Cars are indeed necessities. All the more, it provides convenience most especially from the bustle of everyday public transport. However, like any functioning person or machine, cars also experience problems. The stress nonetheless comes from the fact that one could not immediately detect the problem because one buffer or abnormal sound might connote different problems.
To at least ease the burden of identifying car problems, here are some signs of car problems and what they mean.
Engine Temperature Warning Light
Once your car jerks around or has this whirring sound, it must be the engine and you should check your engine warning light. For amateur drivers, first you must know what this warning light looks like. In your car dashboard, this would be the symbol that looks like a boat on sail.
Once it flicks, you have to swerve your car in a safe side of the road because it indicates that your car engine is overheating. Turn off all A/C and all running systems including the car’s radio. Do not open the car hood for at least twenty minutes or else the radiator hose might be ruptured and the coolant steam may shoot and severely burn the person. The problems behind engine overheating are leaks from hoses, car’s radiators, heater core or freeze plugs. The safest thing to do is to have the car seen by a radiator shop.
Transmission Slipping and Rough Shifts
This car problems could only be specifically identified during change in gears. However, there is no noticeable difference between the symptoms of the problems that is why it is quite crucial if the driver misses these problems out.
If you are driving in a specific gear and suddenly noticed that your gear changed without you changing it and your car noise begin from a changing pitch to a whining sound, the problem is a slip in transmission. On the other hand, if you feel a resistance from your gears when you change gears, mostly accompanied by a thud and have difficulty in speeding up that would be a rough shift. Regardless, you need to consult an auto repair shop.
Poor Fuel Mileage
If you have been feeling like filling up gas more frequently even when you are driving the same distance every day, your car might be suffering from a reduced fuel mileage. This sudden decrease in your car’s mileage is a sign that your car is no longer as efficient as it was and it might need immediate tuning-up.
Nevertheless, reduced fuel mileage might also be attributed to reduced tire pressure or inappropriate tire installment or even a sticking brake pad. To properly track the incidence of this problem, you have to observe your baseline mileage to have points of comparison.
Dead Alternator
This one’s easy to detect. Once your car would not turn over and the gadgets and icons inside would not light up, then your alternator must be compromised. The good thing here is you can fix the problem alone. You just have to remove your car’s electrical connections, have your brackets unbolted and free the belts. After that, you just have to put back everything into place.
These are just a few of the subtle car problems you might experience while on the road. Now that you know what they mean, everything should come in handy.