One of the best things about owning a car for years is that you really get to know it. You know what it sounds like when it’s running well, which vibrations are normal, and what to expect from its performance. So, it’s generally easy to tell when something feels different or “off” with your car if you’re paying attention.

Using Your Senses to Detect Car Issues

Many common vehicle issues can be spotted just by using your five senses. Ok, four senses, really—we don’t recommend you taste any part of your car! However, things like strange noises, unusual odors, feeling the way your vehicle handles, and noticing visual signs of trouble can go a long way in letting you know that it’s time to schedule service or repairs. Here are some examples:

Sight

Some automotive issues can be easily spotted, like steam coming from under the hood, excessive exhaust smoke, or fluid leaks. These are all issues you should get checked out as soon as possible.

Fluid leaks can be identified by looking at both the color and the consistency:

• Oil: amber, dark brown, or black oily fluid
• Antifreeze: yellowish green, fluorescent orange, or pastel blue fluid
• Transmission or power steering: red, oily fluid
• Clear water: usually not a problem; often caused by normal condensation from your air conditioner

Other things you can spot visually are low tire tread, uneven tire wear, tire damage (like cracks or bulges), and in some vehicles, thin brake pads.

Smell

Some problems can be easily detected by their smell:

• A sulfur or rotten egg smell: catalytic converter, emission control devices, or old transmission fluid
• Burned toast: electrical issues or burning insulation
• Gasoline smell after your vehicle fails to start: a flooded engine or a fuel system leak
• A strong acrid odor: burning oil or overheated brakes or clutch
• A sweet smell: coolant leak
• A hot metallic scent accompanied by steam from under the hood: overheated engine

Sound

Sounds like rattling or squealing can be unnerving, but they often give us valuable clues about what’s going on with your vehicle:

• Squeals: loose or worn fan or air conditioning belts or power steering issues
• Clicks: loose or bent fan blades, loose wheel covers, low engine oil, or stuck valve lifters
• Screeches: brake wear indicators
• Rumbles: worn universal joint or drive line components, issues with the exhaust pipe, muffler, or converter
• Engine pinging: using lower octane gas than recommended
• Heavy knocking: loose transmission torque converter, worn crankshaft or connecting rod bearings
• Clunking: loose suspension or exhaust components

Feel

Any sign you can feel like poor handling or performance almost always indicates there’s an issue that needs to be addressed:

• Your car pulls or wanders: underinflated tires, brake issues, misaligned front end, worn steering components
• A rough ride and difficulty handling: worn suspension components, unbalanced tires, or improper tire inflation
• Changes in acceleration: transmission, engine, or fuel system issues
• Loose pedals: low brake fluid, broken clutch cable, failing master or slave cylinder, loose accelerator cable
• Vibrations: engine issues, worn or warped rotors, uneven or bent axles, misaligned wheels, tire problems
• Rough idling: clogged air filters, dirty fuel injectors, bad spark plugs, exhaust system issues
• Hard or abrupt shifting: transmission issues

Keep in mind that this is by no means a complete list! If something doesn’t look, smell, sound, or feel right with your vehicle, trust your instincts (and senses!) and be sure to have the issue checked out.

Other Things to Pay Attention To

When it comes to things that aren’t normal with your vehicle, it’s also important to pay attention to when those things happen. While it’s helpful to tell us that you hear a grinding noise, it’s even more helpful to know when that grinding noise happens. Is it when you turn your steering wheel? Or when you step on the brakes? Here are some questions that can help us get to the root of the issue even quicker:

• When did you first notice the symptoms?
• How fast were you going?
• Were you braking?
• Were you accelerating?
• Were you turning?
• What were the weather conditions?
• What type of road surface were you driving on?
• Were you going uphill or downhill?
• Was the engine hot or cold?
• Was it a short or long drive?

Paying attention to the circumstances surrounding the signs you’re experiencing—and even better, being able to duplicate them at the repair shop—will help our technicians pinpoint the problem so they can get you back on the road as quickly as possible. If your car, truck, or SUV isn’t behaving like normal, give Accurate Automotive Attention a call at our Central Yuma or Foothills location!