Maintenance Warning Signs near Arlington, VA

Maintaining your Honda comes with many different factors that you’ll need to account for if you want to maximize the vehicle’s lifespan, but it can be challenging to know where to start. This is why we at Pohanka Honda of Chantilly have put together this short guide to help you start researching some basic warning signs to watch out for amidst your travels in Arlington!

Fluid Leaks

While it’s not an uncommon occurrence, finding fluid leaking from any part of your vehicle is a good reason to pause and inspect what’s going on. Because there are various types of liquids flowing through a car at any given moment, identifying what’s leaking is going to be a learning process. Oil, coolant, and brake fluid are the most common culprits, and each one is distinct in how it looks and feels. Oil is normally brown or black in color with its consistency being akin to grease, while coolant comes out as a bright color, such as pink or neon green. Brake fluid usually appears as a lighter brown or yellow fluid, so it’s important to inspect the liquid that you see closely, and if possible, try to capture some of it on a surface where you can more accurately gauge its color and texture.

Handling and Performance Issues

If your car has recently started having issues with staying in a straight line during your drives, then there’s a good chance that it’s suffering from misaligned wheels or tire degradation. While both are different cases, they can have similar impacts on handling and you’ll want to visit our Service Department at your earliest convenience to get an opinion from one of our experts. As for other pitfalls that you may encounter, gear slippage and slower accelerations can come from an aging or faulty transmission. Finally, if you’ve been noticing flickering lights inside the vehicle or dim headlights on the outside, then it’s likely the result of a battery that’s due for a replacement, which we can also handle for you here at our dealership.

Unusual Noises

Always pay attention to the sound of your car when it's running. While you can typically brush off the occasional odd sound, you don't want to ignore repeat offenders. For example, if your vehicle emits a loud squealing noise every single time you press down on the brake pedal, then that often means that the brake pads are worn out. A continuous clicking when you go to ignite the engine can indicate battery or starter related issues, and any knocking or whining that comes from the engine when you're driving should never be ignored. The more vigiliant you are of these telltale signs that can tip you off to hardware issues ahead of time, the greater your chances will be of getting your vehcle the necessary service before it's too late.

Reduced Fuel Economy

Getting the most out of every drop of fuel is key not only to having enjoyable drives to Georgetown Waterfront Park, but also limiting the number of trips you make to your local gas stations for refills. When you notice that your Honda Civic, Accord, or CR-V has suddenly started to perform worse from an efficiency standpoint, then it’s likely a hardware issue, in which case you’ll once again want to bring it to our location as soon as possible. Poorly inflated tires and worn spark plugs may be the issue, but if we find that nothing abnormal comes from our typical maintenance checks, then we’ll turn our attention to the engine oil. While you might not think they’re related, the quality of engine oil can directly affect a car’s fuel economy if the former is old, corroded, or simply not the correct type of oil for the vehicle. We’ll conduct a thorough inspection and find the right fix to get your Honda model back to cruise down I-395 without issues, so schedule your service appointment today on our website!

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