16 Car Problems, Causes And their solutions

 

Car problems

Shakes, bumps, noises and faulty air con what the heck is going on with my car? Like people, cars sometimes experience little hiccups and needs a bit of a health check and some extra attention to get back on track. So there is no need to panic if your near new is suddenly acting strangely .Even if your car is new, taking some precautions will ensure you help prevent these  car problems in the future.

There are various problem that can develop in a car, since they are been used time and time again. Various parts of the vehicle tends to break down when people don't take care proper care of their vehicle, or don't listen to the various type of sound their car produces when it is in motion. 

The various type of sound the car produces depends on the parts that is producing that sound, like the sound that comes from a faulty brake pad is different from the sound produce by the suspension system. 

The car problems are listed below with clear explanation of them. 

common car problems

There are various car problems and they are listed below with detail explanation to help readers understand and solve their car problems. 

1. Dead battery

2. Faulty fuel pump. 

3. Steering wheel is shaking. 

4. Engine is sputtering. 

5. Dashboard warning light. 

6. Bad suspension system. 

7. Overheating. 

8. Bad clutch. 

9. Smoke from exhaust. 

10. Squealing of brake pads. 

11. Uneven tire wear. 

12. Low engine level. 

13. Car pulling to one side. 

14. Radiator leaks. 

15. Faulty ignition coils. 

16. Transmission fluid leaks. 

Explanation

1. Dead Battery

 The most common car problem that often occurs  is probably dead battery. This usually occurs if you leave your headlight on when the car is not running, or when one of the car doors is not closed properly that can drain the car battery causing dead battery. 

If you drive an automatic vehicle like Toyota Corolla, Highlander, Honda Accord e. t. c. This can frustrates the owner since you can not drive your car with that dead battery.

 In order to solve this particular car problem you need a charged battery to start your car before you then change the battery to your own in order to charge the battery. 

2. Faulty Fuel Pump

As the name suggests, the fuel pump has the vital job of transporting the fuel from the car gas tank to the engine. 

Fuel pump failure means that when you go to start up your car nothing happens, even with gas inside the tank. This is because the fuel pump doesn't has the capacity again to pump the fuel to the various places that needed gas like engine, nozzles and so on. So the car can not start.

 This car problem is caused either because of bad fuel lines, clogged filter or bad fuel pump. 

If this happens, don't panic! You can fix this by getting some help from someone who know what they are doing. The best thing is that if something happened with your fuel system all you need to do is replace the filter and clean out any debris that might be blocking it. 

The fuel pump tends to require replacement around 60,000 miles. If your fuel pump stop working all you need to do is replace it. 

3. Steering Wheel Is Shaking 

This is another car problems which happen often in a car. There are numbers of reason why a steering wheel shakes when driving a vehicle. Damage suspension system or bad wheel bearings are usually to blame if this happen immediately you start the car and pull away. 

If the wheel shakes at higher speed it is often an issue with tyre/wheel balance. To resolve this you will need to take your car for a proper mechanical 

Inspection. It could be fix simple as getting your wheel aligned. 

4. The Engine is sputtering

Another car problems that happen always which can slow you down when you are on the road. There are multiple parts that an engine running well, but a misfiring or sputtering engine is a common issues. For an engine to run efficiently the right amount of air and fuel must mix and then burn within the combustion chamber. In order for this to run correctly there are numbers of component in the fuel and ignition system that have to work in unison. 

In order to keep this type of issue to a minimum, the fuel and ignition system must be maintained and replace according to the manufacturers instructions and recommendations. 

5. Dashboard warning light 

On your dashboard are set of light that immediately inform you in case of any engine trouble. 

If your engine is overheating, low on fuel, experiencing battery problem, a red light will illuminateon on the dashboard. 

This light illuminate when the vehicle ECU (engine control unit) Detects an error code triggered by a sensor. Since there are more than 200 possible warning code, having a professional mechanic completes a warning  light inspection is the best way to determine the source and make the right repairs. 

6. Bad suspension system

This means that one or more shock absorber or struts have gone out of whack and won't hold up when driving under curbs or potholes in the highway. 

Suspension can be a form of trouble on many vehicles especially when they are old. When this happen you may have to change one or both of your shocks or struts. If you notice that your shocks are Making too much noise or they are not holding up to the weight of your car as well as they should be then it is time to change the shock to a better one so you can enjoy maximum comfort. 

7. Engine Overheating

They are many reasons that a car can overheat such as cooling system heat, blocked hoses from corrosion and Mineral deposit, radiator issues or broken water pump. Regular inspection will help avoid engine overheating on the road. 

Most cars can only overheat for about 30 to 60 seconds before damages start to happen to the engine. When car overheat, in about a minute it may seize the valve or quickly blow up the valve if it get too hot for the engine to handle. 

8. Bad Clutch

Even though the clutch pedal is sturdy, it will still wear off or break at the pivot , pedal arm or your clutch. Driving  a car with a faulty clutch can cause further damage to your gearbox, starter motor or shifter. It is important to resolve any damage spotted with your clutch. 

