What Is Wrong with My Car? – Top 3 Most Common Problems

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Cars are something that is a must-have in many parts of the world. In fact, many people might not be able to imagine their lives without one, and it should come as no surprise. Having a car gives you a comfortable and fast way to travel.

However, to enjoy both a short drive to work and a long road trip, you need to care for your car properly. That is where many people start experiencing problems. They perceive basic car maintenance tasks to be incredibly challenging.

Fortunately, it does not have to be the case. The key rule that you need to follow is to deal with minor issues to avoid bigger problems. Doing just that can help you quite a bit. If you want to learn more about this subject, you can check the website of OBD2 Pros: everything about OBD diagnostic.

If you are unable to recognize the most common car problem, do not worry! This article will help you learn how to do just that. Here, you will find a list of the most common car problems and the most effective ways to solve them. Check it out!

Your Car Is Shaking

What is the problem? – When you are driving, you may notice that your car is shaking. It happens when you are speeding up, slowing down, or turning.

Why does it happen? – The fact that your car is shaking may be a sign of a bigger problem with your tires, with your alignment system, or with your suspension system. The trouble may be caused by a punctured tire, damaged shock absorbers, or worn-out bushings.

What should you do? – You should check your tires first. If they are damaged, you should get a replacement. When it comes to the suspension system, it would be best if you had a professional check it out.

The alignment system is a bit trickier. First, let us explain what it does. In short, it adjusts the angles of your wheels in such a way that they are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to one another. If your car shakes when turning left or right, it means that the camber, which is the angle of the wheels, is not set correctly. To fix this issue, take your car to the car shop.

Your Car Revs Up, But It Does Not Move

What is the problem? – Your car makes a lot of noise when it starts, but it does not move. It happens every time you try to start the engine.

Why does it happen? – More often than not, the cause of this issue is the timing belt, the belt that synchronizes the engine and its gears. When this belt is faulty, the valves in the engine open before the piston reaches the top dead center.

Because of that, the piston can strike the valves and break them. This damage can result in a lot more serious problems, such as internal engine damage.

What should you do? – First, check if you have got spark plugs in your engine. If there are no spark plugs in it, the timing belt will not help you. Make sure that they are well-connected with their corresponding plug wires.

Next, locate and remove your timing belt. Check for breaks in the belt and replace it if you think that it is necessary. Once you have replaced it, connect it back together and check if everything works fine.

Your Car Starts, But It Stops a Few Seconds Later

What is the problem? – Your vehicle starts the way it should be but only runs for several seconds before it stops again. In most cases, it will not restart until you give it some time. Sometimes, it might take it up to an hour.

Why does it happen? – This problem is caused by faulty ignition coils or spark plugs. When one of your spark plugs fails, there is no spark that ignites the fuel mixture in your cylinders, which prevents your car from running properly.

What should you do? – First of all, see if all of your spark plugs work properly. To do that, you should remove them from their housing and test them individually with a special meter called an Ohm meter.

In case there is one bad spark plug in there, change only that one and see if everything goes smoothly. If not, try changing a few more until you find out which one is faulty. If at least one spark plug works properly, it means that your ignition coils are faulty and need replacement.

In Conclusion

There you have it! These are just a few of the most common problems that car owners seem to have with their cars. Unfortunately, there are many more that you might have no idea how to go about fixing.

If you happen to be dealing with an issue that was not mentioned above, do not worry! There should be plenty of other articles and interesting videos on the topic that you might find to be helpful. Other than that, visiting your mechanic is always a viable option!