Scary Service Situations to Avoid this Halloween

DURAND, Mich., – Nothing is scarier than seeing your "check engine" light illuminate on your dashboard while you're driving. Forbes estimates that over 9 million Americans have been ignoring their "check engine" light for three months or longer. Ignoring the warning signs that your vehicle provides you can cause you to wind up with costly repairs in the future. Along with your "check engine" light, here are some other scary service situations to avoid this Halloween. Expensive repair costs can ruin your Halloween fun in a matter of minutes. Follow our guide to save yourself money with proper vehicle care and maintenance!

Low Oil

Driving around in a vehicle with low or no oil can lead to nightmarish consequences. Think of your engine as your vehicle's "heart", and the engine oil as its "blood". Your engine's oil is pumped throughout its components, lubricating them and keeping them from rubbing against one another. Without a proper oil level, your engine's parts won't be lubricated and will begin to rub against one another, generating a lot of heat and causing serious damage to your engine.

Warning Signs: If you notice your "check oil" light (similar to the image above) illuminate or if you hear loud noises coming from your engine, it may be time to have your oil level checked out.

What to Do: Typically, you should change your oil every 3,000-5,000 miles, but you can also consult your vehicle owner's manual for a more accurate figure. Checking your oil level from home only takes a few steps and can help you determine whether or not you need an oil change!

Brake Replacements

The most important safety features of your vehicle are your brakes. Keeping them in good condition will prevent you from winding up in a monstrous car accident and can get you out of sticky situations if an emergency arises. Without properly working brakes, you run the risk of accidents and increase your chance of injury on the road.

Warning Signs: If you hear any screeching or grinding noises as you brake, or experience difficulty while attempting to brake, there is a chance that your brake's calipers, rotors, or pads may need to be looked at, repaired, or replaced. 

What to Do: If you notice any of these warning signs as you drive, schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible! Driving around on worn or damaged brakes can lead to expensive costs, so getting your brakes looked at and fixed right away will keep you and your wallet safe from harm!

Transmission Damage

As the name suggests, your transmission transmits power from your engine to your wheels. Typically, your transmission is able to handle average commutes and driving, but if you frequently move from D (drive) to P (park) quickly, internal components can break down and quickly lead to a Halloween nightmare. Damage to your transmission can be caused if you skip oil or filter changes, sudden gear shifts in your vehicle, and low lubricant levels. Your vehicle is an investment. Treating it with care will keep your transmission in great working condition.

Warning Signs: If you smell a sweet or tart odor while driving that doesn't smell like Halloween candy, it could be your transmission fluid! Your transmission fluid is an important chemical used to transport the power from your transmission, and without it, your vehicle could become compromised very quickly. Additionally, if you hear any odd noises coming from your engine, your transmission may require an inspection.

What to Do: If you spot any of these symptoms while driving, call us and schedule an appointment as soon as possible. If you choose to drive with a potentially damaged transmission, you run the risk of compromising your entire engine, which can lead to nightmarishly high replacement costs.

Burned Out Headlights and Taillights

Your headlights and taillights are some of the most integral safety components of your vehicle. Your headlights help you spot trick-or-treaters that may spontaneously cross the road and your taillights notify pedestrians and other drivers that you're planning on turning down the street they may be walking or driving through. Without working headlights or taillights, you increase the probability of accidents that could occur at night, and if a police officer spots you with burned out lights, you could end up with an expensive ticket. Make sure your lights are in working condition before you drive at night!

Warning Signs: If you are experiencing difficulty seeing at night or notice that your visibility has dropped, your headlight may need to be looked at. You can tell your taillight needs to be replaced if the "clicking" noise your turn signal makes as you prepare to turn "clicks" at a much more frequent rate.

What to Do: Should you happen to have a burned out headlight or taillight, do not drive at night! Burned out headlights or taillights can create risks and expensive ticket costs. Schedule an appointment with us in the morning and we'll replace your broken headlight or taillight right away.

Flat Tire

No one wants a flat tire, especially on a busy holiday like Halloween. Once your tire loses a significant amount of air pressure, it becomes flat. This can be due to overuse, improper air pressure, or even a puncture in the tire. If you get a flat tire while driving, pull over right away. If you keep trying to drive on a flat, your vehicle will heavily pull on your flat's side, making it difficult to drive straight, which can cause structural damage to your vehicle's important components.

Warning Signs: You'll know you have a flat tire if your vehicle keeps slowing down while you drive or if your steering wheel requires you to hold it with force to one side to keep your vehicle going straight. Additionally, if you notice your vehicle is sitting at an angle before you hit the road, your tire could be flat or need to be refilled. 

What to Do: If you have a flat tire, pull over as soon as you're able to! If you don't know how to change your tire, follow our Tire FAQ to learn how, or call us if you need additional assistance. Once you've replaced your flat with your spare tire, head over to our Service Center to get your tire fixed or replaced right away.

Halloween can be a costly time of the year. Costumes, candy, decorations, and more can quickly add up. Save yourself money and time this year by keeping informed on these scary service situations to avoid this Halloween. If you notice anything on your vehicle that could potentially require attention, schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible to prevent a Halloween nightmare. Before you head in for your appointment, print out a few of our service coupons to help you further save money for more holiday fun! You can further protect your investment this autumn with our Fall Car Care guide. With proper care and maintenance, you can keep your vehicle in peak condition throughout the changing seasons!

Located at 9009 East Lansing Road in Durand, MI 48429, Hank Graff Chevrolet Durand wants to revolutionize your car buying experience. We’ll bring all the transparency and customer satisfaction you need while making the buying experience fun! If you have any questions be sure to contact us at (989) 288-2657 or head over to our website at www.GraffChevyDurand.com! We are proud to serve Durand and the surrounding communities of Owosso, Flint, Genesee Charter Township, Swartz Creek, and Corunna.

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