If you own or operate a fleet or commercial truck, you’ve likely experienced your fair share of breakdowns and malfunctions on the road. However, there’s a good chance those time consuming and expensive issues were completely avoidable, and your vehicle was warning you of an imminent issue all along. Here are some important tips from Van Meter Auto Repair in Mantua, NJ

Misfires - If your truck misfires, runs poorly, doesn’t accelerate the way it should or even dies occasionally, your engine isn’t running correctly. It could be anything from a bad sensor to an internal engine issue, but one thing is for sure; getting it diagnosed sooner rather than later will save you a lot of time and money in the near future. Head gaskets issues, valve-train problems, washed out cylinders, bad air ducting, and a variety of other problems can cause your engine catastrophic harm if not taken care of in a timely manner.

Transmission Issues - If your transmission is slipping, hesitates going into gear, or shifts erratically, you’ll want to have that looked into ASAP. Transmissions don’t tolerate much abuse if they aren’t in good working order - a simple problem can turn into a ruined transmission in basically no time, leaving your truck immobile. Towing, big repairs, high repair bills, long downtime, and finding a way to finish the job without your whole fleet are all a huge waste of time and resources. Stop these issues in their tracks, as soon as you notice a problem.

Suspension Issues - Tie rod ends and ball joints are what you want to watch out for here, though there are several other less imperative problems that can arise with suspension. If either of these components fails completely, you’ll have a loss of steering and a lot of damage, as the wheel can essentially detach from the car. Listen for popping and creaking sounds while turning or over rough terrain, and feel for sloppiness or play in the wheel. Typically your tires will also wear unevenly if there’s an issue with these components.

No matter your repair or maintenance needs, we’ve got you covered. For the quickest and most reliable fleet and commercial service shop in Mantua, NJ, call or stop by Van Meter Auto Repair today.