How to Know You Should Service Your Car

Summer is here, and you may spend your free time hitting the road and exploring New York travel destinations on your season’s to-do list. You may also want to ensure that your vehicle delivers optimal trip performance. If you detect reduced performance while driving around, it may signify an underlying issue you can solve by scheduling maintenance service at our dealership.

Ignoring such issues may cause further damage since the vehicle may struggle to deliver and maintain peak performance. Our team at Brewster Ford has highlighted signs that you may need routine auto maintenance service to avoid incurring high repair costs from your vehicle’s damaged parts.

Noises That Indicate It’s Time for Service

Typically, if you hear any unusual noise while driving around Brewster, it may signify that some car components aren’t functioning correctly. Here are some noises to look out for and what they could indicate:

Ticking or Clicking Noise

A ticking or clicking sound can indicate low engine oil or an issue in your vehicle’s valvetrain. If the engine oil is too low, you risk damaging your engine due to friction on the engine parts. You can temporarily solve the problem by adding engine oil that will tide you over on your drive to a dealership’s service center.

Squealing Noise

Squeals may come from your engine or brake pads when you step on the brakes. Squeals coming from the engine can be due to the loosening of the serpentine belt. The serpentine belt transfers power from the crankshaft to essential engine parts like the water pump and the alternator, so you should schedule a repair as soon as you detect any issues. If the squeals happen when you step on the brakes, the brake pads are likely worn down and require replacement.

Rumbling or Roaring Noise

A rumbling noise underneath the driver’s seat may indicate a leak in the manifold of your exhaust system. Ordinarily, the rumbling noise isn’t heard because of the muffler. However, when the exhaust system fails, all the engine noises and carbon monoxide can leak into the car’s cabin. When you hear this rumbling noise, head to our dealership in Brewster to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

Flapping

When you hear a flapping sound when you turn on your air conditioner, it may mean there’s a loose or worn-out ventilation flap. Usually, the air gets into the cabin without obstructions in the vents. A loose ventilation flap will move around when air pressure hits it, creating a flapping sound. Flapping sounds shouldn’t cause alarm, although they can irritate you while driving. To solve this, you can schedule an AC performance check.

A Loud Bang

Sudden bangs may indicate a backfire in the combustion chamber. These bangs occur whenever fuel that didn’t burn in the combustion chamber escapes and burns up in the exhaust. Fuel and air in the combustion chamber typically mix perfectly to prevent backfires. Due to the force of the loud bangs, your vehicle parts may be damaged, so bring your car in for service as soon as possible to avoid further damage.

Benefits of Routine Maintenance

All vehicles experience wear and tear, so regular maintenance servicing is vital to keep them functioning efficiently. Servicing also helps maintain the condition and value of your car. Here are the benefits of routine maintenance:

Reduced Repair Costs

Routine maintenance is a preventive measure by repairing faulty parts or components before affecting other areas around them. Repairs help you save money in the long run by fixing minor problems before they become significant issues. For example, by getting a routine check done, you can spot when the engine oil is lower than usual and refill it instead of being unaware and eventually damaging your engine.

Improves Fuel Economy

Routine maintenance may increase your vehicle’s fuel efficiency by up to 3%. Maintenance checks, such as correcting tire pressure, can also improve fuel economy. Fuel economy improves because the vehicle won’t need to strain to compensate for the lack of tire pressure while driving. Another maintenance check that improves fuel economy is changing the motor oil since it spares the engine from blockages that may lead to reduced efficiency.

Higher Vehicle Value

If you intend to sell your car later, scheduling routine maintenance helps your vehicle retain its value. Usually, vehicles with a good maintenance history are highly sought after and fetch a good amount of money from interested buyers. Warranties in most new cars also require that you perform routine maintenance to keep them valid.

Vehicle Safety

Service technicians spot any damage or malfunction and fix it before it becomes a danger, improving safety for you and others on the road. For example, replacing worn brake pads in time could help avoid collisions due to brake failure. Fixing any broken parts, such as the fuel cap, that may lead to increased carbon emissions is an environmentally conscious decision too.

Vehicle Longevity

Maintenance services can extend your vehicle’s life span too. Services like oil changes, replacement of worn parts, and tire rotation ensure that any issues with the vehicle parts don’t affect other areas. For example, if you don’t keep the power-steering fluid at the proper level, you may eventually need to replace the whole power-steering pump and rack. Scheduling maintenance service also means you won’t need to worry about buying a new vehicle for a long time due to the dependability of a well-maintained vehicle.

Schedule Maintenance Servicing at Brewster Ford

Pay close attention to the signs your vehicle needs maintenance work and act accordingly to prevent dangerous situations on the road. Also, putting off routine maintenance can cause a small problem to become a big one, which will be more expensive later on. You could avoid that by scheduling a service appointment. At Brewster Ford, we value our customers and their vehicles, so we conduct thorough maintenance services on your car every time you bring it to us.

Our services range from preventive car maintenance and engine diagnostics to brake repairs and part replacement. We have expert trained technicians who will handle any maintenance job promptly to get you back on the road soon. You may also use our service specials to reduce repair costs if your vehicle is out of warranty. Get in touch with Brewster Ford Brewster, New York, to schedule your next maintenance service.

Photo Credit: Image used with permissions via Ford.com

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