This blog post is a guest post from Brandon Martin who works with David Stanley Chevrolet in Oklahoma. Brandon enjoys writing about new technology and maintenance-related articles for automotive blogs.
We are all familiar with the bangs, clanks, and other odd noises our automobiles make when there is a problem. Although it may seem like the best idea is taking a car to a mechanic, it is important to have a general idea as to what is wrong with the car before you take it in. Having a general idea of what is wrong reduces the risk of you getting ripped off at the garage.
Unfortunately, car problems can be tough to diagnose. Sometimes, one problem will cause several symptoms and other times several problems will manifest with one symptom. Below are listed common but difficult to diagnose car problems.
Squeals
Squealing can be caused by various problems. Squeals can be the result of worn belts, or in some cases problems with the brakes. Unless you are familiar with automobiles, it might be diagnose the problem that is causing the noise. If you listen closely to noises you may be able to differentiate between a chirp and a squeal. Chirping is usually a sign of break issues while squealing comes from the engine and might mean a bad belt.
Warning Lights
Newer cars are partially operated by computers. This makes diagnosing a problem more difficult. Warning lights appearing on the dashboard are shocking, but they could signal a minor issue. In order to know for sure, you will need to see a mechanic that has a code reader.
Problems Starting the Car
If your car is difficult to start it may be a sign of some sort of problem with your ignition system. It is hard to detect what part of the ignition system is faulty. Cars that are hard to start may have bad spark plugs but it could also be a sign of faulty fuel injectors.
Brakes
Sounds are not the only indicators of brake problems. Bad brakes can manifest themselves as roughness in the way a car moves. This may be due worn brake pads or warped rotors.
Ignition Coil
Symptoms of ignition coil problems often mimic other issues. When ignition coils are going bad your car will be difficult to start. As already stated, there are other possible problems that could also be responsible for a car being difficult to start.
Clutch
If you are the driver of a manual transmission car then you probably understand how bad it can be when your clutch goes out. The clutch is made up of various mechanical parts and if any of them break, it will cause your clutch to stop working. This problem will be obvious right away; while you are in gear, it will feel like pushing your gas pedal isn’t enough to make your car move forward.
Air Conditioning
It is simple to diagnose an air conditioning problem. Your air will simply not be cold. The causes are a little less simple. Your problems could be due to a fault compressor or possibly a Freon leak. If you can roll your windows down until you have time to take your car in to a shop.
Steering
If you notice your car is not steering properly, it could be as simple as your car being low on steering fluid. If the car is pulling your tires could be wearing unevenly or have an alignment issue.
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