It's important to pay attention to the condition and performance of your car so that you can detect and address faults before they cause your vehicle to break down. Here are two early warning signs that may mean that your car is in need of repair.
A grinding noise when shifting gears
If you can hear a loud grinding noise each time you shift into a different gear, it is possible that there is something wrong with your car's clutch.
A clutch will often make this type of noise when it gets stuck in its engaged position (that is, when its disc stays connected to the engine's flywheel, even after you have pressed down on the clutch pedal).
If this is the root cause of the grinding noise, then you will probably also find it very difficult to shift from one gear to another; you may find that you need to use far more force than you usually do.
This problem is usually the result of a broken component within the clutch, such as a worn-out release bearing or snapped clutch link.
It is important to address this issue promptly. If you do not do this, and instead choose to continue driving your car, you will probably have to pay a mechanic to not only fix the clutch but also make gearbox repairs, as driving with a constantly-engaged clutch can inflict serious harm on the gearbox's most important components (such as the bearings and gear synchronisers, for example).
If you have been ignoring this grinding noise for several weeks, it is possible that parts of the gearbox may have already been damaged.
In this situation, you will need to hire a mechanic who is experienced in both clutch and gearbox repairs to fix your car.
You're struggling to accelerate
If you have noticed that your car does not accelerate as quickly as it once did, there might be a problem with your car's fuel filter.
The fuel filter, as its name suggests, is designed to prevent contaminants in a car's petrol or diesel supply from passing through the fuel pump into the fuel injectors. This, in turn, ensures that the fuel injectors and other important engine components do not sustain damage as a result of being exposed to these contaminants.
However, fuel filters can, over time, becoming completely clogged up with impurities. If this should happen, it may take much longer for the petrol or diesel in your car to reach your engine. This, in turn, may affect the speed with which your car accelerates.
If your fuel filter is dirty, it's important to have it replaced as quickly as possible. If you do not do this, you will not only continue to struggle to accelerate, but you will also end up damaging the engine, as the clogged-up filter will not be able to capture the fuel contaminants before the fuel enters the engine block. This could result in many of the engine parts ending up covered in harmful debris and dirt.
Share10 February 2018
Ever since I was a little boy playing with my toy cars, I have had a need for speed. Now that I am an adult, I enjoy both watching car racing and taking part in amateur racing events. My automotive blog shares ways you can make your own car faster and more responsive. I want to share my thoughts on tyre choices, mechanical modifications and body style changes which all alter the way your car performs. If you have an interest in amateur car racing, you'll find posts about that here. My blog posts get keep your engine racing too!
