns into several more complex issues.
