14 signs your car is about to die

“Transmission issues are expensive. So, if you notice violent acceleration or braking while driving your car (and especially if all that jerking and shuddering is accompanied by some unpleasant grinding noises), it’s likely time to move on to a new vehicle.”  – Matt Smith, senior editor at CarGurus.com.

Here are 9 strange car noises – and what they could mean, according to a mechanic.

“Rust is a very expensive problem to fix and it continues to get worse if you don’t catch it when it starts. Once rust starts, it spreads quickly. Water leaks also tend to do widespread damage in that water sits in hidden spots and causes corrosion. Both problems need to be looked at thoroughly to gauge how much damage has happened.” – Tom O’Neill, car bodyshop owner.

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“Much like the human body, your car requires precious fluids to stay alive. If you are having to refill any of your car’s vital fluids – coolant, oil, brake, and power steering fluid, etc – every month, then it is only a question of when, not if, something will go out.” – David Ambrogio, a car valuer.

“If you purchased a truck when [petrol] prices were low, but now they are straining your finances, you have to consider if this is a long-term option for you. Another example may be a sports car that has great payments, but the insurance is putting it out of your reach.” – Valerie Coleman, a long-time car expert at AutoTrader.com and now the mobile marketplace 5miles.

Here are the secret car-buying tips your dealer won’t tell you.

“I would advise that before spending the big bucks on a big repair, ask yourself, ‘What can I sell the car for while it’s running, and can I combine the sales proceeds with the money I would otherwise have spent on repairs to buy something newer and more reliable?’ I owned a high-end European car with over 320,000 kilometres on it. It ran great, but needed parts replaced. The estimate for all the named work was close to $4000. The car had a book value of around $2500. As the cliché goes, I was about to throw good money after bad. Sure, I might have gotten another 80,000 kilometres out of it, or it could have died 8,000 kilometres later. Another option would be to take the $4000 I was about the spend, give my car away for $2000, and buy a nicer, newer, used car for $6000 – which is what I did.” – Richard Reina, automotive expert and product training director for CARiD.com.

“No mechanical item is without issue, which includes your vehicle. Always make sure you keep up with your recalls, but if it becomes a pattern or happens to be a major recall, it may be time to investigate getting a new car.” – Valerie Coleman.

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“The earliest sign of a car on its way out will often be found on the dashboard. All of those little warning lights are important, and ignoring them could spell more trouble down the road. If your check engine light is illuminated, you should take the car to your mechanic as soon as possible. If the oil light is on, you’ll want to pull over and call for help. And if either light persists, it may be time to find a new car.” –  Matt Smith.

Learn some other secrets your car mechanic won’t tell you.

“If you are like many people, a warranty is required for peace of mind. While there are companies that offer extended warranties, make sure you read the fine print. And watch your odometer. If you are near your warranty expiration and you are not in a position to buy an extended warranty, it may be a good time to look around.” – Valerie Coleman.

“Blue smoke pouring from the tailpipe means your car is burning oil, and white smoke means it’s evaporating coolant. You can certainly keep adding either fluid to your engine to keep the wheels turning, but failing to do either will result in that smoke starting to billow under the hood – and then it’s time for either an expensive fix or a new car.”  – Matt Smith.

“Keeping your car regularly lubricated with vital fluids goes a long way in maintaining your engine. Skipping regular maintenance can eventually cause your car’s camshaft to be no longer in sync with the pistons, leading to a ‘knocking’ sound that is a tell-tale sign that something is seriously wrong. This is an expensive fix, and it is usually time at this point to start saving up for a new engine.” – David Ambrogio.