The
five human senses are; sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing. How can
you use these to keep your car running longer and your repair costs
down? We'll go over the five different senses and see what your car
might be trying to tell you.
This
is not intended to diagnose any problems, but instead help you be
"aware" of what's going on when you operate your vehicle and how you
might be able to prevent more costly repairs.
Smell & Taste
Most
people might instantly think of gas. Yes, any fuel smell should be
promptly checked out by a professional. I think this goes without
saying..... But what are some other smells that you might encounter that
can also be a safety concern? Coolant is one. Sometimes when a heater
core starts to leak, the coolant will be evaporated and blown through
the vents before it starts dripping inside and becomes an obvious
problem. When this happens, you can "smell" the coolant and even "taste"
a sweet taste in your mouth for no apparent reason. This is not safe
and you need to have your car checked out promptly as coolant is
poisonous.
As
your engine warms up, any leaks on or around your engine these can also
be noticed with your sense of smell. More noticeably if it happens to
be leaking directly onto hot exhaust components. This can be a fire
hazard.
On the other hand - Carbon Monoxide has NO smell, so any exhaust leaks need to be sealed up as soon as possible.
Sight
As
you walk out to your car in the morning do you see anything out of the
ordinary? A crooked tailpipe can be an indication of a muffler or
exhaust pipe hanger problem. Any leaks that are causing visible drops on
the ground are sufficient enough to be repaired. Some leaks are in fact
normal and are discussed here. Since When is a "Water Leak" Normal??
There
are a lot of plastic covers that protect your engine and associated
moving parts from the elements during operation. These shields are
commonly located on the lower front sides and in the lower front. They
can become loose and damaged from age and coming in contact with curbs,
etc. These can usually be easily reattached before they become more
damaged and need to be replaced.
You
may notice many different warning lights on your dash. Sometimes they
can be overwhelming to the average person. Air Bag, ABS, & Check
Engine lights should always be checked out as soon as possible.
Sometimes a Check Engine light can be as simple as a loose gas cap. We
have many tools and resources to properly diagnose the tough problems
too.
Touch & Hearing
While
driving, some problems might be "felt" as well as "heard". Wheel
bearings, brakes, tires and suspension components can exhibit these very
characteristics. Does your steering wheel vibrate while braking? This
is a common complaint when the front brake rotors are warped. A simple
(but thorough) brake inspection can find the exact problem. Worn or
unbalanced tires can also cause your vehicle to not "feel" right as you
are going down the road. Loose suspension parts can cause premature wear
on your tires, so periodic inspections are well worth your time.
In Conclusion
It
is very important that all the different "systems" in your vehicle are
working as they were designed, and in unison with one another. By using
your "senses", you can catch small problems before they turn into big
ones, and save yourself a lot of time and money. We always offer
courtesy inspections with every visit to help you keep your repair costs
down.
