Warning Signs Your Car Needs Attention: Noises, Smells and Lights

Stop driving and get help

Some symptoms mean you should pull over safely and not carry on. A red warning light for brakes, oil pressure or engine temperature is one. So is steam from under the bonnet, a spongy or sinking brake pedal, steering that suddenly becomes very heavy or loose, or a tyre with a cut or bulge.

Overheating in particular can wreck an engine quickly. If the temperature gauge climbs, find somewhere safe to stop, switch off and arrange recovery. Do not keep going to see if it clears.

If you are unsure whether to carry on, treat that doubt as an answer. A short wait for recovery is a far smaller problem than a failed brake or a seized engine, and arranging recovery is an ordinary thing to do.

• Red brake, oil or temperature warnings
• Steam or a strong smell of coolant
• Brake pedal going to the floor or feeling spongy
• Sudden steering problems or a wheel wobbling
• Smoke or a smell of burning fuel

Noises and what they often point to

A high-pitched squeal when braking often means brake pads are worn, while a metallic grinding suggests they may be worn through to the discs. Do not delay brake noises, since braking is a safety system.

A clunk over bumps can mean worn suspension parts, such as shock absorbers or links. A hum or growl that rises with speed may come from a wheel bearing. A clicking noise when turning is a well-known sign of a worn CV joint. A rattling from underneath could be a loose exhaust or heat shield.

Smells worth taking seriously

A sweet smell can indicate coolant leaking, which is a cooling system problem and needs attention before overheating follows. A burning oil smell may point to an oil leak reaching hot parts. A burning smell with a spongy clutch or after heavy braking can mean parts running very hot.

A smell of fuel is a safety concern and should be checked straight away. A damp or musty smell inside the car is less urgent but may signal a leak or a blocked drain.

Exhaust smoke is a signal too. White clouds that linger after warming up, blue haze or black soot each hint at different things, such as coolant, oil or fuel mixture problems. Note the colour and when it appears and pass it on.

Dashboard lights

Warning lights are colour-coded in a rough way. Red generally signals something that needs immediate attention, while amber or yellow means a fault that should be checked soon. A flashing engine management light is usually more serious than one that stays on steadily.

Lights for the ABS, airbags, tyre pressure, diesel particulate filter and battery or charging each need different responses. If you are not sure what a symbol means, check the handbook, and have the cause found by someone with the right diagnostic equipment, rather than hoping it goes away.

Do not panic if a light flickers on briefly and goes out, but do not forget it either. Intermittent warnings are often the first sign of a sensor, wiring or battery fault that will return, and a diagnostic scan can sometimes find a stored fault even after the light has gone.

• Engine management light: get diagnostics done
• Battery or charging light: may point to an alternator or battery fault
• ABS light: the system may be disabled, so braking still works but without anti-lock help
• DPF light: needs checking before the filter becomes blocked

Changes in how the car drives

A clutch that slips, bites at the very top of the pedal or makes a noise when pressed is telling you something. So is a gearbox that jumps out of gear, whines or hesitates when changing. Hard starting, loss of power, thick smoke from the exhaust or a lumpy idle all deserve a diagnostic check.

Pulling to one side, a steering wheel that is off-centre or uneven tyre wear can all point to tracking or suspension problems. At Banks of the Tyne we can look into all of these, from engine and gearbox faults to tyres and wheel alignment, but the cause always depends on inspection.

Frequently asked questions