As an auto mechanic or DIYer, it’s crucial to learn to recognize common car issues and find viable solutions. From engine misfires and brake fluid leakage to damaged accessories and poor steering performance, recognizing warning signs early and using high-quality replacement parts helps ensure reliable repairs.
Knowing which tools you’ll need will save time and money by helping to avoid unnecessary or unreliable repairs. Gain the ability to diagnose issues quickly and accurately.
Engine Trouble
Engines are at the core of every car, providing power for driving journeys and transporting drivers where they need to go. Because engines provide such essential work, it’s crucial that drivers keep an eye out for signs of trouble such as knocking noises and the Check Engine light appearing on.
Knocking noises indicate potential issues with pistons or connecting rods that could eventually lead to engine failure. While topping up oil may temporarily alleviate these symptoms, permanent repair requires taking your car to a mechanic for service.
The Check Engine light is another common symptom that could indicate anything from forgetting to tighten the gas cap back on to imminent engine damage. You can easily diagnose this issue yourself using a diagnostic tool similar to calculator, which plugs directly into your car’s communication port.
Brakes
If your brake light stays illuminated, this usually indicates that the computer can no longer accurately read wheel speed sensors to ascertain how fast each wheel is spinning – leading to brake control and/or ABS system to temporarily cease working until this problem has been addressed.
Squeaking Brakes
Hearing squeaking brakes often indicates that your pads are beginning to wear down or need replacing, that your brake fluid requires replenishing or that the master cylinder needs servicing – or air in your brake lines, collapsed hoses or seized piston seals are likely culprits in producing such symptoms.
Shaking or vibration when braking may indicate that your rotors have warped due to heat from braking transferring pad material onto the surface of the rotors. Depending on how serious this warp is, grinding may be possible or replacing will likely be necessary;
Tires
Maintaining your car parts such as belts, hoses, and tires is crucial to maintaining its longevity. Regularly checking these parts for signs of wear and tear could save you from costly repairs in the future.
Visually inspect your tire by looking out for foreign objects protruding from its tread or listening out for hissing noises that indicate air is escaping through cracks in its tire casing.
Once the source of leak has been located, drill and carbide cutting should be used to prepare the rubber surface by stripping away damaged cords or belts and cleaning and buffing the injury site for optimal adhesion of patching materials.
Repair of punctures is limited to the crown area; damage to shoulder or sidewall parts cannot be repaired due to their constant movement along the road surface and patch or plug falling away due to this movement, making repairing unsafe at higher speeds; therefore a new tire might be the ideal solution.
Battery
While checking a battery may be straightforward (it either works or it doesn’t), parasitic drain testing requires professional assistance if it has failed. You will require a multimeter with millivolt scale and probes with pointed tips; once prepared for parasitic drain testing, locate your underhood fuse panel and start taking measurements until the meter registers less than 50 milliamps; once finished be sure to replace each blown fuse before restarting testing with your meter.
Before disconnecting your battery, check its voltage with a multimeter that can handle starter current. It should read 12.6, or higher; otherwise you should bring it into an auto shop for charging or replacement. In addition, regularly clean battery terminals to reduce corrosion that impedes transmission of energy between charging system and engine.