The Car Problems Everyone Should Know About

Whatever car you drive, you need to make sure that you are aware of some of the main problems you are likely to come across. There are always going to be problems when you drive a car, and the more you understand about them, the better. That will help you to predict when something is going wrong, while also giving you a chance to fix it up as best as you can. So there are some definite common car problems that are especially good to know about.

We’ll take a look here at some of the most common of these. Ideally, you will learn how to fix them all up yourself. At the very least, you’ll want to know the signs that they are happening. And they are all things that you’ll need to appreciate the importance of at least. So let’s take a look at what they are, and what you can do about them.

Noisy Engine

When you have a noisy engine, it can be indicative of quite a number of different potential underlying issues. It might be that you need to investigate more directly what is causing it, or having it looked into by a professional. In any case, you should know about some of the main reasons that a noisy engine can occur in a car. There are a few common culprits that are especially good to be aware of.

For instance, it might be a problem with the oil intake, because if the oil is not coming into the engine that will mean that the parts are rattling around in there. It might also be that the water supply is not working. Or it could be that a rocker or other part in one of the cylinders isn’t in place right. In any case, it’s something to fix as soon as possible, so don’t ignore a loud engine.

Warning Lights

Of course, if you notice warning lights on your dashboard, then that is certainly something that you need to pay attention to. You should absolutely not overlook any warning lights that come up, even if you have the temptation to shrug them off. Part of the trouble here is that a lot of people don’t understand the difference between the different warning lights and what they mean, so looking into that briefly might be a really good idea.

An amber warning check engine light means that there is something wrong with the engine that will require looking into, but not an emergency. It could be something as simple as a spark plug being out of place or needing replacing. On the other hand, a red engine light means you need to pull over safely as soon as you can and have the car looked at. It might be that your engine is overheating or something just as worrying.

Any lights that appear, however, should be paid attention to, because it always indicates that there is something wrong with your car.

Faulty Brakes

There are obviously few problems quite as important as faulty brakes. After all, if your brakes are not working as they should, it’s going to mean that your car is not safe to drive. It is generally quite obvious when you have faulty brakes, because the car simply isn’t braking when it should or to the extent it should. This is the kind of problem you want to keep an eye out for all the time and clear up and fix as soon as you possibly can, just to be safe.

It’s worth knowing too that there are certain models of car where this issue is particularly common. For instance, it’s one of the most common Chevy Silverado problems, so if you drive a Silverado you should make sure that you are looking out for this. However, it is also a problem that can occur with any car, so you should just always be aware of its possibility as best as you can.

Too Much Exhaust Smoke

Having a lot of smoke coming out of your exhaust can often be so worrying that you just feel the need to stop the car immediately. And it might actually be a good idea to do that. It is at the very least an indication of something going very wrong, and it might be that you are not driving legally too, depending on what the cause is. So if you suddenly have a lot of exhaust smoke – or even if it has worsened gradually over time – you should make sure that you fix it up as soon as possible.

It might be as simple as dirt in the transmission, or it could be that you need to replace your exhaust or the catalytic converter, which is a pricier issue. Sometimes this can be the result of your converter being stolen, which is an increasingly common problem, especially if you drive an older vehicle.

In any case, you should absolutely make sure that you have it fixed before it gets worse – not just for the sake of your vehicle, but also for very important environmental reasons.

Low Fuel Efficiency

You obviously want the highest fuel efficiency possible from your car. That helps you to save money, use less fuel, reduce your impact on the planet, and generally have fewer problems with motoring on the whole. If your vehicle has been experiencing a reduction in its fuel efficiency, then this is something that you will want to take a look at, because there are actually many possible reasons why it might be happening.

It can be as simple as a change in the way you have been driving, so that is the first thing to look into. However, if it’s not that, and the change is too dramatic for it to just be your own driving behavior, you need to make sure that you are considering the other options. It could be that there is dirt in the system, causing it to become clogged. That can be really common and it will require that you have it all stripped through and cleaned out. However, the cost of doing so will be worth it, because it will save you in fuel in the long run.

Poor Tire Pressure

You have to keep your eye on your tires, as they are the only part of the vehicle that touches the road, and therefore they are a really important part of the whole car. The main problem that you need to be aware of is the potential for poor tire pressure, which can happen to any tires if you have not been on top of inflating them frequently and properly. You need to find out the ideal psi pressure for your tires, and then make sure that they are kept at that kind of level, especially before any long journeys on motorways.

Check them every six weeks at least. That is a good way to make sure that you are keeping on top of them and their health. Then you are going to be a lot less likely to get into any accidents, and your fuel efficiency will improve as well, along with the handling of the vehicle.

Those are the main things that can happen to your car which you should be aware of. If you know what to do about these, that is going to help you out a great deal, and you’ll find that your car is a lot simpler to run and cheaper to keep in a good state too.