Common Car Problems We Ignore – But Shouldn’t

For any car owner, we know how easy it is to ignore what look like small problems. Maybe there is a small noise coming from your car, or it just doesn’t feel the same as it did the day before. We hope that the problem will go away, and that we won’t have to spend a ton of money at the auto shop. Unfortunately, what look like small problems could actually be big ones, and if left unattended, could make your car dangerous to drive, or cost you more money down the road. Here are some common car problems that we tend to ignore, but shouldn’t.

Squeaky Brakes

Do you notice a squeaking noise whenever you apply the brakes? Or how about when you’re not applying the brakes, but just driving around? The cause is likely the brake pads, and you don’t want to ignore this for too long. When a brake pad squeaks, this is a sign that it is completely worn down. A worn down brake pad will not be as good at stopping your car, putting you at risk. So the next time you start to notice a small squeak coming from your car, don’t wait for it to get louder – have it checked out as soon as you can.

Your Car Veers Towards One Side

As you’re driving along, you might not even notice if your car is pulling to one side. Then one day you let go of the wheel for a second, and realize your car is pulling you off the road or into another lane. If you find that you need to hold the wheel in order to keep it from steering you to the side, it’s time to get things checked out. This problem is often the result of either unbalanced tires, or a problem with the alignment. They are easy fixes, and will have your car back to normal in no time. To learn more about wheel alignments, you can visit this link – https://www.pickeringsauto.com/wheel-alignment.

Bald Tires

Tires are one part of the car that we tend to ignore until there is a serious problem. We pay attention to our tires when it’s flat, and forget about them before that. But tires wear down over time, and if you’re not careful, you could be making your car less safe. It’s important that you routinely inspect your tires, have them rotated, and replaced when necessary. Poor traction on your tires are of particular concern in bad weather, and you don’t want to get into an accident simply because you couldn’t find the time to inspect your tires.

The Check Engine Light Comes On

The check engine light is one problem that is unfortunately easy to ignore. Sometimes this light in our dashboards will turn on, while there are seemingly no other problems with the car. We hope that we can just continue driving, and that the light will magically turn itself off. This is not the case however, and it’s important that you have your car checked when this light comes on. There are many reasons for this light – sometimes it’s a minor problem, others it’s a large one. You won’t know until you get it checked, so schedule an appointment as soon as it turns on.

 Dim Headlights

Over time the bulbs inside our headlights dim, but the process is so slow that we often don’t notice it. Then one day you’re driving at night, and you can’t see as well as you’re supposed to. Instead of assuming you need new glasses, check the headlights first. Installing new bulbs is a pretty straightforward task, and won’t set you back too much. Once you have them replaced, the difference it makes on the road will amaze you. Here is some more information on when to replace your headlights to help you out.

Bad Windshield Wipers

Finally, it’s important that you replace your windshield wipers from time to time. You might find it annoying that your wipers don’t work as well as they once did, but you are willing to put up with it. However, if you’re caught out in a heavy rain or snowstorm, you’re going to want wipers that work perfectly. Wipers are relatively cheap, and with a little bit of time and effort, you can even install them yourself. Don’t let yourself get into an accident just because you didn’t want to take a few minutes to replace your windshield wipers.

Take Care of Common Problems Right Away

We know it’s tempting to put off car repairs, but you’re better off taking care of it sooner rather than later. Small problems grow into larger ones, and the worst case scenario is that you cause a major car accident. Avoid all of the headaches, and keep yourself safe, by addressing common car problems as soon as you detect them.