When we buy a car, we always want it to run as perfectly as it did the first day we purchased it and drove it home. However, vehicles are machines and will wear down with every use. They will develop one or more issues, some of which may not be easy to notice and others very apparent, that suggests it is time to for some servicing. Below are the commons signs that indicate it is about time your vehicle got some tune-up.
- Hard Starting
If you notice that every time you turn on the ignition the starter cranks the engines, but the car does not fire up, then some unperformed maintenance could be the cause. The electrical systems are okay if the start cranks the engine; therefore, the problem is at the engine itself. It could be the choke mechanism or the starting sensor that are the issue. If they check out fine, then the problem could be with the computer controlling the ignition system.
- Knocking
The engine will often produce such sounds when it is under load like when climbing a hill, which should not be a reason for worry. However, you should get worried if the knocking is frequent and happening even when the vehicle is on a smooth flat road. The problem could be a buildup of carbon in the engine or failure to achieve full combustion of fuel. In most cases, the car should have sensors that read possible issues with the engine and trigger the “check engine” warning light on the dashboard.
- Noisy Brakes
If the vehicle makes loud, irritating, grinding noise every time you step on the brake, then you need to visit a mechanic. In most cases, this is a sign that you need new brake pads. Other than that, the issue may be correct with a bit of serving.
- Poor Gas Mileage
A car that has no problems will often maintain a start gas mileage (which is the distance covered divided by the amount of fuel used). An increase in the gas mileage meaning increased fuel consumptions is an indication with issues that are causing the vehicle’s engine to work harder thus use up more gas than usual. Some of the causes include misaligned wheel, incomplete combustion of fuel, underinflated tires, and dragging brakes among other problems.
- Odd Smells
If you catch a whiff of a strange odor when the vehicle is parked or when cruising, your car needs a checkup. If the AC vents emit the smell of dirty clothes, then you could have a mold problem. If the air from the vents has a sweet scent, then you may have a leaking coolant. The smell of rotten eggs when cruising is a sign of engine problem associated with an issue with the catalytic converter in the emissions control system.
- Smoky Exhaust
A car with no engine problems should have very little to no smoke coming for the exhaust. Things are bad if there is a cloud of smoke produced when you step on the gas, and worse if the all you see is a dense, black cloud of smoke.
- Stalling
If the vehicle stalls, then the issue would be due to incorrect speed adjustment. But if your driving (speed adjustment) is spot-on, then the cause might be with worn out spark plugs, a malfunctioning sensor, dirt buildup in the fuel system, or other deficiencies with the engine.