Next we will provide a list with the most frequent car problems. Therefore, we will bear in mind the symptoms that are present when a car is broken down. It is important you learn to interpret your car’s symptoms, since thus you will be able to take it to the mechanics with an approximate idea of what is wrong. Therefore, you will be able to guide the mechanic with your estimate diagnosis, which will speed up the professional’s diagnosis and repair will take less. On the other hand, if you show you know what is wrong with your car, you may not be deceived.

Besides the knowledge you and the mechanic may have to interpret symptoms and make diagnosis, computerized cars present a method to indicate the car’s problems —OBD, «On Board Diagnostics». Car’s computer detects problems, announces them and also codifies them and saves them in its memory, so that later on mechanics, through stored codes, can know what is wrong with the car. OBD II system has been improved and therefore it keeps the warning lights on when a defect is detected until this is fixed.

Anyway, beyond the help this computerized car system provides, it is always useful to know what is wrong with your car, bearing in mind the symptoms, since many cars do not have this technological help, and because even if they have it, it is important to understand what the mechanic is saying, in order to have a good repair and an accessible price. These are the most frequent problems, according the affected areas:

Engine problems

If your car has some of the following symptoms, then there is a problem in the engine. We recommend that you immediately take the car to the mechanic to prevent the car from being greatly damaged, since the repair will cost more. These are the signs to bear in mind:

Black, white or blue smoke comes out from the exhaust while you are driving.

The engine floods when you speed up, down or while driving.

The engine has little power when in elevated streets and/or zones.

The engine makes a metallic sound when in elevated streets and/or zones.

The engine screeches when running.

The engine makes a loud sound when speeding up.

A bad smell comes out from the car.

The engine backfires through the exhaust when you are driving.

When you speed up and/or down, the car shakes.

The engine continues running a little after the car has been stopped.

Cooling system problems

If your car overheats, probably this is due to a defect in the cooling system. May be you only have to put more coolant, properly seal the radiator or adjust some hoses to prevent leaks, or maybe change the entire radiator. You can try pouring some coolant and see if the problem gets fixed. If it is not so, you should take your car to the mechanic, since a failure in the cooling system may cause severe damage to the engine.

Starting and ignition systems problems

Your car may not start or it may but with inconvenience. Before losing your grip, bear in mind the following symptoms to define if you are dealing with a starting system problem:

The car does not start and there is no sound when you are trying to start it up.

The car does not start and there is a spinning sound when you want to start it up.

The car does not start and you hear a screech when you want to start it up.

The car does not start and the engine backfires and sputters when you want to start it up.

The car does not start when the engine is either too cold or too hot.

The car starts but the engine works very slowly until it correctly starts.

The car starts but black, white or blue smoke comes out from the exhaust at the beginning.

The car starts but the engine screeches or backfires when you want to start it up.

The car starts but it stops.

There are many the reasons why your car may have these symptoms. For example, if the engine does not start it may be due to a dead battery and you may have to recharge it. It may be a starter motor or ignition system problem. If the engine gets started, the defect is not in the battery or the starter motor. It may be due to lack of fuel. Or it may be that the necessary sparks for combustion are not produced or are poorly emitted. If when starting the car you do not hear the fuel pump, may be this is poorly functioning and prevents the right starting. Due to the various possibilities, the ideal thing to do is, before these signs, to take the car to a good mechanic so that he can check it thoroughly to clearly know what the problem is.

Charging system problems

Many times starting problems have to do with defects in the charging system. An engine may not start due to a dead battery. And this may be dead because the alternator, which must charge it, is failing —may be the alternator drive belt is broken. It may also occur that the battery is dead because lights were on for a long time. A battery can be recharged by using a charger. Or it may happen that a battery is old and must be replaced by a new one. Remember that if the problem is in the alternator, besides getting a dead battery —with the inconvenient it may cause— the engine will not have current to keep running.

It is highly recommended that you let a professional mechanic manipulate and check on the battery, since its components are really toxic and can produce severe damages to people.

Transmission problems.

The transmission system, in charge of transferring the power generated by the engine to wheels and of regulating the different speeds, can have various problems. In some cases, they are simple problems that can be easily and quickly solved; but, sometimes, these problems need a complete service or even the replacement of the entire transmission.

Some defects in manual transmission may be:

You hear a screech when changing a given or any gear.

You hear little bursts when you change to first, second or third gear.

You hear little bursts when you reverse.

The clutch is low while you are driving and you do not press it down.

The clutch makes noises when you press it down or release it.

The engine starts but gearshifts do not work.

In the case of automatic transmission, some symptoms may be:

Slow or delayed initial movement.

Gearshifts are changed either too quickly, too slowly or not smoothly enough.

Gearshifts are mistakenly changed.

You hear a noise from transmission when driving.

The engine starts but gearshifts in the selector do not work.

These problems may be due to different reasons. In the case of manual transmission, it may be due to a worn-out clutch, which must be replaced or to an inconvenient with the clutch. It may also be a transmission fluid leak, an easy problem to repair, through a new sealing —as long as transmission is not damaged due to the lack of this fluid. It may also happen that the gearshift is disconnected. In the case of computerized transmission systems, it may be that gearshifts are not correctly changed due to a failure in the sensors or due to a connection problem, which obstructs the orders from the computer to the transmission. This inconvenient can be solved without checking the whole transmission.

If the part that is going to be replaced or repaired is not very accessible —this depends on each car’s transmission— or if the problem cannot be detected, the mechanic will have to pull out the transmission system to dismantle it, completely check on it and make all the necessary repairs or replacements. This type of repair tends to be expensive. On the other hand, it is not convenient to change the transmission for a new or used one, since the transmission system is specific according to each brand, car model, type of engine, etc.

Braking system problems

If your braking system has any problem, it is highly important that you take your car immediately to the mechanic, since otherwise yours and other people’s lives will be in danger. We will name some of the most common braking system problems, related to the brake fluid, disks and rotor. Anyway, if you feel any other irregularity when braking, do not hesitate to contact a professional mechanic, who will make a precise diagnosis. If you press down the brake pedal and you feel it spongy, the problem is the brake fluid, which may have air bubbles, which reduces its capacity to stop the car. If you cannot brake the car, it may be that the brake fluid is old or there is a leakage. It must be regularly changed; otherwise the braking capacity is greatly reduced.

If the steering wheel or the car itself vibrates when braking, or if the car leans to a side when you step on the brake, then you probably have a rotor problem. The rotor is worn out with usage and the disks’ friction. In such situation, it is necessary to polish it —not too much, since otherwise it will not stand the heat when braking— or change it for a new one. On the other hand, if you hear a screech every time you brake, you will probably have to change the disks or polish the rotor. When the lining of the disks —it may be silicon— is worn out due to use, disks’ metal makes friction with the rotor’s metal, making a very annoying noise. The same happens if disks are dirty. Many times brakes make noises due to the normal friction required to stop the car. Anyhow, we recommend that you always go to a mechanic if you have any doubt regarding brakes.

Alignment and balance problems.

You may identify alignment problems if your wheels are quickly worn out, if they are irregularly worn out or if your car does not drive straight but it zigzags. It will be necessary to check if the tires have enough air. If the problem persists, the mechanic must align the wheels —adjust and straight their position— since they may be bended, making the car run irregularly. If the wheel or the driving seat vibrates when the car is running, you may be dealing with a wheels balance problem. You will have to balance tires, i.e., regularly distribute their weight, rotating them.