Putting off repairs is no saving

Jil McIntosh

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Nobody likes car repairs: they're inconvenient and you finish up with a bill to pay. Because of that, many people put off repairs as long as possible.

You can get away with that on a few things, but there are some that should be addressed right away.

Ignore your car's warning signs and you could be in for an even bigger repair bill, along with the possibility of serious damage or your vehicle becoming unsafe to drive.

If your car's trying to tell you about any of these, then pay attention.

Note that all of the warning lights in the instrument cluster will come on when you start the engine, but they should all go out after a few seconds. You're watching for warning lights that flash or stay on while you're driving or idling.

Brake noise: Every so often, turn off the stereo, open the window, and listen to your brakes.

An occasional squeal when you press the pedal isn't a worry, but take note if you hear a continuous squeaking while driving that goes away when you press the brake pedal. That's a wear indicator that tells you that your brake pads will need replacement soon.

Don't leave it too long, because that relatively inexpensive fix will turn into a much pricier one if the pads wear down too far.

If the brakes make a grinding sound when you press the pedal, get them looked at right away — that's the sound of seriously worn brakes, which can affect your stopping distance.

Anti-lock brakes will make a loud rumbling sound if they activate during a panic stop, so don't fret if you hear this when stopping hard on a slippery surface. If they're noisy during regular braking, get them checked.

Oil light: If the warning light comes on, stop as soon as it's possible to do so safely, and shut the engine off. Wait about five minutes and then check the oil level on the dipstick (this gives it time to flow down for an accurate reading).

If it's low, add the amount indicated on the stick — overfilling can hurt the engine, too. If the oil level is okay, don't start the engine; you'll need to get it to a shop.

It could be that your oil pump isn't working, and if it isn't circulating oil, running the engine without that lubrication can cause serious damage.

Overheating: Engines can overheat even on the coldest days. If the temperature warning comes on, pull over and shut off the engine to prevent serious damage.

Other symptoms include an antifreeze odour or rattling in the engine. Possible causes can be a split heater hose, leaking radiator, or a malfunctioning water pump.

Hoses and belts usually get soft or worn well in advance of failure, so have them checked periodically to prevent problems.

Tire warnings: Properly-inflated tires with lots of tread are the most important safety feature on your car.

First, check their pressure once a month, even if your vehicle has a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). That system only warns when a tire is at least 25 percent low; even before that point, an underinflated tire is wasting fuel and will wear unevenly.

Next, look for any bulges or bubbles on the sidewall, and then check the tread. Your tire contains "wear bars," little rubber bars that run across the tire perpendicular to the tread: they're hard to see on new tires, but when they're close to the tread level, the tire needs replacing.

You can also use the penny test: put one into the tread with the top of the Queen's head facing down. If you can see any part of her head above her eyes, your tires are worn enough to compromise handling, while if you can see her crown, they're unsafe.

Gas gauge: The fuel pumps on newer cars are in the tank, where the fuel cools and lubricates them. It's hard on the pump to consistently run close to empty.

As well, winter weather conditions can add considerably to your commute time, especially if you're stuck on the highway without an exit ramp nearby.

That's when you discover that "enough gas to get me home" might not be enough.

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