Auto expert warned about safety-threatening car breakdowns

Car owners often postpone car repairs, ignore the signals on the dashboard, or simply forget to perform an important check before traveling. Yuri Mikheikin, head of the Fit Service car service, told Izvestia on July 24 about the symptoms that signal critical breakdowns that can lead to accidents and other serious consequences.

According to him, the malfunction of the braking system is one of the most critical failures. Brake failure or even reduced efficiency can lead to the most serious consequences.

"I will list the symptoms that it is important to respond to as quickly as possible. Increased freewheel of the brake pedal, when the pedal sinks deeper than usual or you have to put more pressure on it, is a problem that cannot be ignored. Next, you should be on your guard if you notice strange sounds when braking — it can be creaking, screeching, screeching, clanging. You should not independently diagnose "it's just the pads are wet" or "it's probably time to change, but I'll go again," it's better to make sure that the system is working properly at the diagnosis," he said.

Vibration in the steering wheel or pedal during braking often indicates deformation of the brake discs. If the car pulls to the side when braking, this is a sign of a jammed brake caliper, which is very dangerous. A decrease in the level of brake fluid in the tank is a sign of leakage, which can easily lead to complete brake failure.

"Never ignore such a problem. Also, few people know that the appearance of a burning smell after braking indicates overheating of the brakes. This should not happen in a healthy system. Any of these symptoms can lead to irreparable consequences, so it's better to contact the service right away," the expert added.

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A breakdown of the steering rack or electric power steering (EVR), as well as the power steering (GUR), makes the car practically uncontrollable. For example, the steering wheel may become very tight and you will have to make serious efforts to turn it. It's even worse if there are backlashes and steering wheel swings, and the wheels react with a delay or do not accept the command at all. In such a situation, the car becomes unpredictable, and even at low speed you can lose control of the car, which increases the likelihood of an accident.

"Other symptoms that should alert you are knocks, crunches or creaks when turning the steering wheel. They often indicate wear on the steering tips, rods, or problems with the rail itself. It is also worth paying attention to extraneous noises from under the hood when turning the steering wheel, for example, the squealing of the power steering belt or the hum of the pump. Ignoring such symptoms is extremely dangerous. At high speed or in an emergency situation, it will not be possible to dodge an obstacle," the specialist explained.

He also added that burnt-out headlights or taillights can make a car invisible to other road users, especially at night, at dusk or in conditions of poor visibility. You should regularly check the operation of all lighting devices: low and high beams, fog lights, parking lights, brake lights, turn signals.

"A broken brake light is a special threat, the car simply will not have time to react to braking. If the turn signal is blown out, other drivers will not understand the intention to make a maneuver. It is also dangerous to adjust the headlights incorrectly when they blind oncoming drivers. Replacing light bulbs is usually a simple and inexpensive procedure. Don't skimp on your visibility and visibility to others," Mikheikin pointed out.

In addition, a faulty suspension directly affects the car's handling, especially at high speed, cornering and maneuvering. The car becomes less stable, "wobbly", and does not hold the road well, which increases the likelihood of skidding or losing traction.

"Alarm bells: the appearance of knocks, creaks, thuds when passing bumps. The car body can swing violently after passing obstacles or when cornering. The car "floats" on the road, holds a straight line poorly, reacts slowly to the steering wheel — this is all a deterioration in handling. There may also be uneven tire wear or sagging of one side of the car," the expert added.

On July 8, auto expert Alexander Homan warned that some drivers, in order to save money, switch to using regular water instead of a special washing liquid, which harms the car. Impurities and sediment in the water contribute to the formation of stone on the walls of the tanks and in the hoses in the car system, which leads to the failure of the headlight washer and windshield pumps.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.