Car Maintenance Issues in September 2025: Exhaust Tips, Spark Plugs, and Radiator Problems
When you're trying to keep your car running right, car maintenance, the routine checks and repairs that keep a vehicle safe and efficient. Also known as vehicle upkeep, it's not just about changing oil—it's about spotting problems before they cost you thousands. In September 2025, our top-read posts dug into the real issues drivers face: loud exhaust tips, the final section of a car’s exhaust system that affects sound and appearance., failing spark plugs, small but critical components that ignite fuel in the engine cylinders., and a leaking radiator, the main part of a car’s cooling system that prevents overheating. These aren’t theoretical problems—they’re the reasons people show up at auctions looking for cheap replacements or whole cars that still have life left.
Many think a louder exhaust means more power, but it’s not that simple. The material—stainless steel vs. aluminized steel—and the shape—straight-cut vs. angled—change how sound travels, not just volume. Some tips make your car sound like a muscle car. Others just make it sound broken. And if you’re driving with worn-out spark plugs, small but critical components that ignite fuel in the engine cylinders., you’re not just losing acceleration—you’re risking damage to your catalytic converter, a device that reduces harmful emissions from the exhaust.. One misfire can overheat it, and replacing that costs more than a whole engine tune-up. Meanwhile, a bad radiator, the main part of a car’s cooling system that prevents overheating. doesn’t always leak visibly. Sometimes it just slowly loses coolant until your engine seizes. Most people don’t check until it’s too late.
These aren’t just repair topics—they’re buying clues. If you’re hunting for parts at auction, knowing what to look for in an exhaust tip’s welds, how to test spark plug gaps with a feeler gauge, or how to spot a radiator crack with a pressure test can save you from bad deals. The posts from September 2025 give you the exact signs to watch for, the tools you need, and the costs you’ll face. No fluff. No guesswork. Just what works on real cars, with real miles. What you’ll find below are the guides that helped buyers pick up parts for under $50 instead of paying $300 at the shop. These are the fixes that keep cars on the road—and auctions full.
