Potential Problems In Older Vehicles
There are some issues that, while not limited to older vehicles, are more likely to be experienced as vehicles stay on the road and out in the elements over a period of several years. Steel rusts, fluids decay, and parts wear out over time.
Here are a few possible auto repair issues that you may face with an older vehicle.
Rust Never Sleeps
Oxidation is the process by which steel rusts and eventually decays. It can be inhibited but not stopped completely. Unfortunately, many vehicle owners are more concerned with the rust spots on the body of the vehicle than the effects of rust along the undercarriage.
Rust and Your Vehicle's Exhaust System
While your exhaust system may take years for rust to cause enough damage to be noticed due to anti-corrosive applications applied by the manufacturer, you may first become aware of the issue through a small hole in your muffler. Your once purring kitten will begin to sound louder and rougher than usual.
If the exhaust manifold, which gathers gas fumes from the engine cylinders into the exhaust pipe, or the exhaust itself, become compromised by rusting, you may smell exhaust fumes inside your vehicle. If this occurs, you must go to an auto repair shop for repairs or replacement. These fumes contain lethal carbon monoxide gas. Odorless and colorless, it can put you into a permanent sleep in a sealed vehicle with the engine running.
Rust and Your Brake Rotors
Over time, your brake rotors, against which your brake pads rest to stop your vehicle, will acquire a layer of rust that can no longer be removed through machining and must be replaced. Failure to do so will cause premature wearing of brake pads at best, and brake failure at worst, as the rotors decompose under pressure.
Belts and Hoses
Many of the belts and hoses in older vehicles are ticking time bombs, set to explode at the worst possible time in the worst possible area. This is because the rubber in belts and hoses expands and contracts as temperatures rise and fall with the seasons. Summer heat causes the rubber to stretch and become thinner, which reduces its strength, then winter comes along to concentrate imperfections into smaller, more brittle, surfaces.
Belts and hoses should be checked periodically for signs of wear, cracks, or bubbles (hoses only). While single belts (running only one component) and hoses are easier to replace because of their easier access, serpentine belts, which run multiple components, will require additional labor costs to replace.
Transmission Fluid
Unlike the other fluids in your vehicle, transmission fluid is not regularly replaced. However, if your transmission fluid is brown instead of a light pinkish hue, it should be flushed and refilled at a local auto repair shop. The fluid may degrade over time, and anything you can do to avoid costly transmission repairs should be done.
No vehicle lasts forever, but you can help your vehicle to reach its full potential with a little bit of foresight and maintenance.
