Ten signs that your car is seriously faulty

Top 10 signs that your car’s time to dispose of.

If you really love your car, even if you do not have enough funds for its maintenance, you should in any case find the opportunity to regularly maintain the machine to prolong its service life. Unfortunately, not always the owners of used cars know it.

In the end, sooner or later, the number of problems in the car will play havoc. The machine will begin to crumble, literally. But many owners even in this case, will continue to use the car at times, investing a lot of money on its repairs. But how do you know it’s time to get rid of the dead man’s car, sold it or passed for recycling?

Unfortunately, sooner or later every car will end up at landfill. It is inevitable. Nothing lasts forever. So every old car owner needs to understand this. But why do many owners of older vehicles continue to hope that their vehicle will last forever? But it’s not. As a result, many drivers unnecessarily spend a lot of money on maintenance and repair of old cars.

Especially those who understand that selling or utilityroom old car, they will not have enough money to buy a fresh auto. But this does not justify them. Remember that the losses due to breakdowns of an old car, can be comparable with the purchase of a nearly new car.

In the end, a large number of people often just ignore various symptoms, believing that the car can last for a sufficient time, even with unresolved problems.

So what to do? First and foremost, always need time to understand that when it’s time to get rid of old cars and purchase a more recent or better than new. But how do you know when that time came?

Everything is very simple. You must calculate how much money have you spent on maintenance and repair of old car, or how much you need to invest in an old car to be repaired all the faults.

If it turns out that a considerable sum of money and it is comparable to buying a more recent car, then of course it’s time to change it. There are also a number of signs that can clearly indicate that your car is ready to go to the dump.

Here are 10 such signs that are noticed cannot be ignored. Remember that all of these signs suggest that maybe your vehicle will last not long.

1) a Lot of warning icons on the dashboard

As you know, the dashboard is equipped with many signaling and warning icons. Recall that there are as a regular informational indicators, and warning talking about any malfunction in the car.

The most serious icon on the dashboard is the “Check engine” (Check Engine), which means that your engine is malfunctioning. It certainly does not mean that in this case you will have to prepare a large sum for a bulkhead of the motor.

But this indicator suggests that to operate the machine is undesirable. In this case, you need to spend as soon as possible computer-aided diagnosis using a special scanner that connects to the OBD-II port located in the car.

Also in any machine there are some very important warning flags that cannot be ignored if you don’t want huge problems with the machine. Of course, each appears and an icon is any malfunction that needed to be addressed.

Accordingly, the more on the instrument panel displayed the warning icons, the more problems your car has.

But remember that the main thing to pay attention to the indicator “Check engine”. Also pay attention to the icon of carnival heads, which if lit or flashing, indicates that the engine dropped oil pressure.

In this case, stop the engine and call a tow truck to take the car into a comprehensive diagnosis.

Otherwise, you run the risk that your engine will fail. In this case, if your car is old you are unlikely to agree to invest a lot of money in engine repair. In this case, you will have to sell the car for parts or recycle it.

So, if your car burns a few icons on the dashboard, it clearly indicates that the car will last a long time.

2) the Engine “eats” too much oil

If you start to notice that your engine is experiencing unquenchable thirst for oil (i.e. simply you constantly have to pour motor oil into the engine between planned replacements), it is likely that your power unit has extensive wear-and soon he will need major overhaul (if, of course, be possible).

3) Increased consumption of other liquids

As our human body, car needs some essential fluids to work properly and without failures.

It is therefore very important that each car owner to regularly check the antifreeze level, brake fluid, the level of freon in the air conditioner, the oil level in the gearbox, the transmission fluid level in gear axle, the fluid level in the power steering and brake fluid level.

If during a regular inspection, you notice that a number of level of number of fluids is reduced, it shows obvious leak.

More information can be found in our article “Diagnostic leak automotive fluids” and “Five kinds of liquids to be inspected in the car.”

Unfortunately, not always reducing the level of certain fluids suggests that this is due to the usual leak from some component of the car, which, in principle, inexpensive to eliminate.

For example, in the case of serious problems with the engine, the car may start intensive feeding of the coolant. In this case, you could be facing a major repair of the power unit, which may will cost more than the value of your car.

4) Strange smoke from the exhaust pipe

If your car began to smoke as a heavy smoker of Marlborough, it is likely that your engine has big problems. It should be noted that in this case, the “Check engine” may not appear on the dashboard. But it does not mean that the power unit in your car is working properly.

