5 Signs Your Car Needs a Tune Up

Published on: 13 June 2018 Last Updated on: 24 July 2024

Owning a car is like being the parent of a small child when it comes to maintenance. There may be something going on, but the child is not able to tell us.

Like babies, cars don’t speak English. We know toddlers can upchuck some pretty uncommon-looking stuff. Then, words are no longer necessary. And, your vehicle can cough up troubles from its insides, too.

Warning lights, sputtering, and sticky shifting may tell us there’s a problem.

And, there are other signs such as uneven tire wear. This may mean suspension problems, according to Mick’s Automotive experts.

Cars and SUV’s need more maintenance than ever. This is thanks to modern electronics and computers. So, a basic tune-up evolves with each new model.

But, the signs your car needs a tune-up does not require a software engineer. We learn with time what our kids, and our cars, need.

Learning to recognize symptoms that you need a mechanic is easier than most people think.

Here’s when it’s time to get a tune-up for your car:

It Doesn’t Want to Start :

On icy mornings, both you and your car can be slow to get going. But, if your car is doing the same on warm mornings or after warming up on a cold day, there is a problem.

It may need a few adjustments. Slow starts could signal a fuel line issue or a simple battery replacement.

Of course, on the other end of the spectrum may be a new starter.

But, none of these problems will go away. At some point, it won’t start at all. And, you will likely kick yourself (as you are stranded) if a simple tune-up is an answer.

It Stalls Out at Stops :

Stalls are not only annoying but can be dangerous. Pooping out in the middle of an intersection is never good. You’re a sitting duck. You’ll be lucky if anyone will stop to push you to safety.

Merging into moving traffic, then stalling, can leave you vulnerable, too. Loss of power is a sign your car is not getting adequate fuel or oxygen. Or both.

One of the most obvious signs of needing a tune-up on your car is when it stops too often. Powerlessness could signal it needs a new air filter, fuel line cleaning, or spark plugs.

If your car loses power for too long, you’ll pay a hefty price. Not just for repairs, but your fuel efficiency is tanking, also.

In this case, a thorough tune-up starts paying you back right away.

There’s a High-Pitched Squeal From Under the Hood :

Both annoying and embarrassing, the piercing noise may have a few causes. When you get a tune-up, the mechanic will check belts, hoses, and fluids.

If your last checks were a while back, your car is going to continue to screech at you until you bring it in.

The culprit may be low steering fluid or a belt that is past its end date. If the noise is present as you drive, it may be a tire needing balancing. All these are easy fixes.

A more complicated problem may be the CV joint objecting as it wears out. Either way, there’s no louder sign of when to get a tune-up for your car.

Gas Mileage Has Gone Way Down :

Frequent fill-ups may not be the clearest sign your car needs help. But, if your mileage has gone way below average, there is something wrong.

If you have a teenager at home, check for late-night joy rides. If not, then have a mechanic do a routine tune-up and check for more severe problems.

Keep in mind that a stuck brake pad may be the issue. Or, low tire pressure. If the abnormal mileage is a sudden occurrence, it is likely something simple.

It Hesitates When Passing Other Cars :

No acceleration when you need it can be yet another dangerous problem. If you attempt to pass and your car can’t, other drivers get angry, too.

You will get more than a hard stare in some cases.

And, there may be a few different reasons. If it is an issue of power, then your car is telling you something is missing. It is likely a lack of fuel, oxygen, or electrical energy.

With regular tune-ups, this should not happen. The other issue may well be the transmission. If you find your car does not have a smooth shift or hesitates before going into high gear, something’s wrong.

As your car’s engine needs a regular check, so do transmissions. There are components like fluid, screens, and filters.

Any of these may need attention. The longer you wait, the more parts (and cash) you may need.

Read the Owner’s Manual for Signs Your Car Needs a Tune-Up :

If you don’t have your owner’s manual, get one. This book is the best guide for telling what parts need upgrades and when.

Newer models do not need a tune-up until they reach 100,000 miles. Older models need one more often.

And, for significant work to keep a transmission at its best, the manual offers a timeline.

We all know people whose car has a couple of hundred thousand miles on it, and it runs like a top.

Chances are their maintenance records, and owner’s manual is as clean as their engine.

Looking For More Information?

We have great stuff on everything from signs your car needs a tune-up to health and fitness.

Check out our blog for more information that makes your life easier.

Have an idea or input on a blog? Contact us here. We love hearing from our readers!

