Caring for a Clunker: Tips for Your Amateur Car Diagnostics

If you have an old car you might be wondering what you can do to keep it running for as long as possible. Although you can’t keep your car forever, you can take steps to extend its life and get more out of your investment. You just have to know how to spot potential problems before they progress. This way you get the best possible results. Although it might be time-consuming, caring for your old car is always worth the effort if you want to prevent it from breaking down. Here are some tips for making better diagnostic estimates one your car.

Check for Leaks

As your car starts to show its age, you might notice small wet spots in your driveway. Those spots are an indication your car is leaking fluid and is an issue you must address right away. Before you do anything else, open the hood and check your car’s oil level because driving while low on oil can damage the engine. If you know what you are doing you can repair the leak yourself. If not, it might be best to get a second opinion from your mechanic.

Break Check

Your brakes play a vital role in your safety and the performance of your car. Any issues with your brake pads can cause more damage if you don’t fix them promptly. The first sign of trouble you are likely to notice is a grinding sound when you apply the brakes, and if you notice a change in the amount of pressure required to push your brake pedal down then your car is likely low on brake fluid. This is one fix you’ll not want to procrastinate on since you use your brakes every day

Check Engine Light

If you want to keep your old car out of the junkyard, you must always be on the lookout for the check engine light. If it comes on, then it’s essential you find out what triggered it so you can make the required repairs. You can buy a scanner at most repair shops that will read the code and tell you what is wrong with your car, but you can also take your car to a repair shop and have it looked at by a trained mechanic. If you have a specific model it might be worth the time to have a places like Performance Honda in Bountiful or your local Volvo dealership take a look at your model since they’ll be able to use the correct tools and parts.

Keeping your old car from breaking down for the final time can be a challenging task. But being proactive when it comes to spotting red flags will work wonders to keep your car on the road for as long as possible. Make sure you’re always vigilant about what’s going on with your car and be sure to upkeep with regular maintenance.