Cars break down at the weirdest of places and at the worst of times. It would be equally weird to hear of a car that never broke down in its lifetime. Some issues are common to all cars and are easily avoidable and just as easily solved.
Arming yourself with thorough knowledge of these problems and how to identify them will save you a lot, starting with hefty ripped off bills by a crafty mechanic. Every driver must be well prepared for any automotive incidents. Basic care of a car, beginning with periodic service and maintenance is vital in preventing some of the common car issues that motorists face on a daily.
Common car problems and how to prevent them
Flat tire
This has to be the most common car problem. There are few motorists, both seasoned and newbies, who do not have flat tire stories. Flat tires may occur due to wear and tear, which is expected from anything that is in constant use.
Some may blow out due to poor quality or puncturing by a foreign sharp object. Checking your car tires regularly is a small feat. At every gas station, there is an air pump station that every motorist can inflate their tires from. It is free in most gas stations.
Random regular checks will help track the wear and tear and prepare for eventualities. Keep a spare tire in the designed space for it, firmly and well fitted in. Ensure it is fully inflated at all times. Getting a flat tire and having a useless spare wheel is quite an ironic situation.
Dead Battery
A dead battery means you are not leaving. Leaving car lights on for too long is among the most common (and careless) cause of dead car batteries. This is not much of a problem because it is easily solved by jumpstarting the battery by another battery from a different car, using jumper cables. It is recommended to change a car battery every three to four years, whether it is worn out or not.
Look out for signs of a battery that is close to its last days, headlights start dimming; you'll have problems starting the car, powering the air conditioning and even playing the car radio. Once these little issues begin, it is best to replace the battery because the next incident will have the car stalling in the middle of the road.
Warning Light
In every car, there is a dashboard with plenty of lights on it. In case of any engine trouble, the first place that will show is on the dashboard. It may not be easy for you to figure out what the actual problem is, you will need a mechanic to do a diagnosis and repair.
The Engine Control Unit in a car is the one that is connected via sensors to the dashboard and is the one sending the engine failure signals. All motorists must learn the different signs on the dashboard to identify the problems as soon the signals are transmitted.
Squeaky Brakes
The brake system of a car is among the most vital parts of a car. Brake failure could easily cost a life or several. When brakes start squeaking or being softish every time you try to engage, it is time to have them checked. It could be just the normal wear and tear of the brake pads.
This will be easy to solve as all that is needed is replacing with a new set. Metallic and ceramic brake pads tend to be ordinarily slightly noisier than the organic ones. Learn to distinguish between normal brake noise and unusual squeaks.
Shaky Steering Wheel
The most common reason for a shaky steering wheel is unbalanced wheels. When the car is cruising at a higher speed, the shaking effect is more distinct. If your wheels have been recently aligned, you will just need to go back to the mechanic and have them re-aligned. However, this is not the only reason for a shaky steering wheel.
Tire separation could be a factor causing a shaking steering wheel. The separation will occur if your tires are worn out. To find out if tire separation is the cause of the shaking, inspect the tire to check for bumps on the road surface. It will feel like the tire is broken from the inside and this is how you know that it is time to get a new set of wheels.
Spark Plugs Malfunction
It is easy to tell when your spark plugs are not functioning as they should. Motorists need to familiarise themselves with how spark plugs work so that they can spot symptoms of their malfunction. The most common signs include inefficient fuel consumption, acceleration is an overly slow, misfiring engine, misfiring engine and the car will give you a hard time trying to start it.
Leaking Radiator
Driving with a leaky radiator is not good for your engine as it ends up losing the car coolant and overheating. It could cause extensive damages forcing you to incur higher costs in repairing.
Fixing a leaking radiator when done immediately, is not a major exercise, you could do it yourself if you are a handy person but only if the leak is mild and only needs a little sealing. If the damage is severe, a professional mechanic will need to work on it. It would need some welding work or a complete replacement, depending on several factors that the mechanic will advise on.
Failed Alternator
Once your car starts running, the alternator is responsible for keeping all the electrical systems running. The car battery keeps most systems running, including the lights and stereo, in turn, the alternator replenishes and recharges the battery.
Before the mechanic replaces a broken alternator, they will have to check the entire charging system and see if it is a problem stemming from the broader charging system. A broken alternator, if not replaced will cause the battery to wear out and failure of other functions attached to it. Having your alternator checked with your regular service checks will save your car a lot of trouble.
Excessive consumption of oil
Every car needs an oil change but if the need comes up more regularly, there could be a problem. A clogged oil filter may cause this problem. If the oil change is delayed, it may cause corrosion in the engine which may be highly damaging in the long run. After every oil change, it is best to change the oil filter. Look out for the oil check warning signal on the dashboard.
The most common car problems and issues are mostly easy to identify and will not require major repairs if taken to a mechanic in a good time. Your driving style, car model and terrain you drive over may influence and cause the regular occurrence of some of the problems listed.
However, establishing a car service regime that is adhered to religiously is one of the first major steps in the reduction of some of the common care issues. Keeping a well-equipped repair toolkit and basic equipment like car jumpers, jack and a set of spare spark plugs will help in emergencies.
There is a myriad of small car issues that motorists must be on the lookout for as they are not unique to some cars but cut across all car types. Take good care so that it may reciprocate and take even better care of you and your family.