With a sudden breakdown, the clutch seize to work entirely and the car won't move. With gradual failures you may experience failures such as car not stopping when you press the pedal. Sudden failures is often cause by broken or loose clutch cable, linkage or fail hydraulic master or cylinder. 

If you hear a squealing sound when you press your clutch the you know that there is something wrong with you clutch. This sort of noise is usually associated with problems of the clutch release  or throw out bearing. 

The sign of bad clutch is listed below:

1. Trouble staying in gear. 

2. You smell burning when driving 

3. A grinding sound when changing gear. 

4. Your clutch pedal gets stuck. 

9. Smoke from the exhaust

A functioning car produce some smoke in terms of exhaust gases. They are often colourless unless you are starting your car in winter. 

However excessive smoke is a sign of serious engine problem. The colour and smell will offer clues as to what is wrong. 

If the smoke is white in color, then it may be your coolant that could be leaking, while if you have thick blue color, then it is oil getting to the combustion chamber from the valve.  If it is black then the engine is running too rich in fuel. 

10. Squealing Of Brake Pads 

Squealing of brake pads are typically caused by excessive worn out pads. Once you have worn out your pads you start to experience grinding noise, at this point you will start to damage your rotor making the cost of repair even more expensive. 

There are cushion against your brake rotors to create friction and slow down your wheels. What happen after is that it expose the metal against your rotor which cause further damage to your braking system. 

11. Uneven Tire Wear

Tire wearing on only the inner or outer edge is typically the sign of wheel alignment problem. 

Uneven tire wear is usuly cause by Improper alignment, overinflation, underinflation or a worn out suspension. It may be helpful to know uneven tire wear patterns and what they suggest about your tire. 

12. Low Engine Oil Level

When there is not enough oil, moving parts within the engine doesn't get the lubrication they need. This allow them to make physical metal to metal contact which can cause a knocking sound from the vehicle. 

The oil level dropping below the minimum dipstick line is one of the most common cause of low oil pressure. This can happen anytime even if you recently have an oil change. This happen because the engine burn oil more quickly. This is cause of piston ring wearing, oil seal leaking, or damage valve. 

Driving with very low oil level is not adviceable because if the engine continue to run  for a long time it can damage the engine valve, knock the piston and reduce the efficiency of the engine. 

13. Car Pulling To One Side

Also one of the common car problems that happen time to time when the car is not properly maintained. The most common reason a car pulls to the other side is because the wheel alignment is off. Wheel alignment will be altered by driving conditions and it should be checked regularly. 

Wheel alignment getting altered are caused by 

1. Driving through potholes. 

2. Changing of the tie rods. 

3. Bumps 

4. Uneven wear tyres. 

14. Radiator leaking

Do you regularly spot water directly under your radiator once it has been parked for  a while? If so, then it is very likely to be a radiator leaks. 

The hoses of the radiator can pick up sediments over a long period of time and can punch holes in the radiator. 

When a vehicle overheat, numerous parts of your car such as the engine, gaskets, and other cooling system components might be destroyed. The radiator can also be destroyed during overheating. 

The best way to ensure proper health of your radiator is to regularly check if there is enough water in your radiator, and constantly flushed out the water and coolant after they been use for a period of time. 

It is not advisable to drive your vehicle when the raditor is leaking because when your automobile overheats it can harm your vehicle, and the cost for repairs will be very high. 

15. Faulty Ignition Coil

Ignition coils works to transfer ignition voltage so that the spark plugs can fire and the engine can start. Some common signs and symptoms of faulty ignition coils include a hard starting car, a car that frequently misfires, and a car that experience poor acceleration or loses power or might jack sometimes.

 Faulty ignition coils usually don't present an immediate safety issue, but it is important to have the problem resolved before further engine damage has to occur. 

16. Transmission Fluid Leaks

A car leaking g transmission fluid can be caused by a leak in the pan. This can happen through wear and tear over time. The pan can be punctured or damage when go over a bumpy road. 

Transmission fluid is also called transmission oil because it lubricates and protects transmission parts just like motor oil lubricates. 

Having your vehicle flushed can help prevent transmission fluid leaks. Just as radiator flushed are important for keeping the fluid fresh and preventing corrosion and deterioration, transmission fluid flushed too. 

Most transmission fluid leaks are caused by a leak in the pan, which happen over time. The good news is that transmission fluid is easy to spot, since the color is red puddle or smell a burning scent from the fluid. 

If  you notice red-colured puddles or smell a burning scent from the fluid, it is an indicator of a transmission issue that needs to be addressed. Having your vehicle transmission flushed as recommended by the manufacturer tends to eliminate the leakage issue. 

Also the frequent changing of transmission fluid can help to identify the issue as early as possible. Most manufacturers recommend transmission flushed every 100,000 miles or so. 

In conclusion

It is very common for car to develop problems often or once in a while. It is necessary to check your vehicle regularly, fixing small problems before they actually turn to bigger ones. Leave a comment on problems you are dealing with.  Thank You for reading