We are all aware of the rate at which the cost of living is rising, starting with those soaring petrol costs, and so we understand that pushing back anything else costly is common. However, one thing that must never take a backseat when it comes to saving money is the safety of your vehicle. Faults occurring with your car are never ideal but must always be assessed by a professional to ensure that continuing to drive won’t put yourself, your passengers, or other road users in danger.
As a general rule, the required repair or replacement of any faults within your vehicle will always be worth the cost and should be considered and carried out. Of course, there will be signs of some faults which be more severe than others, and so these should gain your full attention straight away, but what are they? In no particular order, these are the most crucial signs of damage to your car that could result in a high-cost repair or replacement if left untreated. Worst of all, they contain a risk of danger to yourself and others.
Repetitive stalling
Once in a while, you may find that your vehicle stalls. If this happens very rarely, it is likely down to the way in which you are driving – and this is more common than you think, so there is no need to be embarrassed! The time when you may want to take this issue more seriously is when stalling becomes a regular occurrence.
This could be whilst you’re moving from a stop to a start, or even when you are attempting to switch your vehicle on. The frequency of the issue could even reach a few times within a single journey. At this point, you car could be signalling that it is beginning to give up on you. Before you get caught in a position where your vehicle fails on a major road and puts you in danger, you should have your car booked in with your mechanic for an assessment to locate the source of the problem, and hopefully reverse and repair it.
Screechy brakes
Squeaking brakes may appear to be a minor problem which is easy adjust to, but did you know that these noises could be a sign that your brake pads are wearing thin? If these pads reach a point where they are completely worn, their ability to bring you to a safe and complete stop could come to an end, putting you at risk of being involved in an accident. Once you begin to hear a squeaking or screeching sound when you brake, we would recommend getting your vehicle booked in so that your brake pads can be assessed and replaced if needed.
Signs of a fluid leak
Signs of a fluid leak should always strike alert in your mind, as this could signal a fault with your transmission fluid or coolant. As the transmission fluid is considered the root of your cars functionality, you could be looking at a costly repair, and the longer you leave it untreated the more this cost could increase. If your mechanic finds that it is actually a coolant leak, you should count yourself lucky! Whilst this will still require a repair, the damage won’t be as costly.
Blown bulbs
Again, a fault like this could seem minor when lined up against other possibilities, but it could lead to just as much danger if not corrected in time. Your lights of all kinds, be it your headlights, indicators, or brake lights, are there for a very important reason. Without these, other road users will be unable to judge your movements and this could lead to an accident. You should regularly assess the condition of your lights and repair any bulbs that seem to have blown before heading back out onto the road – especially at night.
A chip in your windscreen
I’m sure we are all aware of this by now, but what harm can it do to remind you once more? A chip in your windscreen may feel like a small issue, but before you know it, it could begin to spread in the form of a spiderweb which could obstruct your view, before shattering your windscreen. If this action occurs whilst you’re on the road – as they most often do due to motion or bumps in the road – you could risk great harm to yourself and any passengers, as well as any other drivers surrounding you.
If you are experiencing faults with your vehicle or are worried about the function of your car, our team of specialists at Bromley Vehicle Test Centre are on hand to offer our advice and assistance. Get in touch with any queries or enquiries by calling 020 8460 6666.
