Every car on the road must be serviced, if not regularly, at least once every year.
However, service intervals differ between manufacturers, not all new cars are sold with service plans anymore, and pre-owned vehicles are generally not bound to such after-sales agreements.
Therefore, it’s important to know when your daily driver needs to be serviced to ensure it provides you with the most mileage possible.
MotorHappy, a car insurance comparison company, has shared five signs that could mean your vehicle is due for a service.
Illuminated engine warning light
The first and most obvious sign to get your car serviced is an illuminated engine warning light on the dash.
This could mean that a regular service is due, but if the light is flashing or remains illuminated after the regular service, more serious issues may be afoot.
Strange noises
Strange noises coming from the car’s engine bay could mean something serious has gone wrong, or is about to, and it’s better to have them looked at by a professional before they become detrimental.
Among the noises you should look out for are whining under the bonnet, louder-than-usual exhaust noises, metal-on-metal sounds, uneven engine noise, crunching gears, or squealing when you step on the brake, said MotorHappy.
Smoke from under the bonnet
If white smoke or steam suddenly erupts from your vehicle’s bonnet it is overheating, and it must be pulled over and cooled before continuing the journey.
However, if the smoke is blue it’s likely due to burning oil, which could cause considerable damage if not tended to as soon as possible.
Vibration under braking
Steering wheel vibrations or pulling when pressing on the brakes could mean one of many things.
Your brakes may need replacing, the suspension could be starting to fail, or the steering system could be experiencing issues.
Nevertheless, all three possibilities affect your safety on the road and if your car vibrates when braking, a service centre should be one of your next stops.
Car service manual
Prevention is better than cure and an easy way to keep your car in good shape is to service it before or when the manufacturer’s service intervals are due, regardless of whether you think something is wrong with it or not.
These intervals generally range between 10,000-15,000km, and can also be found in the vehicle’s service booklet.
However, if you don’t cover this distance all that often, it’s recommended to still take the vehicle for a service at least once a year.
This will ensure that wear-and-tear and consumable items such as oil, filters, and spark plugs are regularly replaced – which if not done, could be the root cause of more serious dilemmas in the future.
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