4 Problems That Commonly Affect Older Cars

As many drivers make the decision to put off new car purchases and hang onto their old vehicles instead, the average age of light vehicles on U.S. roads has risen dramatically over the past couple of decades. While well-maintained cars can keep rolling for many years, however, they also begin to develop age-related problems.

If you intend to keep your car as long as possible, recognize the challenges aging vehicles face so you can protect your car against them and seek the necessary repairs when problems inevitably occur. Pay special attention to the following four kinds of problems that commonly affect old, high-mileage cars.

1. Engine Power Issues

If your car just doesn't seem to possess the horsepower it once did, time and effort may have hurt your engine. For instance, years of friction from countless piston strokes may have worn the piston rings, reducing compression. At the same time, you may lose some spark plug performance due to carbon fouling.

Older cars tend to burn ever-increasing amounts of oil as their engines grow less efficient. For this reason, automotive service technicians typically recommend that owners switch to high-mileage motor oil once you've put 75,000 miles on your odometer. Change the oil at recommended intervals to avoid sludge buildup.

2. Electrical Glitches

Your car's electrical system includes a number of components, from the battery that stores and supplies electricity to the many wires, motors, lights, and switches that make use of that electricity. Unfortunately, even the most well-maintained car can eventually suffer from electrical glitches as these parts wear out.

If you have never kept a car longer than five years before trading it in, you may never have had to deal with a battery failure, since batteries tend to fail beyond the five-year mark. Flickering headlights or unreliable ignition may indicate a ground wire failure, a common problem in older vehicles.

Even if your car's electrical system still functions well overall, you may discover that one or more of your power windows or doors has simply stopped working. These problems can occur when the controlling switches or motors wear out, necessitating their replacement.

3. Belt or Pump Failure

The timing belt that governs your engine timing can last for tens of thousands of miles, but sooner or later it will deteriorate. A worn timing belt may not show obvious signs of wear before giving out. For this reason, replace the belt according to your manual's recommendations or at 60,000 miles.

The various pumps in your car, including the fuel pump and the water pump, can also give out after years of service. Fuel pumps, in particular, can wear out if you regularly let your fuel level drop too low (because the fuel helps to keep the pump cool). The need for water pump replacement can often occur around the same time as timing belt replacement.

4. Suspension Wear

You may have noticed that your car's ride feels unusually bouncy, harsh, low, or uneven after many years of relative comfort and stability. These problems often stem from age-related, wear-related failures in a vehicle's suspension system. Shocks, struts, or springs can lose their height and elasticity over time.

Although a suspension problem may seem more like an annoyance than a genuine concern, bear in mind that it can put you at risk for serious issues down the road. For instance, impaired shock absorption could boost your risk of injury in a collision, while uneven ride height could affect your car's handling in an emergency.

Letcher Bros. Auto Repair can help you take better care of your car and fix any problems that might prevent your vehicle from enjoying a productive old age. Contact us today to get a free estimate and learn more about our services.