Owning and running a car is akin to owning and caring for a pet. You can’t just buy it and leave it to its own devices. Instead, you have to maintain it and take proper care of it if you want it to last for the longest time possible. The good news is you can find out about some of the most common car maintenance issues below. Read on to find out what they are.
7 most common car maintenance issues
1. Not checking your tires
First of all, one of the biggest mistakes that vehicle owners make is not checking their tires regularly. This is a major maintenance problem because tires in a poor state can create all sorts of issues, from poor fuel efficiency, which means your vehicle will cost more to run, to a higher risk of being in an accident.
That is why it’s crucially important that you regularly check your tires for things like tread depth, pressure and visible damage. Remember, tire pressure should be taken when your tires are cold, and tread depth can be measured with a coin or a gauge.
2. Letting your brake pads get worn
Worn brake pads are bad news for your car because they make it harder for your vehicle to stop quickly in an emergency. Of course, this can literally mean the difference between life and death for you, your passengers, and even other road users. That is why it’s vital that you check the wear on your brake pads as a regular part of your vehicle maintenance routine.
Signs of wear on your brake pads include your brakes feeling spongy and less responsive, your vehicle pulling to one side when braking, and squeaking noises as you brake. You can also visually check your brake pads through your wheel spokes. Pads that are any less than ¼ inch thick will need to be replaced. Getting your brakes checked by a professional mechanic like the ones at Horizon Automotive is always a good choice, too, as they have the experience and equipment to catch even the smallest issues before they develop into a full-grown safety problem.
3. Letting your battery run down
Allowing your car battery to run down is also a common car maintenance issue, and it’s bad news because it can cause a range of issues, from leaving you stuck on your driveway on your morning commute to damaging your alternator.
The good news is that it’s not too hard to prevent your battery from running down if you keep up with regular car maintenance issue. One such task will include making sure you keep the terminals on your battery clean. This is important because removing any corrosion with a write brush will help maintain a continuous flow of electricity.
4. Fluid leaks
Another common car maintenance issue is leaky fluids, especially coolants or oil. The main issue with these types of links is that they can cause damage to your engine and lead to breakdowns. This is because leaks mean not enough liquid is getting to where it’s needed, and this can lead to overheating and damage over time.
Leaky brake fluid, on the other hand, means poor performance when it comes to your brakes. A problem that you will always want to do everything you can to avoid, where possible, because it will directly affect your safety. Additionally, fluids are very bad for the environment because many of the liquids used in a vehicle can contaminate the soil and be incredibly bad for the environment and wildlife.
With that in mind, it’s important that you look out for signs of fluid leaks. One such sign would be a pool of liquid like oil collecting in the area where you park your car. It’s also worth your while to check the tubes and hoses that apply liquid in your car for cracks, as these can cause leaks too.
5. Allowing your clutch to become worn out
A clutch is one of the most important elements of your vehicle because it controls the connection between your engine and the transmission. Without a working clutch, your car would not be able to start, stop or change gears.
To that end, checking your clutch as well as looking out for signs it could be damaged or failing is a smart idea if you want your vehicle not only to run but also to do so safely. Often, clutches will become sticky or spongy when changing gears, which will indicate there is a problem that needs to be dealt with ASAP.
Apart from regularly checking the state of your clutch, there is little you can do in terms of maintenance to keep it running smoothly. Instead, it’s a matter of driving in the most sensible ways possible, including changing gears smoothly and not driving in an aggressive manner.
6. Faulty suspension
The suspension in your vehicle is critical to its running as it ensures a smoother, more comfortable ride, and helps minimise impact damage to the car itself. Badly maintained suspension can cause a range of issues, such as problems with steering, and even extend the stopping distance your vehicle needs to come to a halt safely.
Happily, some maintenance tasks can help reduce the chances of your vehicle developing faulty suspension. One is to make sure that you get your vehicle’s wheels properly aligned, as this prevents stress from falling on one side of your suspension only. Also, maintenance like the proper rotation of tires and ensuring proper tire pressure will help safeguard your suspension over the long term.
7. Ignoring warning lights
Last of all, one of the most common car maintenance issues is ignoring those flashing warning lights you get on your dashboard. Of course, it’s so easy to think that you have more time left than you truly have once they light up. But the truth of the matter is that you will need to attend to the issue as soon as the light goes off. Never ignore the light for long periods of time; instead, get the problem seen to right away, as this will maximize both your safety and minimise the costs involved to repair any damage to your vehicle.
