Many different things can go wrong with a vehicle over time, and maintaining your car or truck properly is the best way to avoid problems. But even the best-maintained vehicles can have breakdowns or issues, and some things will require a trip to the auto repair shop.
Strange Odors
Many parts in your car can produce odors when they are not working correctly. A coolant leak will often give off a sweet, pungent smell once the car warms up. It is often accompanied by steam coming from the engine or grill of the vehicle.
Coolant leaks often smell hot as well, and in some cases, you may notice an odor of hot rubber with them if the leak is due to a burst hose in the engine compartment. Other odors you may notice are a burnt rubber smell from a belt that is slipping, exhaust if you have a manifold or exhaust pipe leak, or plastic burning if there is a short in the electrical system.
All of these odors should be checked by an auto repair shop to ensure that the car is running correctly and is safe to drive. If there is an issue with any of these systems, the technician working on your vehicle can fix them for you and get you back on the road.
Strange Noises
Noises can be hard to pinpoint under a car, and sometimes they can be minor, but other times they can be an essential clue to a more significant issue. If you notice a noise that you have never heard before coming from under the car, it is a good idea to take the vehicle to an auto repair shop and have it inspected.
A strange noise coming from your car could be as minor as a loose exhaust hanger that is allowing the tailpipe to move around and hit the frame of the vehicle. But it could be something more significant like a brake caliper that is stuck, a broken spring, or a shock absorber that has come loose and is banging around under the car.
If you heard the noise once and it goes away, it could be something hitting the car from underneath, like a rock or other debris, but if the noise does not stop, it is most likely something in the drivetrain that is causing it.
Any noise that is accompanied by changes in the way the car drives is a much more significant issue, and you need to deal with them immediately. A change in the car's handling could be because of a broken part in the suspension or steering of your vehicle, and an auto repair shop should go over the entire suspension and steering system to determine what is causing the change. Visit an auto repair shop if you think something's wrong.
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