If you own a car you need to listen to your car and not only the road. Whether you are a man or a woman, it is your responsibility as a driver to know how to tell when your car is showing signs of breaking down. Sure you can go to a mechanics shop but there are screaming signs that will let you know if your car needs a check up.
Screeching Sounds While Using Breaks
A screeching or grinding sound while stopping means you need to check your break pads. When the pads wear thin the metal of the caliper and the rotor rub together making the distinctive sound. Break pads wear out depending on driving habits, car weight and conditions of the road. It is suggested to check your break pads every time you come in for a oil change.
Old Tyres
Tyres are one of the most neglected car parts. Just because the tyre tread is not distorted or is still deep enough to pass inspection doesn’t mean that it is safe, their life depends on exposure to natural elements, chemicals and on how they are storaged. Check the manufacturer’s date on the on the tyre sidewall because rubber deteriorates with age, it cracks and crumbles just like a rubber hair band.
You can buy quality tyres online to ensure you don’t end up stranded in the middle of nowhere or even worse in a car accident. Just like breaks, the life expectancy of tyres deepens on how you treat them so watch out for cracks, deformations and distortions. Also, learn how to change a tyre.
Oil Failure
First of, do you know how to check your oil? It’s one of the most simplest things to check and if you see it once you will never forget it. Find your dipstick, take it out, wipe it and you will see markers that indicate the minimum and maximum oil level. Then you put it back and when you take it out again you will see whether your engine needs more oil. Your engine needs oil to reduce friction and heat so keep an eye on oil pressure and oil level to avoid serious engine breakdown.
Engine Overheating
Most of the gasoline is turned into heat and it’s the cooling system’s job to keep the heat under control. Since it has more components that can malfunction it is difficult to diagnose the problem. The most common problem is a stuck thermostat. The easiest way to tell it to feel the upper radiator hose, if it is not warning up the thermostat is jammed.
Second, if your radiator is low in fluids there will be a puddle of coolant underneath your car. A vehicle will overheat after a couple of minutes if the water pump isn’t working properly. A clogged radiator is often a problem. The radiator fluid can pick up all sorts of debris and should be changed regularly at a mechanics shop. Another cause of overheating is fan malfunction. A mechanical fan should start when you start your car and will run faster when the engine heats up. While a electric fan turns on when the engine reaches a certain temperature. If your fan is not functioning properly it probably needs to be replaced.