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| Photo: RepairPal |
Your car is very much like your body—the more you take care
of it, the better it will perform. And like your body, your car needs checkups
now and then just to keep everything running like it should. Cars are incredible
machines and many models can run for years before they start slowing down a
bit, but that doesn’t mean they run forever. They have expiration dates just
like everything else.
As a responsible car owner, one of the worst things you can
do is ignore warning signals from your car. A small, fixable problem that you
ignore today could lead to serious, more expensive problems later. Today’s models
have warning lights for essentially every function—if your dashboard is
lighting up, it’s time to stop and investigate the problem. It could be
something simple (low or empty washer fluid) or serious—in any case, listen to what
your car is telling you.
Below are just a few of the mistakes you don’t want to make when
it comes to taking care of your car:
Put off scheduled
maintenance. Pennsylvania state law requires annual vehicle inspections. Although
this is the ideal time for you to take care of your car, don’t let it be the
only time of year you take care of your car! Simple maintenance like changing the
oil and filter (ideally every 3,000 miles) and keeping the fluids filled are
all easy ways to keep your car running well all year long.
Try to fix a problem
yourself. Unless you have experience working on cars, or a warning light
pops up for something simple like low oil, fluid, or you get a flat tire and
know how to change it, let your mechanic pinpoint and repair other problems. Trying
to fix it yourself can actually make a problem worse, and you’ll likely have to
take it to a mechanic to undo your “repair” anyway, so just eliminate a step
and go right to a garage.
Take your car to an
unqualified mechanic or service center. If you’re going to go to a
professional, however, make sure they know how to service your vehicle.
Ignore the “check
engine” light. The engine is the heart and soul of your vehicle, and if the
“check engine” light on your dashboard is on, make an appointment with your
mechanic as soon as possible. That light could signal a wide range of problems,
so it’s not something you want to leave unchecked.
Keep driving when
your car overheats. If your engine is overheating, pull over immediately
(or as soon as you can do so safely). Continuing
to drive with an overheating engine could lead to an engine fire, which could
cause serious bodily injury to the driver (or death). Don’t take the risk. If
your engine overheats, pull over and call for a tow truck or roadside
assistance.
Even the most diligent driver can experience an issue or
collision because of factors beyond their control, but keeping up with basic maintenance
is one way to keep your car as safe and reliable as possible.
