With the weak economy, many drivers are apt to just turn up the volume on the radio if they hear a mysterious, bump, rattle or whine coming from their car.
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The thought of shelling out hundreds or even thousands of dollars on repairs scares many drivers, but the scary thing may be they could save more money in the long run if they keep close tabs on what's going on under the hood, and don't ignore the tell-tale signs of car trouble.
Rick Baum, owner of Dart Automotive near Conway, said he sees more and more customers who are hanging on to cars longer just to avoid a new car payment, but he worries those same drivers aren't doing enough to make sure those cars are running properly.
"If you feel something out of the ordinary, and you think there's something going wrong, take it in," said Baum. "Have it checked out, because it might be something really simple, you think it could be something really major, and it could be something simple."
Also, Baum points out there are simple, diagnostic things to check on your car to make sure it's running smoothly:
- Check the oil: "If you don't have any oil under it, the next thing you know, you've got this ticking noise, and the ticking noise leads to a knocking noise, and it'll seize the engine," said Baum.
- Check your belts and hoses. Baum said if the belt appears fraid or brittle, then it probably needs to be replaced. The same with hoses.
"It might be a $20 or $30 repair, or it could lead up to a $2,000 or $3,000 repair," he said. - Clean your batteries. If there's any build-up of gunk on the top, on the two battery terminals, Baum said you can use battery cleaner or even soda to break up the build-up, and then just rinse if off with a garden hose. "The build-up of corosion eats away at the battery," he said. "I'll actually eat through and break in half." If the battery is kept clean, then there is less chance you'll need to buy a new battery that otherwise still had enough juice to power your car.
- Check transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and radiator coolant levels regularly.
Baum said if these fluids aren't kept in check, then the car can't work correctly, and that can eventually lead to wear and tear that leads to bigger problems.
Baum reminds drivers to check their owners manuals to see which fluids to use, and just where the reservoirs are under the hood. Also be sure not to try to remove the radiator cap while the engine is hot. The heat can cause it to shoot off, and splash very hot coolant onto you. Always wait for the car to cool down first.
Customers like Jim Tully, a Coastal Carolina University student, say they know it's easy to ignore the little bangs and shimmies.
"It's one of those things where you hesitate almost to bring (the car) in," said Tully. "You worry how much it is going to entail, and how much it will cost to fix it, but, in all honesty, the longer you wait, the worse it gets."
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