While your car is meant to withstand wear and tear, how you drive impacts how long it'll last. Falling into bad habits causes premature wear to components, which may compromise vehicle handling and require extensive car repairs to fix. To stay safe, cut down on repairs, and keep more money in your pocket, break these bad habits immediately.

What Driving Habits Should You Avoid?

1. Ignoring Warning Lights

When an icon on your dashboard starts to glow, it means there could be a problem a car repair technician should address. For example, if the check engine light comes on, it could mean an oxygen sensor is damaged, the catalytic converter needs to be replaced, or the gas cap needs to be tightened. Technicians will be able to investigate and address the problem before it leads to irreversible harm.

2. Overloading Storage Areas

From gym weights to jugs of water, motorists store numerous items in their cabins and trunks at all times. Others even use their car to haul RVs and boats or pile luggage on the hood for road trips. Driving with heavy loads places extreme pressure on tires, causing more friction when the rubber meets the pavement. This generates excessive heat, increasing the risk of a blowout. Overloading also puts pressure on the suspension, damaging shock absorbers.

3. Driving Over Potholes

Although they're sometimes unavoidable, try to maneuver around potholes when possible. Going over the craters can bend your rims or puncture your tires, as bits of broken pavement get embedded in the rubber. The force can also throw the wheels out of alignment, causing the car to pull to one side. Depending on the depth of the pothole, the impact could even crack the exhaust pipe.

If you suspect your habits behind the wheel have affected the condition of your ride, contact the car repair technicians at Auto Air Clinic in Honolulu, HI, for help. For over 30 years, Oahu motorists have trusted these ASE-certified auto mechanics to provide effective solutions and extend the life of their foreign and domestic vehicles. To schedule car repairs and find out about their convenient pick-up and drop-off services, call (808) 845-8499. To learn more about the team’s credentials, visit them online.