Don’t Ignore Your Car’s Signals.

A good car mechanic, like a good doctor, is crucial in an emergency, and just like taking care of your body is up to you, so is taking care of your car.
Sure, it is important to change the oil and follow the automaker’s recommended service schedule, but it is also important to feel your car and be able to spot small problems before they become big expensive repair bills.

Listen for strange sounds; sometimes we can hear something in our car even when the stereo is blaring.
A clicking sound from the front wheels while turning could mean that the front shaft might fall apart, a change in the engine’s sound could indicate overheating, and backfiring, might signal serious trouble. Don’t ignore the sounds!

Take your car in for service

Notice different things about your car. Are there strange smells? Electrical smoky smells can spell trouble. Burning rubber smells can mean that you’re driving with your brakes on and fuel smells might mean that the fuel tank venting is chocked or there is an overflow.

Again, the key is to not ignore the car’s signals and hope for the best, but take the car in for service.
Feel your car’s performance. When you hit the accelerator, does your car hesitate?
When you step on the brake does your car take it as a suggestion rather than a command?

Just as "an apple a day will keep the doctor away" taking care of your car can prevent expensive and unnecessary repairs.