Owning a car is one of the best and most liberating feelings in the world, but it’s also a huge responsibility. Owning and maintaining a car has to be done regularly to prevent dangerous situations and potential breakdowns when you’re on the road. If you too want to become a more detail-oriented car owner, here are five signs that tell you that you need to start taking better care of your vehicle.
Engine warning light
Every vehicle has a dashboard full of warning lights, some of which are dangerous and some aren’t. This is one of those you don’t want to see blinking, so try to prevent that from happening. Whenever you see that your engine warning light is on, be sure that there’s something wrong with your engine, and go to your mechanic as soon as you can.
These people will know what to do and how to diagnose the problem better than you, so don’t test your DIY skills and try to repair the problem yourself. Your engine warning light might be a sign that there’s something wrong with your car and you may not even be able to notice what the issue is – but your mechanic will know!
Strange sounds
All cars make certain sounds, and that’s just the way it is – whenever you’re driving it, your car is going to produce some sort of sound. This is a sign that your car is simply alive and responding to your commands, and that’s a good thing. But, not all sounds are good sounds, and you need to learn how to distinguish these two categories and understand which sounds indicate a problem with your vehicle.
Whether it’s clunking, flapping, hissing, or something else coming from under your hood – these sounds are telling you that something might be wrong. Again, what you need to do is contact a professional who’ll be able to tell you what the issue is, so do that before new sounds appear!
Ruined visual appeal
When they’re new, all cars look amazing, regardless of the brand, the model, the size, and other factors. This is something owners of these cars know the best, and what you need to do is try to preserve that look for as long as possible. But, that’s not always possible, which is why you might need some help.
Protecting your car against weather conditions such as rain, snow, and wind isn’t easy, but if you have a car cover, it might be doable. These things are quite protective and effective, but you need to know your location and your microclimate before you find the right car cover. If you live in a hot area such as Australia, for instance, you should look for a specific fabric that provides your car with great UV protection. Luckily, these helpful Australian car covers aren’t hard to find, so consider getting one as soon as possible!
Insufficient tire pressure
This is another huge issue that’s ignored by some car owners. Believing that their tires are in perfect condition, they just don’t check the pressure as often as they should, and this leads to blowouts that can cause accidents and put your life in danger.
Checking your tire pressure and regulating it takes just a few moments, so be sure to do that whenever you find yourself at the gas station. Maintaining your tires regularly will help your entire vehicle run smoothly, so be sure not to forget that.
Leaks under the car
Noticing this might not be easy, but if you have a garage or park your car somewhere in the open, you may notice leaks under it. This is usually a result of your air conditioning system working, but how can you be sure of that and what are you supposed to do if that’s not the case?
One of the ways to check what’s going on is inspecting the color of your leak. If it’s clear, it’s the result of your A/C unit, but if it’s brown or black, there could be something wrong with your engine oil, especially if it’s sticky. If the fluid is red, it’s your automatic transmission fluid, and if it’s dark red, it’s your power steering fluid. Finally, if the leaks are yellow, they probably have to do something with the coolant, and if it’s dark brown and slippery – it’s your brake fluid.
Taking care of your car takes a lot of time and energy, but it’s definitely worth your while and your car will appreciate your efforts!
By Peter Minkoff
Peter is a lifestyle and travel writer at Men-Ual magazine, living between Ústí nad Labem and Antwerp. Follow Peter on Twitter for more tips.