24 Things Your Mechanic Wishes You’d Stop Doing
Cars are way more reliable than they used to be but are also a lot more complex. So, while you don’t have to adjust the carburetors every few miles or replace the oil after a trip to the shops and back, they still need regular maintenance and servicing to keep humming as the manufacturer intended.
Apart from servicing, you can do plenty of other things to ensure your vehicle is working properly, and auto mechanics have seen just about every type of neglect and abuse to know what you shouldn’t do.
Ignoring Warning Lights
Modern vehicles have complex Electronic Control Units (ECU) that constantly monitor your car’s various electrical and mechanical components. If something goes wrong, a warning light will illuminate on your dashboard.
Depending on the symbol, it can be regarding the transmission, engine, brakes, cooling, or many other crucial parts. Ignoring a warning light for too long can result in a small problem becoming a big and expensive one.
Skipping Service Intervals
Every manufacturer has set predetermined service intervals to keep your vehicle operating properly. Some cars use Service Interval Indicators (SII) that react to how you drive, while others require servicing at specific mileage/time intervals. Not sticking to them will accelerate engine wear and damage components, costing you more in the long run.
Never Checking Your Oil
Pop your hood and check your oil level once a week. Top it off if it isn’t halfway between the dipstick marker points. If it’s very low, then an oil change may be due. You can check the level electronically while sitting behind the wheel if you have a newer car. Running a car without enough oil can cause overheating and serious engine damage.
Forgetting To Check Coolant Levels
The coolant level is another simple thing to check while you have the hood up. Never check your coolant when the engine is warm; it can spray the radiator and cause injury. If the level is too low, it must be topped off. Make sure you use the proper coolant mixture for your vehicle, and if the levels keep dropping each week, have your mechanic check for leaks. Driving without enough coolant can overheat your engine.
Ignoring Leaks Under Your Vehicle
That brings us to leaks in general. Brown or black fluid under your vehicle usually signifies an oil leak. Yellow or green fluid can be coolant or brake fluid. Red fluid can indicate a leaking power steering pump or gearbox issues. Small pools of clear water are common after using your A/C on a hot day.
Ignoring Strange Smells From Under the Hood
If you start noticing odd smells from under the hood, don’t pull the window up and ignore it. Burning oily smells can mean oil or other fluids leak onto hot engine components. The smell of burned plastic or rubber could be due to a drive belt or wiring issue. Aside from the real possibility of an under-hood fire breaking out, ignoring these smells may result in serious damage that could be avoided.
Ignoring a Smokey Exhaust
Most exhausts emit a light smell, especially on a cold start. Diesel exhausts sometimes have a sulfur smell, which is normal, but if you notice black, blue, or white smoke billowing out of your exhaust, have it checked immediately. Blue smoke can indicate worn engine components, while black or white smoke could be fuelling or turbo issues.
Buying a Used Car Without Having It Professionally Inspected
Buying used can save you tons of cash unless, of course, you get a lemon. Many auto specialists and mechanics offer a vehicle inspection service that can identify potential issues before you hand over your money. You can also look at Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles that the manufacturer has checked and come with a warranty should something go wrong.
Driving With Badly Worn Tires
Your tires should have at least 2/32 inches of tread to be considered legal in most states, but if you live in an area where it snows or rains regularly, anything less than 4/32 inches can be dangerous. Using the penny test is a quick way to check if your tread levels are legal. Press the penny between the treads, and if Lincoln’s head is totally visible, you need new tires.
Driving With Tires That Have Worn Unevenly
Sometimes, your tires may look fine from a casual inspection, but they could be badly worn along the inner edges. This is usually an indication of poor alignment, bad tire balancing, or even suspension damage. Check underneath your car to see whether the tire wear is even every few weeks, especially if your steering wheel shakes or the car is pulling to one side. If your tires are badly worn in the middle, they may be overinflated.
Allowing Your Car to Constantly Run Low on Fuel
Your car has to work a lot harder when the fuel level is low. There is a risk of air being sucked into the fuel system as well as some of the grime and dirt that settles at the bottom of a fuel tank over the years. Running out of fuel can also cause damage to the pump and injectors.
Filling Your Car With the Wrong Grade of Fuel
Putting diesel into a gas-engined car or vice-versa is never a great idea. If you realize the error before starting your vehicle, you may get away with just flushing your entire fuel system. If not, you may need a major overhaul.
