When you’re a person who doesn’t know all that much about vehicles, it’s tough to see the signs your car needs a tune up.
It’s important to stay on top of routine maintenance and check-ups, though, or else you’ll be stuck with huge repair fees and a damaged vehicle.
We’re going to talk about a few of the most common signs that you need a tune-up in this article, giving you some insight on whether or not you should take a trip to the mechanic soon.
5 Signs Your Car Needs a Tune Up
We won’t get into a lot of detail on how to tune your car up yourself in this article. If you’re trying to cut costs by learning a thing or two about cars, though, be sure to take a look at some very useful mechanic tips.
Let’s get started:
1. Check Engine Light
This should go without saying, but the engine light is your first defense against breakdowns. Many people see the check engine light and choose to ignore it. It’s your best friend, though, when it comes to maintenance.
While we understand that avoiding the idea of costly repairs and mechanics fees is easier, know that you are putting yourself at risk of an accident or an even costlier repair when things go further south.
2. Grinding of Any Kind
Our vehicles are designed to keep metal parts from grinding into one another. Any time you hear a rough, grinding sound of any kind, take your care in for a tune-up.
Most often, this happens when our brake pads have worn and our rotors are in bad shape.
3. Rumbling and Shaking
There are a million reasons that your car might be shaking. It’s difficult to pinpoint the direct cause unless you have mechanic knowledge.
That said, you can know that repetitive shaking or rumbling at any time is a cause for concern.
4. Liquids Leaking
Whether you’re leaking fluids, oil, or gas, you have to take it seriously. While it may seem like a little drip here and there is normal, it could indicate that something is wrong at a deeper level.
Plus, you need all of those fluids to serve their purpose in your vehicle. Leaking coolant could cause your car to overheat and low oil could cause serious damage to your engine.
5. Smoke from Hood or Exhaust
Any time you see smoke coming from your vehicle, it’s a bad sign. You’ll see a lot of fumes coming from the exhaust in winter, but that’s about the only time to expect a visual like that.
Smoke is a direct sign of danger in a lot of cases. It may be wise to call a mechanic and have the vehicle towed to a shop when you see smoke. There’s no use putting yourself at risk to drive your car to be fixed.
Need More Car Knowledge?
Knowing the signs your car needs a tune up is just the first step in becoming knowledgeable about cars. We’re here to help.
If you need more information about how to properly maintain a vehicle, explore our site.
