Owning your own car can be very exciting. It allows you freedom to travel where you want, and can be a wonderful accessory to your life. However, if you own a car, for your safety and for the safety of those around you it is important that you know understand the signs that the car is unhealthy or malfunctioning. If you don' know these signs, you could easily endanger those in the car and those around you on the road. Here are some things that you should be on the lookout for.

1. Leaky Fluid

Generally speaking, your car should be dry when it is parked and while you drive it. If you notice that there is a fluid leak under the car, then you could have a problem. The first thing you need to do is determine the color of the fluid. If the fluid is sticky, thick, and black then you probably have an oil leak. For an older car with high mileage this may not be too worrisome, but on a newer car, this is reason for concern.

If the fluid is pink then you are leaking transmission fluid. This can be a major problem and could be a sign that your transmission is going out. This is not a problem that should be ignored and you should get it to a mechanic right away to access the damage.

Lastly, if the fluid is thin and blue and easily evaporates, it is probably coolant from the air conditioner. This isn't as concerning as the others, but you should make sure that there is no hole that is causing the leak.

To be safe, if you notice any fluid, you should take it into a mechanic. Always check the fluid levels and if anything is low, refill it. Going low on engine oil or transmission fluid can be incredibly destructive to your car.

2. Swerving To One Side or Grinding While Braking

The brakes are one of the most important safety features on the car. This is why it is so important that you know when to detect problems. One of the first things to look for is grinding noises. If your brake pads are working correctly you shouldn't be hearing any noises when you brake. Any grinding should be addressed.

Second, if the car swerves to one side when you brake it could mean that one side of brakes has already failed. It is very dangerous to drive with only one side of brakes working, so this is a problem that should not be ignored.

By knowing what to look for you can keep your car in good shape and stay safe. For more information, talk to a professional like Oak Hollow Tire Car Care Center Inc.