Hello! My name is Norman and I live with my family in a small town on the south coast of Australia. My son inspired me to start this blog about servicing your car. When my son turned 18, I bought him his first car. It wasn't a brand new car, so it needed a little love and care to keep it on the road. I learnt all I needed to know about auto repair and servicing from my uncle when I was a teenager. He spent a couple of weeks explaining how to look after my car, so I passed this knowledge onto my son. Unfortunately, he didn't listen and his car broke down so I sent him to the local car service centre so he could learn what he needed to know. I hope you like my car servicing blog.
You're driving down the road and suddenly you notice something doesn't feel right. Your car seems to be shaking more than usual, or maybe one of your headlights is out. What do you do?
If you're not sure whether your car is roadworthy, an inspection might be enough to confirm the truth. Take a look at some of the most common signs that a car is unroadworthy.
Strange Noises
If you start to hear strange noises coming from your car, it's definitely time for a roadworthy inspection. These noises could be coming from your engine, suspension, or brakes.
For example, if you hear a grinding noise when you brake, your brake pads are most likely worn down and need replacing. If you hear a rattling noise, it could indicate an issue with your car's exhaust system.
Engine problems usually give off a knocking noise when the air-fuel mixture in the cylinders doesn't detonate correctly. This causes the pistons to collide with each other, which creates a consistent knocking noise.
If you're unsure what the strange noise from your car means, or if it's something you've never heard before, take your car to a mechanic and have them listen. They can diagnose the problem and tell you whether your car is safe enough to be on the road.
Unusual Vibrations
Do you feel like your car is shaking more than usual? This could be a sign of several different issues. For example, if your car shakes when you brake, your brake rotors might be warped. Warped rotors will cause your brakes to vibrate because they're not making full contact with the wheels.
If your whole car is shaking, it could be a sign of an engine misfire. An engine misfire occurs when the air-fuel mixture in the cylinders doesn't ignite properly or when the spark plugs are damaged. This can cause your car engine to run unevenly (hence the shaking), and can also decrease your car's fuel efficiency.
Another reason for the vibrations could be unbalanced tires. The weight of the tire may not be evenly distributed, which will cause the car to vibrate. Unbalanced tires don't make full contact with the road and can also cause premature tire wear.
If you notice that your car is shaking, don't ignore the problem. A roadworthy inspection might just uncover an issue that you might not know about. Oftentimes, such issues make driving dangerous, not just for you but for other road users as well.