9 minor car issues that you shouldn’t ignore

14 June, 2023

It may be a little squeak, leak or even a dob of dirt, but small issues like these can sometimes turn into much bigger ones. Dealing with small problems on your car can not only keep you safe and save you a lot of money by avoiding major damage, it can also extend the life of your vehicle, make it more pleasant to drive and help retain its value.

Here are nine reasons to take note of what your car’s telling you and avoid some very avoidable additional repairs.

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1. Muddy undercarriage

This is more often an issue on four-wheel drives but can be a problem on any vehicle that gets a muddy enough undercarriage. Mud and dirt on the suspension, drivetrain and elsewhere under the car, can accelerate wear and tear and promote corrosion due to the fine grains penetrating moving suspension parts and driveshafts. Once this happens it can grind away as those components move while you drive.

Mud, when trapped, can also hold moisture, and therefore promote corrosion. If the mud also contains salt this can further increase the rate of corrosion. When mud gets stuck on wheels, it can throw your wheels out of balance and if it lodges in the radiator fins, can cause overheating.

2. Brake noises

Brakes that squeak when depressed or which emit a deep, dragging sound are both signs that your brakes need attention. These are the sounds of your brakes calling out for help. Let them wear out all the way and you risk a more expensive repair bill, and a much less safe car. Neglected brakes can eventually result in the catastrophic failure of the brake rotors.

The longer you leave it, the more your repair costs will be and the higher the risk to you and anyone else riding in your car.

3. Bouncy suspension

If you hit a bump and your car keeps on bouncing up and down more than twice afterwards, it needs new dampers. These typically fail slowly over time, so it can be easy to ignore. They help keep the tyres in contact with the road over undulations.

4. Tyre wear and age

Tyres are one part of a car often overlooked by car owners, with low tread and aging too often being dismissed as not a big enough issue to warrant immediate attention. Low tyre tread depth of course gives you less grip on the road which can send you into a dangerous and uncontrollable skid in wet conditions.

Uneven tread wear across your tyres indicates there may be incorrect tyre pressures or a wheel alignment issue that in turn could be caused by suspension wear. Fix the alignment and/or suspension issues and your tyres will last much longer. Your car will also be better and safer to drive.

5. Tyre pressure

Checking tyre pressure is another simple maintenance check that is frequently ignored. Driving around with incorrect tyre pressures will add to your fuel bill and wear your tyres out more quickly. On the open road, with higher speeds and if you’re carrying a heavy load, it could also cause a dangerous blowout. Check your tyre pressure regularly and your car will handle better, too.

6. Sap and bird poo

Tree sap, bird poo and other unwelcome additions to your car’s paintwork should be removed as soon as possible to avoid them leaving a permanent mark on the duco. As soon as you spot the mess, clean it up. Regularly cleaning and polishing the paintwork will keep this to a minimum. So will parking away from trees.

7. Leaky seals

If the rubber seals around your door and boot or rear window become worn due to sun damage or other reasons, water can get into your car’s interior. This will eventually lead to smelly and unhygienic carpets, and possibly corrosion of the floors and/or other metal parts. Replace the problematic seals, and it could save you a lot of financial pain.

8. Spills and stains

Kids can wreak untold damage to car interiors (as can big people). Removing dropped food and addressing stains as soon as possible will help keep odours down. Spills of dairy products such as milk or yoghurt can be a big problem that could end up needing a professional clean. These spills should be dealt with immediately and swiftly. A busy family life means it can be easy to put off these clean-ups, but they’ll only worsen the longer you leave them.

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9. Keep the fluids up

Check your car’s vital fluids. Having the right amount of engine oil, coolant and brake fluid is critical to your car running at its best. Transmission oil needs less checking on modern cars, but if you notice engine oil, coolant or brake fluid regularly need to be topped up, it could indicate a problem that needs to be addressed. Running out of these fluids could be catastrophic for either the car, you, your budget or all three.