The number of cars per family in America has increased dramatically in the past few decades with many having at least two cars available for family driving needs. Because of this trend, each one of the family's vehicles is often driven predominantly by only one family member. When this happens, the car may be consistently exposed to any detrimental driving habits that the primary driver may have and this exposure may contribute to specific wear patterns and recurring repair issues on the car's components and parts. If you seem to be plagued with recurring repair issues, the following statements depict just a few of the messages your car may be trying to send to you.  

"Because you drive fast, I drink more fuel!" 

Driving aggressively, such as choosing to accelerate quickly at green lights or pushing the speed limit can cause a significant drop in your vehicle's average mileage per gallon. This will mean more trips to the gas station and more wear on your car's engine. In addition, accelerating harshly can cause your vehicle's engine to run at a higher temperature, causing fluids to break down and belts and hose to degrade quickly, resulting in more frequent car repairs. 

"Please don't use my remote start feature until you are actually ready to go!"

Convenient remote start features are now available on many newer models, but your car may not benefit when you use it, especially if you allow the car to warm up for long periods of time before beginning to drive. In fact, a car that is left to idle for long periods of time can experience a number of issues, including: 

• decreased gas mileage
• damage to spark plugs 
• internal wear from higher than normal engine temperatures
• an increased level of emissions 

In most cases, modern cars do not need to be idled for long periods before driving, even in very cold climates. This is due to improvements in the drive train and better quality fluids and lubricants that are formulated to offer better protection against extreme temperatures. 

"Umm - my emergency brake is still on!"

When you forget to disengage the emergency brake, your car not only experiences more resistance to movement, it can have some very serious consequences. In fact, your car may react as if you were driving while keeping your foot on the brake, which can cause serious damage to the brake pads, overheating of the brake fluid and excessive wear on brake lines and other components. In some instances, this can even result in an inability to stop the car, when you next apply the brakes.   

"The letters on the stop sign really do not stand for skid tires on pavement!"

An emergency stop is something that every driver experiences occasionally. When the brake pads and other components used to stop the car are in good condition, most cars will not be adversely affected by an occasional fast braking maneuver to avoid a collision or an obstacle in the roadway. However, it you are a driver who routinely stomps on the brake at every stop light, your car's braking system will experience excessive wear that can cause damage to not only the brake pads, but also the rotors, calipers, brake lines, master cylinder and brake fluid. Learning to control the car's speed and apply the brakes appropriately in each driving situation can help prevent this type of recurring damage and make your car safer to drive, too.  

By choosing to unlearn bad driving habits, monitoring the condition of your vehicle's components and attending to necessary maintenance and repair issues in a timely manner, you will be able to enjoy a safer, more trouble-free driving experience and far fewer recurring repair issues. Instead of conversing with your car, however, start by asking your auto service professionals for recommendations on extending the life of brake pads and other components and for further information on how your driving habits may be negatively affecting the condition of your vehicle.

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