10 Signs to Junk Your Car

10 Dangers of Driving a Junk Car

Each day, you hear about the importance of driving safely. You need to abide by traffic rules and be conscious of road conditions. But, regardless of how careful you are, you may still be involved in an accident, all because you're driving around a junk car.

A vehicle approaching the end of its life will not perform well in certain conditions, rendering it accident-prone and incapable of protecting its occupants. In extreme situations, a newer, safer vehicle can make all the difference.

Here are some junk car dangers to look out for. If you are experiencing these, it's probably a good time to get cash for your junker.

1. Poor braking power

Older cars, especially economy models, have far inferior braking systems than modern-day equivalents.

Some older cars have drum brakes on the rear axle and no ABS, meaning their stopping distance is much longer than on modern vehicles that employ four-wheel disc brakes, ABS, and even Brake Assist systems.

Even if an older vehicle has a perfectly maintained and functional braking system, it is still much less safe than current systems since the stopping power is below average and can hardly keep up with modern traffic. All this is especially important during the winter when good brakes are crucial.

2. Compromised Strength Due to The Sign of Rust

Old cars develop rust issues even if they were rust-protected by the manufacturer when new. If you live in a continental climate, chances are you drive your car during wintertime when the roads are full of salt, which causes corrosion and affects all metal parts on the vehicle's undercarriage. Rust could also pose a problem if your bodywork has been repaired after damage.

But the least of your concerns is the aesthetics of the car. Aside from the fact that a rusty car looks ugly, the problem arises when rust attacks the structural parts of the vehicle, like the chassis or floor pans. In those cases, a car or truck loses the structural rigidity it once had and is particularly unsafe in crashes. Rust has eaten the metal, and the vehicle is not as strong as it once was. An abundance of rust is a universal sign to junk your car.

3. Poor passive safety

The biggest revolution in the car industry in recent years has been the advancement in passive safety, and modern cars with numerous airbags, knee bags, and curtain bags are now extremely safe. Also, manufacturers invested a lot into innovative production methods, new materials, and stiffer body construction, so any current model, regardless of the segment or price, is as safe as or safer than yesterday’s most expensive models.

You should have that in mind next time you sit in a car with no airbags, or just driver airbags, no crumple zones, no passenger protection cabin, or intelligent seat belts. Just 10 years in the car industry makes a lot of difference between current models and previous generations in terms of passive safety and passenger protection equipment.

4. Lack of comfort

You might think that comfort is not essential to car safety and roadworthiness, but you would be wrong. A car with a non-working heater or air conditioning, doors and windows that are stuck (or not sealing as they should), busted seats, or cracked dash makes for a very unpleasant driving experience, and it can affect your driving since it will cause distraction.

Current models are much better in basic comfort, with interiors in better shape, made of durable materials, and working heaters and climate control systems. Those features make modern cars easier to live with, especially during summer or winter.

5. Repair and Maintenance Makes It Hard to Extend The Life of a Junk Vehicle

Older vehicles, especially those that are well-used and have covered many miles, are prone to various mechanical failures. Practically everything can go wrong with an older car. In most cases, the repair bills are not that high, but if you calculate the frequency of repairs, prices of spare parts, and labor costs, you will see that an older car is a much costlier proposition than a newer model.

Even if you do all the work by yourself, you will still lose time on an older car and invest money and effort in a vehicle that is not as good or as competent as a newer model. From a financial standpoint, maintaining an older car is not a good investment, especially if you know that the price of the vehicle will not go up and that your investment in spare parts and labor will not significantly improve the car's value. One can only extend the life of a junk car so far.

6. Fuel inefficient

The improvement in fuel efficiency in the past decade or so has been remarkable. Today, it is far more common to see 400+ horsepower V8-powered muscle cars which can do 30 mpg. Modern vehicles have advanced technologies that improve efficiency while retaining high-performance levels, like 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinders with over 300 HP. For example, multiple displacement systems turn off a couple of cylinders, stop-and-go systems that shut off the engine on the stoplights, hybrid systems, or turbochargers on smaller displacement engines all help achieve astonishing mpg figures.

Newer cars are more fuel efficient.

Older cars have none of that, and since fuel prices are rising each day, it looks like driving a clunker is getting pretty expensive, especially if you combine it with the repair and maintenance costs.

7. Can't Pass Emissions

In most cases, older cars produce more pollution than is acceptable and can be very costly. Often, you will need to replace the knock sensor, which can cost up to $2000 if done by certified mechanics or shops. It is also worth noting that different states have different laws about emissions testing. You cannot register and use your vehicle if you don`t pass the emissions test. When faced with that situation, you realize you should have bought a newer car years ago.

8. Carbon monoxide poisoning

This is a very important issue, posing an impending danger for older cars. If the car was well-used, rusted, and beaten up, it likely had a rusted exhaust system and floors. This means that exhaust fumes, including carbon monoxide, can enter the car`s interior, causing severe and potentially deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. Poisonous gases, some from compromised exhaust systems, kill at least 400 individuals each year.

Also, the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning exists if you start your engine in an enclosed space like a closed garage. So always be careful and check to see if there are any leaks.

9. Heightened Risk of Getting stranded

The reliability and roadworthiness of junk cars are always questionable. Sooner rather than later, you will find yourself stranded and calling for a tow truck by the roadside. Even if you know how to get the car running again, you will lose time and get frustrated by the event. With modern cars, the risk of being stranded is minimal.

Being stranded puts you at the risk of getting into an accident even if you are not driving. There are numerous reports of people crashing into cars parked by the side of the road, even if those vehicles were adequately marked. You don’t want to get hit while standing next to a dead car waiting for help.

10. Potential Fire Hazard

Old cars have old wiring and old fuel lines. The plastic isolation on the wiring is known to crumble and break over the years, while rubber hoses of fuel lines start to develop leaks after ten years. The fire risk is constant, even if you change your fuel lines.

You might have heard about vehicles that caught fire just by standing in the parking lot. In 9 out of 10 cases, the reasons were old electrical or fuel installation and failing to notice it. Sometimes, cars can catch fire on an especially dangerous road.

Bottom Line

Junk cars are a safety threat to drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. As end-of-life vehicles, they require regular repairs and cause constant delays. In some instances, junk vehicles emit many dangerous gases, which cause harm to both people and the environment. Instead, before you sell your junk car to a service like Junk Car Medics, why not have some fun with a junk car? You could relieve some stress.