9 Signs Your Car Needs Service

Is your car suddenly not performing like it used to? Are you noticing things that don’t seem right? Maybe there’s a noise or a vibration, or it’s just beginning to get slow. Whatever it is, you know it’s not right, and that’s when it’s probably time for a tune-up.

9 Signs Your Car Needs Service

It’s easy to be deceived by newer cars because they are more efficient than their predecessors, and they don’t require routine maintenance until they hit the 100,000-mile mark, but don’t be fooled into thinking that you can ignore some warning signs that are telling you something is wrong.

When you consider the price of cars today, replacing them does not seem like a good option so, it’s probably better to take good care of the one you have. Here are some signs telling you that you should take your car in for service.

1. Warning Lights

When the indicators on your dashboard start lighting up and staying on, that’s telling you that something is wrong; they are meant to be a warning to drivers there could be a problem. When you see them light up and stay on, it’s best to take it in and have it checked out. Could be nothing or you may have a more severe problem.  Diagnostics can help you keep a minor predicament small before it becomes something more costly to deal with down the road.

2. Car Stalls

If your car starts stalling when you accelerate, not only is this a warning sign it’s also dangerous. Engines are meant to be reliable, and if it’s not performing when you need it most, like during a heavy merge onto a highway, it needs to be checked out. The cause could be anything from a fuel filter to a spark plug, but the only way to find out is to take it in for maintenance.

3. Hard Starts

Sometimes we have a tough time getting moving in the morning, and that’s normal for us, but it’s not for your car.

If it takes several turns to start your car, then you have a problem that could be caused by any number of things. A battery, or a starter for example, but you won’t know until you have it checked out. Hard starts cannot be ignored so schedule maintenance as soon as you can.

4. Poor Fuel Mileage

Are you filling your tank more often than you should even if you’re not driving differently? If you’re pretty confident no one else is driving your car, and you’re not getting the mileage that you used to, then you need to find out why.

Poor mileage is a signal that your car is not running at peak efficiency. The reason could be something simple such as tire pressure or something more complicated.  In either case, you should heed the warning and have it checked out.

5. Screeching Brakes

If you hear a noise every time you stop, there’s probably something wrong with your brakes. Typically, your car should come t stop quietly without you having to slam your foot to the ground, and it shouldn’t require a lot of leg power to stop. wrong with your brakes. Brakes make up a few components such as fluid, pads, and rotors, all of which can be worn out, but without all of those three things, you will be in trouble.

6. Unexplained Noises

If your brakes are quiet, but you still hear sounds when you’re starting or driving the car, there’s trouble.  If you have ever experienced a sound while turning the wheel even at low speeds, then it could be the power steering fluid. If you hear screeching from under the hood, it could be a belt or a CV joint that’s about to fail. Bottom line it doesn’t matter what it is, if you hear something out of the ordinary, it’s a matter of time, and you need to deal with it before it’s too late.

7. Rough Shifting

Automatic transmissions take the work, and guesswork, out of shifting. They’re smooth, reliable and efficient – until they’re not. If your vehicle hesitates when shifting from reverse to drive and gear changes are rough there’s an issue. If the car has trouble getting into high gear as engine RPMs climb, your transmission needs attention. Transmission fluid, filters, and screens – all require periodic maintenance – for protection, long life, and smooth driving experience.

8. Poor Acceleration

Power Loss is dangerous. You need speed. Otherwise, you will not be able to pass or merge in a highway situation, drive uphill or tow another vehicle if you need to. The best remedy is prevention, so if you feel something out of the ordinary, take it in as quickly as possible — no substitute for peace-of-mind.

9. Vibrations

The sudden feelings of waves not caused by rough roads is a red flag. You may only feel this at certain speeds, but it’s very clear that something needs attention. Car vibrations are the result of worn or unbalanced tires as well as undercarriage issues such as failing joints. So when you hear something pay attention and take it in for repair.

Your car deserves attention so pay attention to the little things before they become dangerous and costly.

Since 2005 we’ve been serving our community with a promise to offer honest, fair, and friendly service. Come by for a visit; take a tour of our state-of-the-art facility; meet our trained staff and ask the experts about Weatherizing Your Car, maintenance tips, what to expect when you need an inspection and more. Have a question? Ask us. http://northboroautoservice.com/faq/

Thanks for checking in.

Moe