Are you driving a used car and hoping it will be able to keep puttering along for at least one more year? You are not alone.

According to automotive information and marketing company R. L. Polk & Co., consumers, on average, are holding onto cars longer than they have in the past.

So with cars getting older and older, it is getting more and more important to recognize problems with your car early on before it is too late.

Does that pinging noise coming from your engine mean it is on its last leg, or will a simple, cheap maintenance stop put you back on the road in no time flat?

You may not know a lot of about cars, but in-depth automotive expertise isn't necessary to stay ahead of major problems. Just keep an eye out for one of the five following warning signs ...

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