Common Car Problems You Shouldn’t Delay Fixing

Cars and their parts don’t last forever. Sooner or later, some components can wear out, get damaged, or malfunction.

Some problems won’t affect your car’s performance. You can delay addressing them without putting anyone at risk. However, there are issues that you must fix as soon as possible to continue driving safely and avoid permanently damaging your vehicle.

The severity of these problems varies from part to part, but which common car troubles do you need to address immediately?

Bad Alternator

One of the most common problems with cars is a bad alternator. Some drivers tend to ignore it because they assume they can charge their car batteries. Don’t make the same mistake.

While you can drive a vehicle with an inoperative alternator, it’s not recommended to do so. This is because the alternator is responsible for converting mechanical energy into the electric energy needed to power the car battery.

Without a working car battery (due to a bad alternator), your vehicle might stall. The engine could also take permanent damage if certain battery-powered functions, like engine cooling fans, stop working.

Ultimately, it’s not a good idea to drive a vehicle with a bad alternator unless you’re confident your car battery has enough power to last a trip to the auto shop.

Dead Car Battery

You can drive a vehicle with a dead car battery if the alternator is working, but that doesn’t mean you should.

If the car battery dies, the electrical systems it powers won’t be able to work properly. Many of these systems play large roles when it comes to keeping your vehicle operational. These include the car lights, transmission system, alternator, ignition system, and engine.

Relying on dim car lights at night or driving with a stalling vehicle on a busy road due to a dead car battery is just asking for trouble.

Flat Tires

Don’t drive with a flat tire because it affects how well you can control your vehicle.

When tires deflate and lose air pressure, they can affect various car parts. For example, the brakes, suspension, and steering system might wear out faster than usual because the flat tire threw the vehicle off balance.

Driving over rough terrain and potholes while you have a flat also makes the wheels more vulnerable to damage because the tires can’t properly absorb the shock from driving. On top of that, you’re more likely to get into an accident, as flat tires have less traction.

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Fluid Leaks

All fluid leaks are bad for your vehicle, so don’t ignore them if you spot them. Brake fluid and gasoline are among the most dangerous substances that can leak because of their purpose and composition.

Brake fluid affects the overall efficacy of your braking system. If your brakes don’t work properly, you’ll be putting yourself and those around you in danger every time you drive. Meanwhile, leaking gasoline is both a fuel drain and a fire hazard.

If you spot a fluid leak, it’s best to take your ride to an auto repair shop for a thorough inspection. Mechanics can determine what fluid is leaking, identify the affected parts, and fix or replace them as needed.

Inoperative Brakes

Saving money from brake repair can land you bigger bills if you get into an accident because you can’t stop your vehicle or control its speed on a busy street or highway.

Also, driving with inoperative brakes can lead to other problems. For example, worn brake pads can damage the brake rotors and calipers. Bad brakes can also wear down tires faster because you’ll need to slam the brakes harder to get a response.

Overheating Engine

If your engine overheats, it’s important to stop driving immediately. Otherwise, you’ll risk destroying your engine. Repairing engine damage brought about by overheating is incredibly costly, especially if it turns out you need to replace the engine entirely.

Engines tend to overheat when there isn’t enough motor oil in the engine to lubricate all the moving parts. Bad radiators and cooling pumps can also make engines overheat.

When engines overheat, internal components, like the head gasket, cylinder heads, and the engine block, take significant damage. So don’t put off having it checked by a mechanic.

Timing Belt Failure

If your timing belt fails, odds are you won’t be able to drive your vehicle at all. This is because it’s the part responsible for connecting the crankshaft to the camshaft and controlling the pistons and valves.

Fix or replace the timing belt immediately if you want to get your vehicle back on the road. Bad timing belts can also cause other problems, such as strange engine noises and oil leaks. Increased emissions can also occur because the engine works harder than it normally would.

Transmission Troubles

While it’s technically possible to drive a vehicle with transmission problems, you’re better off repairing it first. It’s not a good idea to leave an inoperative transmission system unfixed.

There’s no telling what might happen to your vehicle if the transmission is damaged in any way. It can stall randomly and leave you stranded in traffic. You might not even be able to bring your vehicle out of your garage. Other issues often follow bad transmissions, so why gamble when you can do something about it?