Is that Satan in your hood causing a fire and smoke? No, you're vehicle is probably overheating.
Photo Credit: Michel Filion
Your Lexus can tell you all sorts of things from when it needs gas, to when it needs to go into the shop. Being proactive about the latter can help you save mucho de dolares down the road.
Here are some scary signs your car may be telling you…in which case you ought to run to your Lexus service shop like you’re being chased by brain-eating zombies in a horror flick.
Tires:
Some hair-raising signs your tires are in trouble and you could be in danger include a tread depth below 1/16th of an inch, the appearance of a tread wear indicator bar, presence of cracks and weathered sidewalls and bulges and blisters on tires. Also, if you notice your Lexus is vibrating, this too, can be a sign that you need to replace your tires.
If left unattended, bad tires can lead to poor car handling/steering, which can contribute to serious auto accidents and tire blow outs that can leave you on the side of the road. Also, you may be at risk of hydroplaning on wet days due to tread wear-down and your fuel economy will be lowered.
Seized Engine:
Something’s a-brewing in your Lexus when you witness light tapping noises or a knocking sound. This can be a sign of a possible seized engine. This sound should spook you enough to head to your mechanic ASAP and have it tested (that is, if you can drive there). The repair for this problem is dependent on what is causing the seize. If you can have the entire engine replaced with all its components, it can be very costly. Avoid this frightful mess by getting your Lexus serviced routinely by a qualified Lexus mechanic.
Overheated Engine:
Think your engine is possessed by the Devil? Not likely. Some warning signs of an overheated engine includes a temperature gauge in the “red,” putrid smells of burning oil or metal from the radiator, abnormal power and leaks underneath your car.
To remedy this, have your Lexus mechanic check for leaky/clogged/collapsed hoses, loose clamps and for a faulty temperature gauge and water pumps, etc. Frequent overheating can cause serious engine damage, but if caught early it’s not too costly of a repair.
Transmission Problems/Failure:
Transmission problems and possible failure may be lurking around the corner in your Lexus with certain evil signs. To avoid digging a grave for your transmission, these signs include refusal to go into gear, strange burning smells, clunking/buzzing/humming sounds, gear slippage, dragging clutch, transmission fluid leak, check engine light appearance, shimmying into gear, vehicle jerking in park or neutral, and delay of response when shifting into gear.
If your transmission starts acting up then you are in for a whirlwind of trouble and possible costly repairs. Keep your Lexus up-to-date with its routine maintenance to avoid this, and take it to your local Lexus shop immediately.
Broken Timing Belt:
Don’t be shocked to the core when your timing belt breaks in your Lexus if you avoid the warning signs. These potentially hazardous signs include a shaking vehicle, a hard start, expelling more exhaust than normal, high-pitched noises and vehicle shut off while driving.
A broken timing belt that sidelines you along the freeway can also cause damage to other engine components, which you definitely don’t want.
Change the timing belt in your Lexus at the recommended service interval. When you take your Lexus to your local Lexus service center, your qualified Lexus mechanic will inspect the timing belt to make sure there are no cracks, chips or spots, and look at the teeth of the belt.
The way your Lexus sounds and smells, to how it performs on the road can be telltale signs that it needs maintenance…but don’t be alarmed about all things that go bump in the night, because not every bone rattling shake or blood curdling squeal means your Lexus is about to go belly-up and you need a new plot in the cemetery. It’s just a best practice to be aware of these things and have your Lexus routinely serviced to avoid them.
Search for a local, independent Lexus repair shop with Lexus mechanics that have dealer-level expertise at a fraction of the cost.