Much like people, your car also has an expiration date
It can be hard to say goodbye, but much like the people in your life, your car also has an expiration date. No matter what, no amount of maintenance can fix it; these machines aren’t made to last forever after all. If that were the case, the auto industry would have peaked decades ago.
But in all seriousness, having your car just die on you without any chance of survival can be a pretty frightening experience. Not just the sheer “What do I do now?” demeanour but also the financial strain that comes with it. Once you’ve had a car long enough, it becomes integrated into your daily life and changing that could be proven difficult.
So, it might be helpful to notice the warning signs that your car’s on its last legs to prepare for the eventual hardship.
More Rust Than Paint
That might be a tad of exaggeration, but you get the point. Sooner or later, your car becomes more rust than color. Along with other variables, winter driving can eat away at the metals and paint on your vehicle. This is what eventually causes rust.
Unfortunately, this is a problem that is not cheap to fix. This is why most people usually choose to leave it be, but this is a problem that doesn’t go away.
It tends to actually spread rather quickly to the point that your car becomes unrecognizable. If this is the case, it might be time to say goodbye finally. You think that’s bad, wait until you need new auto parts.
You Notice A Leak… Or Two Under The Car
Again, much like you and the people in your life, cars require certain fluids to keep going. This could range from oil to brake fluid to even coolant.
All of these are extremely important to keep your car up to perfect health. Coolant will keep your engine from overheating; brake fluid is crucial for your ability to stop the vehicle, and oil is basically a car’s blood. So, every once in a while, simply check underneath for any fluid when you park your vehicle.
If you end up noticing something, well maybe car maintenance isn’t the right path here.
A Lot of Dash Signs
Dashboard symbols are meant to act as a communication between you and your automobile. If there’s an issue, one of these lights pops up on your dashboard, alerting you to what and where the problem is.
There are different types of these lights. There are informational green dash signs, more serious orange warning lights, and red alert dashboard symbols telling you that the situation is now dire. But… what if you can’t afford to fix these lights.
Well, then you have a bit of a problem. Check engine light is one thing, but what if you also had your oil light on along with brakes and tire pressure? Probably time to give the car a proper send-off.
Transmission’s Requires Any Maintenance
What does that mean? Essentially your transmission acts as a gearbox of sorts. It’s what moves the engine power to the wheels, allowing movement.
If you’re noticing a slower response from your transmission… well, it’s rarely good news when talking about the transmission. Why? If you have an issue with this part of the automobile, it will cost you BIG.
Sure, you can continue driving it for a while, but you’re only delaying the inevitable end. Depending on the severity of the situation, you could be spending upwards of $10,000 for repairs, which is a ridiculous price. This actually leads to one of the most important signs that your car is dying…
Car Repair Costs Get Too High
Remember when we mentioned that repairing (or replacing) the transmission in your car could set you back just a few thousand steps? It’s highly advisable that you do not take that repair, cut your losses, bite the bullet and buy a new vehicle.
Believe it or not, as soon as you buy a car and drive it off the lot, it has immediately lost most of its value. It kind of goes without saying, but the more you continue to drive it, the more of its value gets chipped away. But the maintenance bill still stays nice and high because auto parts are expensive for the mechanic.
If you buy a used car for $9,000 and suddenly get a bill from the mechanic for $5,000. Yeah, you might get a few more miles out of it, but it’s better to just get back on the market.
Who knows, maybe you’ll finally find your dream car.
Have You Tried Autoly Yet?
Since releasing, we have managed to rack up 10k+ downloads from the App Store, Play Store and AppGallery; and we’re still looking for more feedback. From scanning dashboard symbols to suggesting the best mechanics, we’re making sure we have created the best app for your auto maintenance needs. We’d love to hear from you, so please download the app today.