Read Also :

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

Why Use Car Shipping Services & How A Cost Calculator Can Help

As one of the most valuable possessions you have, your vehicle is one of those assets that you always take good care of. Or, at least you’re trying to take good care of it. Thus, when relocating to a different city or state, for example, you’ll think twice before deciding to drive a car such a long distance. Instead of driving, you’ll start thinking about using car shipping services. Yet, you won’t really be sure if that’s a good idea, and if you come across a car shipping calculator, you won’t know how helpful it can exactly be. Both of those questions are certainly highly important, so what I’ll do now is answer them for you, helping you both make the right decision and figure out what to do with the calculator should you choose to use these services. Why Use Car Shipping Services Unsurprisingly, we’re going, to begin with the question of why using the car shipping option is a great idea. There are quite a few reasons to do this, and you’ll now get familiar with some of them. Learning about those reasons will help you ultimately decide if this is the right solution for you, or if you should perhaps decide to drive after all. I highly doubt that, but still. It’s a possibility. In addition, if you need to transport your car consider using the reliable car shipping services offered by https://www.professionalcarcarriers.com/shipping-car-from-vancouver-to-toronto/." Reduce the Risk of Damage Driving your car a very long distance can certainly take a toll on it and lead to some damage. Some issues you could face with it could be minor and insignificant, while others could be quite serious and, of course, expensive. Using the car shipping option, you’ll reduce the risk of damage, because your vehicle won’t be driven, but instead transported by a professional who has done this numerous times before and knows how to do it safely and successfully. No Stress The stress of driving for far too long is something nobody wants to experience. When you first think about driving a very long distance, it may sound like a fun road trip, and you may get excited about it. After you’ve been on the road for a while, though, stress will replace excitement, and you’ll regret the day you decided to drive instead of using the shipping option and avoid any kind of stress whatsoever. Here’s what to know about car shipping: https://www.angi.com/articles/5-tips-shipping-car.htm Avoid Injuries Being behind the wheel for far too long can not only be stressful but also lead to some injuries. No matter how comfortable your car is, sitting for long periods of time can lead to back injuries. And then, there’s also the fact you may have an accident on the road, which can result in even more serious injuries. Using the car shipping option will help you completely avoid the risk of those injuries. Save Time Time is certainly among those resources that you don’t want to waste. Saving it is, instead, your goal, because saving time on one thing means you can focus on other important things, or even just relax and recharge your batteries. With the car shipping solution, you’ll definitely get to save time, as you won’t be trapped behind the wheel. Save Money On Unforeseen Expenses Since talking of saving things, we can’t fail to mention money. Sure, you’ll be paying for the shipping service, but there are a lot of things you won’t be paying for if you decide to go for it instead of driving yourself. Basically, you won’t pay for gas, road trip food, accommodation, etc. And, you won’t incur any unforeseen costs, such as those that could arise from your vehicle needing repairs after being damaged on the road. Read more on how to transport your car. How a Cost Calculator Can Help After mentioning money, we have to start dealing with the next important thing that you’re wondering regarding these particular services. How can those shipping cost calculators actually help you and should you use them? Well, they help by providing you with a clear estimate on the amount you’ll pay when transporting your car with a specific company and on specific dates, allowing you to set a clear budget for it aside, as well as to find the best and the most reasonable deal. Using them can and will help you pay a fair price. Read Also: 6 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Shipping Company AutoTempest: Is It The Best Search Engine For Cars? Is Marine Transportation A Good Career Path?

