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Choose your car’s symptom to learn what could be wrong and how to fix it. Whether it starts with an ominous rattling, the smell of gas or a warning light on your dashboard, unidentified car trouble can make your stomach churn. RepairPal makes it easy to find a trusted mechanic to look under the hood for you.
- Look Around
- Listen Carefully
- Pay Attention
- Use Your Nose
Your eyes gaze on your vehicle day after day, so you’ve probably gotten used to what things should look like. With a quick visual inspection, you might notice that something isn’t right, leading you to the fault. Additionally, you can easily see when warning lights appear on the dashboard. If this happens, you want to take action. Some lights are s...
If you turn the radio down, you might take notice of some unusual sounds that tell you what’s wrong. Creaking or clunking sounds could be coming from the suspension, while squealing and ticking might be the belt slipping under the hood. If you only hear squealing when you apply the brakes, the pads may need to be changed. However, this sound will t...
The body has a way of knowing when something doesn’t feel right. With your hands placed on the steering wheel, you might feel something odd with the ride. Shaking and vibrations come from the tires, wheels or suspension. However, worn transmission and engine mountscan also cause weird vibrations. If the car begins to pull in a particular direction,...
You could probably do without most car smells, but the nose is a great diagnostic tool if something is broken. If you smell mildew or mold in the cabin, the cabin air filter probably needs to be replaced. However, it could also point to an issue with the AC system. A burning smell indicates fire. You may also see smoke. If this happens while brakin...
Your vehicle's on-board diagnostic system stores trouble codes when it detects issues to make diagnosing problems easier. Learn what these codes mean.
People also ask
What are the most common car problems?
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How to avoid car trouble?
- Oil Warning Light is On. An oil warning light is one of the most serious car problems you’ll ever encounter. If the light (or oil icon) comes on, you should immediately pull over and shut off your engine.
- Diagnose a Check Engine Light. “Check Engine“, “Service Engine Soon” or “Reduced Power” lights or warning messages on your dash mean your car’s computer has detected a problem with the engine or transmission and stored a trouble code in its memory.
- Fix a Dim Headlight. Most DIYers think a dim headlight is caused by a poor connection on the power side of the circuit. That’s possible, but in most cases the dim headlight is actually caused by corrosion on the ground connection.
- Fix a Slow Moving Power Window. A sticky, slow-moving power window can be really frustrating, especially when you pull up to a toll booth or drive-thru window.
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- Warning Lights. A warning or check engine light is the most common issue for US car, truck and SUV owners. These lights illuminate when the vehicle’s ECU (engine control unit) detects an error code triggered by a sensor.
- A Sputtering Engine. The engine runs best when air and fuel properly mix and burn in the combustion chamber. To efficiently complete this process, a series of fuel and ignition system components must work together.
- Poor Fuel Economy. When the engine is running efficiently, it burns fuel at a rate that helps improve fuel economy. However, several fuel system parts like fuel filters, air filters, mass air flow sensors, and O2 sensors will eventually get dirty or wear out.
- Dead Battery. Most car batteries should last about three years or 50,000 miles. A dead battery is usually caused by reduced amps – or electrical currents – which naturally decrease as the battery loses its ability to maintain a charge.
Dec 22, 2009 · The Edmunds features below will help you troubleshoot car problems by reading the experiences of other drivers and owners. Look at our Long-Term Road Tests to see if we've had your model in...
Apr 19, 2023 · By Chantel Wakefield 04/19/2023 4:00pm. Quick Tips on Car Breakdowns. Keep calm and avoid danger when your car breaks down on the road. Stay with your car while waiting for help but stand away...
