Just as you need to go to the doctor every once in a while when your body isn’t working as well as it should, you should take your car to an auto mechanic regularly, and especially if he’s trying to tell you it’s not working. need a checkup! ‘But how?’ I hear you ask. ‘Cars can’t talk!’ Maybe not in human language, but make no mistake, your car can and will communicate with you when there’s a problem, and it’s your job to be able to successfully interpret what you’re saying. Here are five signs that your car may be feeling a little off.

1. Carbon monoxide leaks

Since carbon monoxide is odorless, it is especially difficult to detect a leak. This is a situation where you need to listen to your own body and your car. Carbon monoxide is toxic to humans and therefore can make you feel drowsy, nauseated, or develop ringing in your ears; It could mean that you are suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning from a leak inside the car. You should stop immediately if this is the case, because apart from the fact that your car is clearly in trouble, so is your health.

2. Squealing brakes

If you hear a high-pitched squeal or hiss when you apply the brakes, or if your brake pedal feels ‘spongy’ or too soft or you need to push it almost to the floor to stop the car, this means you need to get your brakes checked immediately. The squeal is most likely caused by water in the brake pads or dangerously low brake pads.

3. Rattle, jingle or rattle

Your car is not a percussion instrument. If you hear abnormal knocking, rattling, or rattling coming from the engine (or anywhere in the car, as long as you’re not hauling a crate of empty bottles!), it could be an indication that you’ve blown your head gasket. You should stop and have your car towed to a mechanic or service station as soon as possible.

4. Difficult to start the engine

If it takes several tries to get your engine to start or you hear a click when you try to turn the key but it won’t start, it could be an indication that your battery is dying or there is a problem with your alternator. Either way, you should have it checked at a gas station as soon as possible.

5. Oil light

This seems relatively simple: how obvious can it be if your car turns on the oil light? You would be surprised, dear readers, how often this light is ignored or simply overlooked. If any of the lights on your dash come on, the first thing to do is determine what they mean, and then look at the problem right away.

Having a regular car service is vital to maintaining the health of the car. Even if your car shows no signs of needing one, prevention is better than cure, so make sure you’re on the lookout to ensure a long and happy vehicle life!