For example, if you smoke in the exhaust pipe became blue, it means that engine oil gets into the cylinders of the engine. Also you should definitely notice an increased intake of oil between scheduled changes.

Usually engine oil is getting into the engine cylinders due to worn piston rings, damage to the pistons and also due to various defects in the valve guides or due to damage to the gaskets.

By the way, if you think for a long time will be able to go on a Smoking engine, then you are wrong. Remember that engine oil getting into the combustion chamber, then in any case gets into the exhaust pipe. Sooner or later it can lead to failure of the oxygen sensor, and even damage to the expensive catalytic Converter (catalyst).

Also, in addition to black smoke in exhaust pipe, can appear white opaque smoke, which may indicate that the coolant goes inside the engine. It usually happens either when you damage the head gasket or if a crack in the cylinder head.

In addition, often on the road older cars with black smoke from the exhaust pipe. It usually says that the engine is too oxygen-rich air-fuel mixture. Normally oxygen-rich fuel mixture indicates a problem with various sensors, or a leak in the injectors.

Also there are many reasons due to which your car may appear black smoke. And the reasons can be indicated as the problems in the electronics and problems with the mechanical part of the engine.

In this case, you should contact a mechanic for a complete diagnosis of possible faults, and then make the decision whether to repair the car.

More information about the different color of smoke in the exhaust system you can read here.

5) Failure of timing

You probably know what pistons and cylinders of the engine. Also, of course, most drivers have heard about the spark plugs and fuel injector. But, unfortunately, not everyone is familiar with the gas distribution mechanism of the engine, which sinhroniziruete the operation of the valves and piston system. But it is very important the engine Assembly, which is responsible for the smooth working of the valve system and for the pistons of the power unit.

Typically, coordinated operation of these systems meets the timing mechanism equipped with a belt drive (timing belt) or chain driven (timing chain).

Many modern cars have interference engines, which synchronize the valves and pistons is very important, as in the case of uncoordinated operation of these systems, the piston and valve can meet each other and to fully withdraw motor from the system, which after the failure may not even be recoverable.

Of course, like everything else in our life, nothing is eternal. So that the belt that the timing chain sooner or later wear out. In the end, there is a risk of breakage and, accordingly, out-of-sync systems, the valves and pistons. The result is the inevitable failure of the power unit.

As a rule, there is a certain procedure of replacement of the belt or timing chain. For example, many car manufacturer recommends to change the timing belt every 70,000-100,000 km. but of course in the market there are cars where the belt goes more than 100 thousand km.

But there are also models requiring replacement of the timing belt every 40 thousand km.

In General, it all depends on what car you own. To find out how often you should change the belt or timing chain, refer to the manual of your car where usually the manufacturer specifies a routine maintenance work.

If you don’t know when was changed last time the belt or timing chain in your car, we advise you to change them as soon as possible. Otherwise you risk to damage the engine.

If happened so that your car no longer starts because of a broken belt or timing chain, with the result that the valve met piston, then you need to diagnose the extent of damage to the internal components of the engine and to estimate the cost of repair. Then you have to make a decision whether to repair the old machine or it’s time to sell it for parts or send to landfill.

6) Knock or detonation in the engine

The internal combustion engine, which is equipped with cars, it’s a giant piece of heavy high-strength metal, as opposed to a deterrent, and every second thousands of explosions due to the ignition of the fuel in the combustion chamber.

Of course, that is loud explosions, so any internal combustion engine can not work silently.

But due to the different systems and mechanisms, designers and engineers in the automotive industry has made in recent years, incredible progress, reducing the noise of the modern power units to a minimum.

Plus, of course, have long produced cars with great sound insulation in the engine compartment, which allows you to hide from others and the driver of the strong noise from the motor.

But over time, the insulation and the various systems responsible for the volume of work the engine wear, and engine noise become more noticeable. Plus the more the mileage the car, the greater the probability of occurrence of various problems in the internal components of the engine. Accordingly, as a rule, the old machine runs louder new.

For example, when a malfunction of the lubrication system, the engine may start to run too loud. Including can appear even metallic clatter, which clearly indicates serious problems of the power unit. As a result, if you ignore the occurrence of knocking is most likely the motor will soon fail.

7) Rust on the car body

In most areas of our country there is a problem for all car owners of used cars. We are talking about the rust, which spares neither one vehicle.

Typically at risk are the cars that are operated in areas with high humidity and large temperature changes.

