Media post: 4 Signs that Your Vehicle Needs to Be Serviced

There are a variety of needs that your vehicle has, from oil changes to tyre rotations. But knowing when maintenance or repairs are necessary can be challenging for car owners.

Cars, thankfully, have a variety of means of informing us when they require attention. Motorists must recognise the signs as soon as possible to prevent minor issues from becoming major issues.

Is it time for your vehicle to head into the shop? Learn the four signs that tell you when your car needs a little extra care from the experts.

1. Wear and Tear of Tyres

The treads on your tyres are responsible for most of the tyre’s traction on the road. Over time, they lose their ability to keep traction and drain water as they grow worn down.

Failing to check your tyres regularly may require you to fill your tank more frequently if your tyres are neglected and get flat. Check your tyres regularly for wear. Invest in performance tyres to ensure extra durability in certain conditions or terrains.

2. Watch Out for Your Dashboard Lights

A dashboard warning light is the easiest way to tell if your car needs to be serviced. The light shows on instrument panels before your vehicle is scheduled for a ‘once over.’

While a check engine light points to a malfunction, the service light will indicate that it’s time for your vehicle to be seen by a professional for maintenance. Your service light may also indicate a malfunction. In that case, it will typically have another light on at the same time that hints at the problem.

Keep an eye out for a service light on your dash, and be ready to pull into a garage when it comes on.

3. Leaks and Mystery Puddles

First and foremost, make sure the puddle isn’t caused by the weather rather than a problem with your car.

In the summer, condensation in the air conditioning unit can leak water, and your exhaust can leak water in the winter. In either case, neither scenario is dangerous and will not necessitate the assistance of a mechanic.

If your car begins to leak a colouredliquid, you may be dealing with a more significant issue. Brown liquid could mean you’re leaking power steering fluid, oil, or brake fluid, which is the most dangerous of all. If you feel you’re missing a vital fluid, don’t drive your car at all, even if it’s just for a service.

4. Odd Vibrations

Regular maintenance may also help to keep your car from vibrating or juddering. Not only could vibrations harm your vehicle, but they could increase your risk of an accident. If you’ve noticed weird movements in your car, there are a few possible explanations.

For instance, juddering while pulling away could be caused by worn-out friction material or a flaw in the pressure plate – or a combination of the two. An oil leak polluting the clutch plate could also be the cause. The engine mount that holds the engine in place could be loose, worn, or cracked if your automobile judders or shakes at low speeds.

No matter the reason, it’s time to get help.

Get Regular Maintenance

Don’t forget to keep track of your service history when you go in. A vehicle’s service history is a record of all the maintenance and repairs that have been performed on it and may also be a hint for when you’ll next require maintenance.

Between keeping an eye out for these four signs and having the history of your vehicle’s maintenance, you’ll be able to determine with ease when it’s time to go in for service.