Making Use of Your Senses & What Your Car is Telling You

The five human senses are; sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing. How can you use these to keep your car running longer and your repair costs down? We'll go over the five different senses and see what your car might be trying to tell you.

This is not intended to diagnose any problems, but instead help you be "aware" of what's going on when you operate your vehicle and how you might be able to prevent more costly repairs.

Smell & Taste

Most people might instantly think of gas. Yes, any fuel smell should be promptly checked out by a professional. I think this goes without saying..... But what are some other smells that you might encounter that can also be a safety concern? Coolant is one. Sometimes when a heater core starts to leak, the coolant will be evaporated and blown through the vents before it starts dripping inside and becomes an obvious problem. When this happens, you can "smell" the coolant and even "taste" a sweet taste in your mouth for no apparent reason. This is not safe and you need to have your car checked out promptly as coolant is poisonous.

As your engine warms up, any leaks on or around your engine these can also be noticed with your sense of smell. More noticeably if it happens to be leaking directly onto hot exhaust components. This can be a fire hazard.

On the other hand - Carbon Monoxide has NO smell, so any exhaust leaks need to be sealed up as soon as possible.

Sight

As you walk out to your car in the morning do you see anything out of the ordinary? A crooked tailpipe can be an indication of a muffler or exhaust pipe hanger problem. Any leaks that are causing visible drops on the ground are sufficient enough to be repaired. Some leaks are in fact normal and are discussed here. Since When is a "Water Leak" Normal??

There are a lot of plastic covers that protect your engine and associated moving parts from the elements during operation. These shields are commonly located on the lower front sides and in the lower front. They can become loose and damaged from age and coming in contact with curbs, etc. These can usually be easily reattached before they become more damaged and need to be replaced.

You may notice many different warning lights on your dash. Sometimes they can be overwhelming to the average person. Air Bag, ABS, & Check Engine lights should always be checked out as soon as possible. Sometimes a Check Engine light can be as simple as a loose gas cap. We have many tools and resources to properly diagnose the tough problems too.

Touch & Hearing

While driving, some problems might be "felt" as well as "heard". Wheel bearings, brakes, tires and suspension components can exhibit these very characteristics. Does your steering wheel vibrate while braking? This is a common complaint when the front brake rotors are warped. A simple (but thorough) brake inspection can find the exact problem. Worn or unbalanced tires can also cause your vehicle to not "feel" right as you are going down the road. Loose suspension parts can cause premature wear on your tires, so periodic inspections are well worth your time.

In Conclusion

It is very important that all the different "systems" in your vehicle are working as they were designed, and in unison with one another. By using your "senses", you can catch small problems before they turn into big ones, and save yourself a lot of time and money. We always offer courtesy inspections with every visit to help you keep your repair costs down.