If you are asking the question, “What’s wrong with my car?,” most likely you have been noticing that something doesn’t seem quite right. Perhaps your vehicle is making some odd sounds. Maybe one of the dashboard warning lights came on. You may even be smelling something odd while driving. Regardless of the problem, there are some thing you can do to help make the repair process go a lot smoother.
Before you bring your vehicle in for repair, it’s helpful to go through this list so you can let us know what you are experiencing.
- Write down everything that doesn’t seem right about the way your vehicle is operating. When you do so, take note of where and when you think the problem is happening. You will also want to identify how often it happens and it the problem seems constant or is happening intermittently. For example, if you are experiencing a clunking sound in the front of your vehicle when turning, write it down. Be as precise as possible. It will help us in diagnosing the problem.
- Take a look through your owner’s manual to see if they have identified any troubleshooting tips for what you may be noticing. While you’re going through the manual, you may also want to check the maintenance schedule that’s recommended by the manufacturer.
- Noticing fluid under your vehicle? Take note of the color of the fluid and the approximate spot under the vehicle where you notice the leak. Dark, oily fluid is most likely engine oil and will be located around the center of the engine. A coolant leak will most likely be found toward the front of your vehicle and could be bright green, orange or blue in color. Transmission fluid is red and will be found under the engine or transmission. Brake fluid is also red and will be found leaking from the master cylinder. Power steering fluid can be a number of different colors.
- It isn’t always easy to pinpoint from where you might be hearing an odd noise. Clicking, clunking, grinding, squealing noises are just a few of the ways your vehicle is trying to tell you something is wrong. Let us know from where you think the noise is coming along with what it sounds like. Doing so will help us when we are taking your vehicle for a test drive.
- If a dashboard light is illuminated, check your manual to see what it means. Some lights, like the low tire pressure monitoring light, can be quickly fixed by adding air to your tires. Other warning lights are letting you know there is something wrong that needs to be repaired. “Red” warning lights are critical lights – you should not drive your vehicle. Click here to read one of our blog posts on critical warning lights.
Of course, the best and simplest way to deal with auto repair concerns is to bring your vehicle to our shop located in Verona, New Jersey. Our technicians will take the time to properly diagnose and correct any problems you are experiencing with your vehicle. Schedule an appointment for your vehicle repair today.