Your car is your life, especially if you have a family. You rely on it to get you back and forth from work, and safely transport your family. But what do you do when odd noises start popping up? Does it means something’s wrong with your car, or does it mean it’s just getting old?

Don’t get me wrong all machines make noises as they get older and a car is a machine. The trick is to know when your cars making noises warning you that something is about to go very wrong.

Some noises that are not normal are high pitch squeals, grinding sounds, and vibrating sounds. Anytime you hear these types of noises you want to have your cars check immediately. If you listen carefully you can actually hear where the noise is coming from so you can explain it to your mechanic. Also note when it’s making the noise. Is it when you brake or accelerate? Or is it when it’s idling?

When your car is making sounds while you are braking it’s most likely a brake problem. Either your brakes are low, or they’re completely worn out. If you hear a noise while you go over bumps or into dips then you will need to have your suspension checked out. Whether you hear these noises in these places or somewhere else it’s a good idea to have your car taken in to have it checked out.

Failure to do so may result in further damage to your car. This can be fatal, especially if the problem is engine related. The engine itself makes all kinds of noises when it’s operating in good health and in bad. However if something’s going wrong with your engine typically you’ll know.

Another way to know if you are having a problem is by your vehicles performance. If your car is running differently than usual then you should take it in to a mechanic. Keep an eye out for poor gas mileage, rough acceleration, very hard starts, not starting, and rough idling. Pay close attention to your car. Most families can’t afford to lose their car or buy a new one.

To avoid mechanical issues with your vehicle here are some tips. Number one would be to have your car maintained regularly. Also, have your brakes, suspension, undercarriage, and tires checked frequently even when there isn’t any warning signs. The last tip is to drive your car like it matters. Don’t idle to high, and don’t be rough with it.

Knowing your life depends on your car running at it’s best its easy to see why taking care of it is so important. Keep it in good shape, and have it check regularly. Also, make sure to listen and feel for any problems that may arise. If changes or noises pop up take it in for a check up asap.

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People now-a-days are so busy with their day to day lives that they don’t take the time out they need to take better care of their cars. People could end up saving a bundle of time and money if they just took ten minutes out of their day-to-day and checked up on their cars. Everyone has stress in their lives including their relationships, their jobs, and much more. Wouldn’t it be nice not to include a long trip to the mechanic’s shop?

Here are the most common car maintenance mistakes you should try to avoid:

1) Tires not being properly inflated – First you will need a tire pressure gauge. You can get a reliable gauge for as little as $5. Then look on your tire for the recommended tire pressure. Then check your tire pressure.

Doing this process saves you a number of headaches. For starters when your tires are inflated to the correct PSI you actually burn less gas. In today’s economy that’s the one thing we are sure we don’t want to waste. Plus, you don’t have to buy new tires as often and most importantly an underinflated or overinflated tire does not perform at it’s best meaning it can be hazardous. They can blow out and can cause an accident. At the very least you’ll have to pay to repair or replace that tire. Note: A spare tire should only be used to drive to a repair shop. They are not meant to permanently replace the blown out tire.

2) Fluid levels too high or too low – Not only do you need to check the fluid levels but you need to be sure to check them at the correct time in the correct way. For instance if you own a car in an automatic the car should be warm. On top of the car being warm the parking brake needs to be on and the car in neutral. When checking the engine oil the car again should be warm but in this case the car needs to be turned off. It is important to remember the car must be cold when checking the radiator fluid levels. Not doing so can result in serious injury due to build up.

3) Do it yourself oil changes, or skipping regularly scheduled lubrication – Changing your own oil, while is seems like a good alternative, isn’t, because you have to raise the car, drain the oil, which is messy, and then you are stuck with trying to dispose of the used oil.

Taking your vehicle to a lube shop is much better, because they check and top off everything, lubricate the chassis, and more, for one low price. If you do the math, not only is it cheaper, but it usually is finished in ten minutes, compared to the hours spent doing it on your own.

4) Failing to have the brakes checked or pads changed regularly – When you are driving down the street and apply the brakes do you ever hear a high pitch squeal? That sound is telling you that the brakes have worn down so much that they are scraping against the rotors and drums. Wearing them down to this point can cause and will cause damage the the drums and rotors. You’ll save a lot of money if you have your brakes checked rather than replacing the brakes pads, drums, and rotors on your car.

5) A loose gas cap – When you gas cap is loose in most cases your engine light will turn on. Many people take their car into the mechanic to find out what the problem is. A diagnostic can be highly expensive and completely avoidable if you just tighten your gas cap after every fill up.

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