| With a little research on your vehicle, you can avoid | | | | Sniff around, and you may detect your vehicles |
| future repair problems. Whether you are mechanically | | | | problem. |
| savvy or not, you can detect many common vehicle | | | | The smell of burned toast can signal an electrical short |
| problems simply by using your senses of smell and | | | | and burning insulation. Have a mechanic come to look |
| sight. | | | | at your car. Do not risk driving it anywhere. |
| TAKE A GOOD LOOK! | | | | A rotten egg smell usually shows a problem in the |
| Are there any stains or drops of fluid under your | | | | catalytic converter. You will need to take the vehicle in |
| vehicle? There may be no problem whatsoever, | | | | for repair as soon as possible. |
| however you do want to check for wet spots, as this | | | | A thick sharp odor usually shows burning oil. Look |
| could be a symptom of a serious problem. | | | | under the car to see if there is a leak. There could be |
| What color is the liquid under the car? Yellowish green, | | | | a bluish smoke coming from your vehicle, too. This |
| blue or orange colors can show an overheated engine | | | | problem needs to be addressed immediately! |
| or an antifreeze leak. You could have a leaky radiator | | | | The smell of gas after a failed start may mean the |
| or a water pump in need of repair. If this is the | | | | engine is flooded. Just wait a couple of minutes and try |
| problem, you need to get to a repair shop immediately. | | | | again. If you keep noticing the gas odor, this could be a |
| A dark brown or black oily fluid can show that the | | | | sign of a leak in the fuel system - a potentially |
| engine is leaking oil. A bad seal or gasket could be the | | | | dangerous problem that needs immediate attention. |
| cause of the leak. The repair for this problem can be | | | | Do you notice a sweet odor? This may show a |
| exorbitant, so you will want to seek out a reputable | | | | coolant leak. Watch your temperature gauge, warning |
| mechanic right away. | | | | light and drive to a repair shop. Now, if you see steam |
| A red oily looking spot shows a transmission or power | | | | emerging from under the hood, stop and pull over. You |
| steering fluid leak. Another reason to see your car | | | | definitely do not want to keep driving an overheated |
| doctor! | | | | vehicle. Your engine will most likely be seriously |
| Sometimes the liquid is clear, and this is usually normal | | | | damaged. Call a tow truck. |
| condensation from your vehicle's air conditioner. There | | | | The basic rule of smell is that if you do notice an |
| is no need for concern. | | | | unusual odor - get to a mechanic or get one to come |
| If you see light smoke coming from a wheel - it could | | | | to you. |
| be a stuck brake. Call a tow truck. | | | | Follow these simple guidelines, keep your eyes and |
| Smoke coming from any part of the vehicle shows a | | | | nose open, and you could end saving hundreds of |
| need for repair. | | | | dollars in repair! |
| TAKE A WHIFF! | | | | |