Being able to tell if your car seriously needs auto repair can help you save time and money. So, as a car owner, it’s important to check your vehicle and see if it needs repairs. Also, MOT Stockport suggests you to have your vehicle serviced frequently so that you don’t have to face any serious issues while you are traveling. But how do you do that?
There are several signs that’ll tell you that your car needs auto repair even if you’re not an expert when it comes to vehicle maintenance. Below is a list of warning signs that’ll definitely tell you that your vehicle needs an auto repair.
- Check Engine Light Keeps Flashing
One of the major warning signs that’ll tell you that there’s something wrong with your car is when you see that its check engine light is flashing continuously. The check engine light tends to light up to indicate that there’s a malfunction within your car, specifically the engine.
When this light keeps flashing, it means that the engine has to be checked out by a licensed mechanic immediately.
The most common problem that would cause the check engine light to keep flashing is that there might be something wrong with your car’s emissions control system. It could be that the catalytic converter of your vehicle is overheating to the point that it glows red.
- There’s Smoke Coming Out
Another important warning sign that you should never ignore is smoke. Whether it’s coming from under the hood or the rear of the vehicle, you should always bring your car to a licensed mechanic for immediate car repair.
Smoke coming out under the hood is a sign of engine overheating. It could be that the coolant gauge of your engine has gone dry or is running dry. It could also be that you ignore the white smoke coming out of your tailpipe, which caused the engine to overheat.
Regardless of where the smoke comes, you should immediately bring your car to a licensed mechanic. Because if you don’t and you continue operating the car while ignoring the smoke, your vehicle could end up having serious engine damage.
- There Are Leaks
If you noticed that there are leaks pooling up under your car when you park it, don’t ignore it and bring your vehicle to an auto repair shop, or go here to contact a licensed mechanic and set an appointment to inspect your car.
The liquid pools that you see under your car are signs that your vehicle is leaking. And since there are so many liquids used for vehicles, it can be hard to determine which of them is causing the problem.
Regardless of the color of the leak or where it comes from, you should contact a mechanic as soon as possible. You don’t want to operate your vehicle that leaks fluids as it can cause more damage and it can also put your safety at risk.
- You Hear Weird Sounds
If you hear weird sounds coming out of your vehicle, it’s also a sign that there’s something wrong with your car. What we mean by weird sounds are those sounds that you’re not supposed to be hearing when you operate your car.
For instance, a squealing noise usually indicates that there’s a problem with your brakes. It could be that brake pads are already worn out. If that is the case, you should bring your car to an auto repair service so the brake pads will be replaced with new ones.
The same goes for any kind of weird sound that you might hear coming out of your car. An experienced mechanic is the only person who can pinpoint the exact problem of your car.
- Excessive Exhaust Smoke
Excessive smoke coming out of your exhaust means that you have an engine problem. The smoke coming out of your exhaust can vary depending on its color.
- White smoke could mean that your engine is overheating because of a coolant leak.
- Gray smoke is an indication that you have a problem with your automatic transmission fluid or excessive oil consumption.
- Blue smoke means that your car is burning engine oil.
- Black smoke is an indication that your car is burning too much fuel.
If you see that your car is emitting excessive smoke from its exhaust, you should immediately take it to a licensed mechanic to have it checked and to determine the underlying cause of the problem.
Conclusion
If you notice any of these signs from your car, it’s important that you act accordingly and promptly in order to prevent serious damage.
Bring your car to an auto repair shop or contact a licensed mechanic to conduct an inspection on your vehicle. The sooner the problem is identified, the sooner you can get your car fixed and running back at 100% condition again.