Putting too low a grade of fuel into your gas-powered vehicle will pull back the ignition timing and stop it from running at its peak power. This may not damage your engine, but you will have less power and may end up using more fuel.
Ignoring Squeaky Brakes
Noisy brakes can be caused by something as simple as some dirt getting stuck between the rotors and pads, but they can also be due to overly worn brake components. If your steering wheel or pedals shake under braking, your rotors may be warped or worn. Always get your brake system checked if it starts squeaking – you don’t want to end up in an accident due to brake failure.
Overloading Your Vehicle
Every vehicle has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). This is the maximum it can weigh, including passengers and cargo. To work out how much you can load your vehicle, you need to subtract the vehicle’s vehicle’s weight from the GVWR. Most SUVs and cars tend to have enough carrying capacity to take a full complement of passengers and their luggage. Trucks are easier to overload, and this can damage the running gear and make them harder to stop in the event of an emergency. Regularly overloading any vehicle can increase wear and tear, which means more frequent trips to your mechanic.
Driving With a Persistent Noise
Hearing a clonk, clang, plink, or plonk as you drive along? Strange noises can indicate a myriad of issues that should never be ignored. Worn suspensions, broken shock absorbers, damaged exhaust systems, or torn engine mounts can all make noises that alert you to the problem before it becomes a major issue.
Ignoring a Difficult Gear Change – Manual Transmissions
If you drive a stick shift, a crunching sound between changes can indicate worn synchromesh gears. Difficulty engaging each gear can be due to a worn clutch; wait too long, and it may fail completely, leaving you stranded.
Ignoring Jerky Shifts – Automatic Transmissions
Most cars have automatic transmissions that work away in the background, shifting gears seamlessly. If your transmission hesitates between shifts or clonks into each gear, you shouldn’t shouldn’t. It may be caused by something as simple as low transmission fluid, but wait too long, and you may need a complete transmission rebuild.
Not Driving Your Car for Long Periods
If you don’t use your vehicle regularly, it can start developing problems. A car that is left to stand for months on end will eventually get a flat battery, develop corrosion in the coolant pipes, and the rubber seals will start to perish. Tires will go flat and harden, and the fluids will become contaminated. Oil loses its ability to lubricate over time, and brake fluid absorbs water. Drive your car every week, and if you aren’t going to use it for a long period, drain the fluids, put the battery on a trickle charger, and put the car on blocks to avoid damage to the tires.
Driving Aggressively All the Time
Hard accelerating, braking, and cornering puts a lot of strain on a vehicle. Even if you drive a performance car that is designed to be driven at speed, doing so regularly will prematurely wear out the engine, brakes, and suspension. Take it easy if you want to extend the life of your car and lower your running costs.
Buying Cheap Aftermarket Parts
OEM parts have gone through exhaustive testing by the manufacturer to ensure that they fit and work perfectly. Aftermarket parts are generic and built down to a price. Saving a few dollars on the component may seem like a good idea, but it can cause far more expensive issues down the line.
Trying To Fix Complex Problems Yourself
So, you noticed a strange noise from under the hood, and instead of getting it seen by your mechanic, you decided to tackle it over the weekend. Unless you are mechanically proficient and have the correct parts and tools to hand, this can be a very expensive way to go about things. A professional mechanic has the skill and tools to do complex jobs, and you will have the peace of mind that the job has been done properly.
Bringing Your Own Parts
You don’t arrive at a restaurant with a bag of ingredients for the chef to prepare, so don’t arrive at your mechanic with a selection of parts you want them to change. Mechanics tend to have suppliers they source their parts from, and they won’t be able to offer you a warranty if you supply your own bits and pieces. If the parts are incorrect, they will have to order new items anyway, costing you more in labor charges.
Giving Instructions on What To Fix and How To Do It
Stretching our restaurant metaphor to breaking point, you wouldn’t give instructions to the chef as they prepared your meal, so don’t do it to your mechanic. If you know how and what to fix, then do it yourself. If not, then let the professionals take care of it.
Expecting Your Car To Be Repaired Immediately
No business owner likes to be rushed, and your mechanic is no different. Trying to get them to do your job ahead of time isn’t only intimidating but can lead to mistakes. Most mechanics have a process that allows them to diagnose and repair issues; hanging around the shop, watching them work, or constantly calling them for updates is not going to help.
