Regardless of the year, make, and model, a car is an important and expensive investment. You likely spent a few years in changing your spending habits, saving a huge amount of money, and improving your credit score in order to afford to buy a car.

A car can impact your financial health, which is why you should also exert time for its maintenance. This is one way of ensuring that you can utilize your investment for the longest time possible without compromising your comfort or safety on the road. Driving in a small town such as Penfield, for example, can become dangerous if your car is poorly-maintained.

If you have been noticing or experiencing any of these signs, it’s high time that you have your car repaired:

1. Strange Sounds Or Smells

For you to know how your car works, you can carefully read through a car-focused site or ask individuals who have know-how on cars. These resources are very useful when you don’t have any idea about the mechanisms of your car or if you’re buying one for the first time.

But regardless of the resources you’ll use and the car you own, one thing is certain – all of these sources will tell you that hearing strange sounds or smelling odors from your car is a cause for concern. When you notice your car exhibiting any of these signs, immediately call for professional help as this can mean that your car has damaged brakes or engine parts.

2. Decreased Performance

The performance of the car is one of the biggest deciding factors when you’re buying one. A car is an expensive investment, which is why you would always want to end up with a car that performs well on the road regardless of the road surface and weather condition.

If you were happy with how your car performs during the first months of driving it and then suddenly notice that it no longer does the same, consider having your car repaired. A decrease in performance, such as a drop in the fuel economy or having issues as you’re speeding up can mean something is wrong with your car’s engine.

3. Smoke

Seeing smoke, regardless of the amount or frequency, is never a good thing when you own a car. You should be worried the moment you see smoke coming out from any of your car’s parts as this can usually mean an overheating engine. This happens because the coolant gauge in your engine is already running dry. This problem can also come from a white smoke from your tailpipe and worsen into damaging your engine.

Don’t take chances by guessing why your car is smoking; on the contrary, have a professional diagnose your car to easily determine what the real problem is.

If you notice the problem as you’re driving, pull over on the side of the road and turn off the engine. Wait for a couple of minutes to cool down your engine and call an experienced mechanic right away. Never continue driving your car if you see smoke as this will only lessen your safety on the road.

4. Leaks

Your car uses liquid such as oil, radiator fluid, transmission fluid, and air conditioning coolant, just to name a few. Older cars will require more liquids to maintain its condition and performance on the road.

Liquids are important for your car to run properly but this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t pay any attention the moment you see leaks from your car. When you see pools of liquid underneath your car, call a professional as soon as possible. With the number of liquid your car regularly uses, it’ll be hard for an average driver to determine the main cause of the problem.

Usually, a bright green leak is caused by a damaged coolant, while a red or brown leak can mean that problems are developing in your engine.

5. Excessive Vibrations

Your car is made up of several parts, and these parts work interdependently with each other. Because of the number of moving parts inside your car, it’s common to feel vibrations the moment you turn it on. You can think of these vibrations as your car’s warm-up.

However, if you start to feel excessive vibration even after driving your car for hours, that’s another story. Unceasing and excessive shaking is not normal, as this can mean a defective wheel alignment or missing engine parts. Leaving either of these problems unaddressed can cause bigger damages to your car.

Work With The Best Mechanic

After ticking any of the signs listed in this article, take time to find a reputable and trustworthy mechanic in Penfield or in your local area. Make sure to only work with a mechanic who is insured, licensed, and has gained positive reviews from previous customers.

Paying attention to the performance of your car and working with an experienced mechanic is a fool-proof combination that can warrant the longevity of your car. The earlier you diagnose your car for any damages, the cheaper the necessary repairs will be.