This is especially true of old cars older than 7 years.

In the first place I usually start to rot the sills, arches, hood, trunk and car door. Also prone to rust the bottom of the car.

Unfortunately, in contrast to mechanical problems with the machine that can in most cases resolve the issue with rust is very hard to solve.

Yes, you can certainly find the corrosion of the body, to smooth out the damaged part of the body, to apply sealer, primer and then paint the damaged area. But this will solve the problem in the short term. Believe me, the rust will appear again in a short time.

Therefore, the only correct solution is to replace the damaged item for a new one.

But if the doors, hood and trunk can still be easily replaced by a new one, in the case of corrosion of load-bearing structures of the car make it extremely difficult and very costly, and sometimes impossible.

So, if your machine has a lot of places corrosion of body parts, then it’s time to get rid of it. Believe me, otherwise, the body repair will cost you dearly. It will be easier to save up for a more recent car.

8) Squeaking and rattling steering and suspension

If your machine is switched into forward gear and steering wheel is straight, car needs to go in a straight line, and its suspension should absorb any road irregularities without any problems.

But if you order the car was driving straight, you need to see how are the front wheels on the road and if your car bounces on small bumps, and if his suspension knocks or squeaks even on small cracks on the road, then most likely it’s time for the repair of the steering system and chassis of the vehicle.

Your steering system and suspension has many components that require regular scheduled inspection and scheduled replacement due to wear and tear. So naturally, if you are going to monitor their condition and time to change the tie rods, steering rack, ball joints, silentbloc, levers, etc., your car can turn into a real piece of junk, which would be more profitable to send to the press than to make a repair.

How to know killed is the steering and suspension of the car? First, you need to carry out periodically the diagnosis of the steering system and suspension. Secondly, you do realize that if you run these systems. How? Very simple. The backlash, squeaks and knocks.

9) Wear the gearbox

In each car, besides the engine, there is another very important expensive component, without which the car cannot move. We are talking about the transmission, in the case where you will definitely spend a lot of money on repairs.

Especially if your car is automatic transmission, which is technically much more complicated mechanics.

Unfortunately, not all automatic boxes can be repaired in the event of a fault. Also of course it all depends on the type of failure.

But one thing is clear that often the cost of a transmission repair can cost a lot of money that are better spent on more fresh car. That is, often the repair of automatic transmissions on the old machine impractical.

How do you know that the service life of the automatic transmission comes to an end? Well, first please note how the box changes gear. Is there any failures when switching, pushing and thrashing.

Also often when computer diagnostics can detect the error of transmission.

So if you have an old car, you should recognize in advance any future trouble with automatic transmission and get rid of the car.

10) the Unknown problem that I can’t install

Certainly, the following situation is familiar to many owners of old cars. And so, imagine. Your car refuses to start. You are giving the car in service for several days waiting, when you will be contacted by a representative of the technical center and report the happy news that the car started.

But in the end you call and report that is likely to cause a malfunction in some electrical problems and that to remove them you first need to change the battery, the high voltage wire and can be a starter.

You naturally agree to the replacement of defective parts and continue to wait for that hour when it will be happy behind the wheel of his car. But you are again calling from the service center and report that you still have to replace the alternator and several sensors.

At this point you realize that in the end, the car repairs will cost a round sum, but, nevertheless, agreeing to the repair. After all, the car should work.

Then you are almost sure that very soon you will receive a fully maintained vehicle.

But in the end, the master calls you to the service center, and reports that, in principle, in the car changed everything that could affect engine start, but, unfortunately, to revive him failed.

You are at a loss begin to ask what else can be done at this point, the mechanic offers to change your part of the wiring or some electrical component located under the center console, which may be the cause of failure starting of the power unit. But it is very expensive because the repairs have to disassemble half of the machine.

What will you do in this case? Refuses to repair? The funny thing is that 90 percent of car owners in such a situation to agree to further guesswork.

And believe me, the likelihood that the problem will be fixed not 100 percent.

In the end, the owner of the old car in similar situation can give for finding the problem and replacing defective components, a huge amount. In some cases the amount may be comparable to the cost of the machine itself.

Yes, of course, this may be due to a lack of qualified senior. But if you trust the employee service center as your friend, probably, if there are such problems with the machine most likely it’s time to say goodbye.

As you know the same advice applies to any similar difficulties with old cars, you know how to drink blood as its not very rich owners.