What are the Most Common Vehicle Problems

What Car Owners Should be on the Lookout for

Throughout your vehicle ownership experience, you’ll enjoy life in the city, on the road and perhaps even off-road. But you’ll encounter some perils on your path, including potholes, like those littering the roads of Edmonton, Alberta, for example. And even with just everyday life, your vehicle will still inevitably encounter issues requiring maintenance. There are a number of problems that occur more often than others, and this article is going to run down that list for you so you’ll know what to expect out there on the open road. And what better place to start at than potholes and your vehicle’s shocks and suspension?

Shocks & Suspension

It’s not just the potholes, it’s also all the gravel left over from previous seasons. Gravel that gets kicked up by bigger vehicles on the road and flung right into your windshield. It’s definitely noticeable, and your car will definitely appreciate having that pothole and window-chip damage repaired, don’t you think?

You’ll appreciate driving with a suspension and shocks that aren’t cracked, rattling, and not protecting your vehicle properly. You’ll also like having those chips in your windows repaired, because it will prevent the chips from becoming window cracks spanning your entire windshield, and thus preserve your on-road visibility. That’s an entirely different problem, but thankfully, chips are easy to repair and your suspension is easy for us to check out here at Mayfield Toyota! Here’s what we recommend:

GET YOUR SHOCKS CHECKED
If little bumps on the road have started feeling like big bumps, then we should take a look at your shocks and suspension. Or maybe you’ve noticed a rattling as you drive over Edmonton’s bumpier residential roads? Even if you’re not noticing any difference, rough winter roads and potholes still could’ve caused subtle wear and tear that could turn into something worse next year. If you hit a pothole or suspect pothole damage might have occurred–no matter how minor–let us check it out and help save you from costlier repairs or replacements in the future.

Pothole

ROTATE AND REBALANCE
A tire rotation and rebalance ensures that any tire or steering misalignment are fixed. These issues are rather common after hitting potholes, and Mayfield Toyota will likely recommend this even if your shocks are in good shape. As important as your shocks are for preventing further damage to your vehicle, your tires are what holds you to the road in the first place. So let’s make sure they’re still pointing where you want them to: in the precise direction you turn your steering wheel towards! Speaking of your tires…

TIRE REPAIR
Let’s take a look at those tires too and make sure they’re in working shape, okay? When you ram into a pothole, your tire’s sidewall can bulge or be punctured. You’ll know if you’ve got a flat tire, but will you know if all these potholes have been causing your tires to wear prematurely and unevenly? This one’s more difficult to detect, and that’s why Mayfield Toyota has such a wonderful service centre. We’ll make sure your tires didn’t suffer from any damage, and that they’re still road-worthy for the long haul. We’ll also take a look at your rims, which could be aluminum-based and susceptible to dents and chips.

For most people, we’re getting out of the DIY content here. But for you self-taught mechanics out there, you certainly can independently maintain your vehicle through regular servicing.

If little bumps on the road have started feeling like big bumps, then you should have a dealership take a look at your shocks and suspension. Or maybe you’ve noticed a rattling as you drive over the bumpier residential roads? Even if you’re not noticing any difference, rough winter roads and potholes still could have caused subtle wear and tear that could turn into something worse. If you hit a pothole or suspect pothole damage might have occurred–no matter how minor–let us check it out and help save you from costlier repairs or replacements down the road.

A tire rotation and rebalance ensures that any tire or steering misalignment will be fixed. These issues are rather common after hitting potholes, and your dealership will likely recommend this even if your shocks are in good shape. It’s important to make sure your tires are still pointing where you want them to: in the precise direction you turn your steering wheel towards!

Last, but Not Least…

Your brakes are some of the toughest components on your vehicle, but even they will need maintenance since they’re being used constantly. The most common part that needs replacement is the pads because these are the parts used to create the friction needed to stop. These parts will slowly wear down over time, and will require replacement about once every few years (depending on driving style). Have a professional inspect your brakes.

There are several ways to tell if your brakes need some TLC. The most obvious of these is a pronounced squealing noise when stopping (which indicates your pads are worn). Or you might hear a heavy vibration coming from the brake pedal when braking (indicates rotors are warped). Other indications may include your vehicle pulling in one direction when braking, or an “ABS Fault” light appearing on your dash.

We hope we’ve helped you answer your question as to what regular vehicle servicing you should get done! These tips should help you with how to maintain your vehicle through regular servicing, but if you see something that should be on this list and isn’t, we welcome you to contact us to let us know!

Oil

Some of these suggestions for regular vehicle servicing are really simple ones you can take care of yourself, saving you money instead of paying a dealership to do it for you.

You can easily check your oil level to be sure you’re good to go, and don’t forget to top off your windshield wiper fluid as well! If you’re unsure how to check these fluids yourself, your local dealership should be happy to tell you. If you’d like to have all your fluids topped off, they can also check your brake fluid and automatic transmission fluid.

Your coolant level is also important, and a dealer can check this for you too. Just as the name suggests, your coolant keeps your engine cool, and without it your engine is as risk of overheating or seizing in hot weather. Additionally, driving for hours at a time (like on a road trip) can really get your engine hot under the collar, so make sure it has enough coolant to keep it under control.

Tire Pressure, Tread & Repair

Your tires are your only contact with the road, and are vitally important to ensure a safe drive. You can check that they have enough tread left, or your dealership can do this for you. You’ll want to make sure your tires are properly inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended psi (usually found on the inside of the driver’s door), and don’t forget about your spare too!

If you’ve recently run over a pothole, it’s possible that your tire’s sidewall is bulging or punctured. This one’s more difficult to detect, so if you’re concerned about it, talk to your dealership. They can also take a look at your rims, which could be aluminum-based and susceptible to dents and chips.