How Do Self-Driving Cars Really Compare To Human Drivers

Although a lot of comparisons have been made between self-driving vehicles and human drivers, not all of those comparisons have been fair or accurate. One study found that distracted driving accounted for approximately 4 million accidents each year. That is almost half of the 11 million crashes that take place on an annual basis. Unfortunately, the problem only seems to be getting worse as distractions like texting become more and more common. Researchers recently analyzed a group of 28 studies, comparing the data. According to their findings, texting or looking at a phone while driving can have numerous adverse effects, ranging from limiting the ability of the driver to detect stimuli, to decreasing reaction times, causing a loss of control over the vehicle, and increasing the rate of collisions. Based on this information, some researchers even believe that texting while driving is more dangerous than operating a vehicle at the legal limit for alcohol or while under the influence of marijuana. The problem isn't only limited to teenagers. Older adults are every bit as likely to be guilty of texting while driving. They are also far more likely to talk on their phones while driving. One of the primary arguments used by proponents of self-driving cars is that they eliminate distracted driving. This, in turn, could possibly decrease the number of crashes, limiting the number of deaths and injuries that occur on an annual basis. In actuality, however, comparisons between self-driving vehicles in human drivers don't necessarily bear that out. According to studies, over 90% of the automobile accidents that occur in the United States are caused by driver error. In theory, stopping these accidents could reduce the new for the Trevino Law Firm in Corpus Christi, but also, save the lives of the same number of people as were killed in Vietnam within just two years of the technology being introduced. As someone who researches human factors, I don't find that information adequate for evaluating whether or not automated vehicles would be better at avoiding crashes than humans. The only way to tell for sure is by evaluating how many times drivers avoid collisions. What are the actual odds of getting in a collision for a human driver? Of course, this is extremely hard to measure. For instance, say that you were trying to determine how many times you avoided bumping into people in the hall. To figure that out, you need to not only look at the amount of time that you spent walking down the hallway but also the number of people that were present. When a non-event occurs, it is usually overlooked or easily forgotten. However, to make a fair comparison between self-driving vehicles and human drivers, researchers need to gather statistics about the number of non-collisions that occur in both situations. Comparing Statistics Equally Accident statistics relating to human drivers are drawn from a number of different driving conditions. For instance, some statistics come from people driving when it is raining out while others come from people driving on dirt roads. The bulk of the data on self-driving vehicles, on the other hand, has been gathered from states in the western part of the country. Typically, these cars are only analyzed when the weather is good. The data itself is primarily recorded when the vehicles are driving on highways with multiple lanes in a single direction. In these types of situations, the primary tasks that the car has to accomplish include staying in its own lane and avoiding tailgating the vehicle in front of it. These types of tasks are relatively easy for automated vehicles. Of course, humans are also quite good at accomplishing these tasks. Until more data is gathered from other parts of the country and on different types of roads, however, it is difficult to make a fair comparison. In fact, it will most likely be a long time before a self-driving vehicle has the opportunity to drive as many miles on an annual basis as a typical human driver. One of the advantages of automated vehicles is that they don't succumb to human problems such as tiredness, anger, or drunkenness. At the same time, however, they lack the reasoning skills to deal with unexpected or confusing situations. They also can't really anticipate potentially dangerous situations that may be coming further down the road as a human driver could. Instead, they operate at the moment. Automated systems have a hard time distinguishing between different types of objects. A group of people waiting at a bus stop might look almost the same as an empty cornfield. If a vehicle is facing an emergency situation, most drivers take the course of action that will minimize damage to both themselves and the people around them. A self-driving vehicle doesn't have the ability to analyze the situation and decide on the best course of action. Instead, they only react in one way, which may not necessarily be the best way. Technological Advancements Create Fresh Complications Most people are on board with the idea of pursuing driverless technology, simply because there is the potential for it to reduce the number of accidents that occur. It would be amazing if these vehicles were able to stop car accidents altogether, eliminating deaths and injuries on the road. Of course, some people love getting behind the wheel and driving their vehicles. In that case, they may feel disappointed not to be able to drive their car. Of course, the new technology doesn't always result in better outcomes. All that you have to do is look at the aviation industry for examples. When new technology is introduced, the number of negative events usually increases temporarily. This may discourage people from fully embracing self-driving technology if this also occurs with automated vehicles. When comparing human drivers and self-driving vehicles, it is important to use caution. It is going to be a long time before all of the cars on the road are replaced by automated vehicles. In the meantime, self-driving cars and human drivers will have to interact with one another. How this will play out remains to be seen. If you want to honestly compare driverless technology and human drivers, you need to make sure that those comparisons are being made accurately and under the same circumstances. Comparing two different sets of data from different driving conditions won't give an accurate picture of how the technology performs in comparison to traditional vehicles. As with any major technological shift, it is important to proceed slowly and to use caution to avoid unexpected problems along the way.

10 Reasons to Purchase a Used Car

Looking to buy an inexpensive car? Then think about buying a used car rather than an expensive new car. Buying pre-owned vehicles can provide the same comfort as a new car, provide quality transportation for years, and can significantly save you money. Here’s a list of reasons why you should buy a used vehicle. 1. Cheaper price tag: The price of a used car is a lot less intimidating than the price of a new car. New vehicles are great to have, but cars still lose most of their value early in their lifespan. The inevitable law of depreciation remains a significant reason to purchased used cars instead. 2. Several options: If you’re buying a new car, there are only a few brands and models available for you to choose from. But, when you purchase a used vehicle, you can look around and pick a specific car that best suits your needs. 3. Cheaper insurance rates: New car insurance can be cheaper. However, the insurance rates for a used car are less expensive than they would be for new cars. It means you will be saving money on the vehicle itself and on your insurance, both at the same time. 4. Cheaper registration fees: The same as with car insurance, several states charge a cheaper fee to register a vehicle if it has a lower transaction price. While some states increase its registration fees to generate more income, purchasing a used car is a good way to avoid rising registration fees. 5. Used cars now are much more reliable than in the last century: With the help of today's technology, vehicles are designed and manufactured to last longer, which makes modern used vehicles more reliable and dependable. 6. Negotiate the price: You can purchase the vehicle for lower than its asking price if you successfully haggle about its price with the seller. 7. Cut down on maintenance costs: Maintenance costs tend to be cheaper when you purchase a used car. You can also save money on internal configurations, premium oil, and more. 8. Less depreciation: Brand new cars are bound to lose around half of their value in the first five years after purchase. However, used cars do not depreciate so fast, making your purchase a good investment. 9. Cheaper customization costs: Since you’re purchasing a used car, you may install features on your own at a more affordable price than on a new car. 10. Certified pre-owned vehicles: Certified pre-owned vehicles assure buyers that they’ll be getting a car that drives like new. It also ensures buyers that they’re buying quality and thoroughly inspected cars at a bargain price. Certified pre-owned vehicles may sometimes have an extended warranty, unique financing, and other benefits. Buying used cars in Utah, Florida or any state is exciting, especially with several great options to choose from on the market today. These are some of the reasons why buying a used vehicle is worth it. Read Also: The Top 3 Fastest Ways To Sell Your Car Privately 7 Reasons Why Teenagers Pay Extra For Car Insurance