When you get into your car and turn the ignition, you are expecting a lot of different things to go right and hoping nothing goes wrong. Driving is the most dangerous thing that most people do each day. Mechanical problems can cause a lot of damage to your car, but more importantly it can cause an accident and possibly hurt somebody. There are a few things that you should watch out for, and if you notice these, you should immediately take action. 

Brakes

When you hit the brake on your car, you expect one thing and one thing only: to stop or slow down. If there is anything that you notice that is different about your brake, you need to take your car in as soon as possible. Watch and listen for a metal-on-metal sound when you hit the brake, but also watch for your brake to get extremely difficult to push. These are signs that your brakes are not working properly and should require the attention of your mechanic. 

Oil

It is very important that you keep track of how many miles you have traveled since your last oil change. Oil is what keeps all the parts of your engine moving properly. If you do not have oil in your engine, then little particles of dust and dirt, or even metal fragments can cause your engine to halt. If you are driving down the road when this happens, then you are in a lot of trouble. Depending on the type of oil that you use, you should change the oil every 3,000 miles for regular oil, and every 5,000 miles for most synthetic oils. If your oil light comes on, then it is time to add some oil. 

Wheel Bearing

Your wheels spin because they have greased bearings. If these bearings are not greased or if they are worn out, you are going to have some major problems with your car. One of the common diagnostic features of wheel bearings is odd sounds when you are turning your car. If you are noticing a grinding noise when you drive, and it gets louder and more high pitched with speed, it is possible that you have a problem with your wheel bearings. If you have a bad right wheel bearing, then a left-hand turn is going to make a bad noise, and vice versa. If you are noticing bad noises when you are making turns, it is time to take your car to your mechanic. 

For more information, contact an auto repair shop like Felix's Auto Repair & Towing.