Did your car’s check engine light just turn on? If so, you’re probably very worried about what it might mean. There are a whole bunch of things that can cause your check engine light to turn on out of the blue. You should learn about some of the most common car issues that you might run into and find out how to fix them so that they don’t take too much of a toll on you and your car.
You can keep your car out on the road and prevent the need for costly repairs by educating yourself about some of the problems that you might face when it comes to your vehicle.
Check out some of the things that can go wrong with your car below and see how simple it is to repair most of them right away.
Slow Start
When you stick your car key into your ignition and turn it, you expect your car to start right up. But every now and then, you might notice that your car sounds like it’s struggling to start when you crank it.
Why does this happen? Well, it could be caused by any number of things.
Your car battery could be on the verge of dying on you. Your starter could be on its last legs. Or there might be some kind of problem with your ignition system.
Whatever the case may be, this isn’t an issue that you can just ignore. You might find yourself sitting inside of a car that won’t start at all before long if you don’t do something to repair your vehicle.
By fixing one or two small parts, you can get your car starting like normal again and ensure you don’t ever get stranded in it.
Misfiring Engine
Your engine is obviously one of the most important parts of your entire car. So the last thing that you want to hear when you’re sitting inside your car is your engine misfiring.
If your engine is misfiring, there are a few things that could be causing it to happen. You might have:
- Bad spark plugs
- Worn out fuel injectors
- Faulty valve seals
You should have a mechanic check out your vehicle’s engine sooner rather than later to get the problem fixed. It could help you avoid more costly engine repairs down the line.
Lack of Acceleration
When you push down on the gas pedal in your car, you expect your vehicle to accelerate and move forward. But unfortunately, this won’t always happen when you’re facing certain car issues.
If you have a lack of acceleration in your car, you might be dealing with a:
- Dirty fuel filter
- Oxygen sensor malfunction
- Faulty mass airflow sensor
However, you might also have an issue that is exclusive to your specific vehicle. There are, for instance, some Ford Expedition acceleration problems that are likely going to continue to plague you even if you fix the car issues we just mentioned.
You may need to get a lawyer involved to help address the issues with your car and get you the compensation you deserve through the legal system.
Shaky Steering Wheel
Have you noticed that your car’s steering wheel always seems to be shaking when you’re driving it? This can be scary, especially when it happens when you’re driving down the road at a high rate of speed.
If your steering wheel shakes a lot, it could be because your car’s tires aren’t balanced properly. It could be because there is an issue with your brake rotors. Your car’s suspension might even be to blame.
Regardless, you shouldn’t simply get used to driving with a shaky steering wheel. You should try to diagnose the problem you’re having so that it doesn’t get worse and potentially put you into harm’s way.
Squeaky Brakes
Are your brakes always squeaking and maybe even squealing when you push down on them to bring your car to a stop? This shouldn’t be happening, and it suggests that there could be a serious problem with your braking system.
Some of the things that can cause brakes to squeak and squeal are:
- Worn out brake pads
- Glazed brake rotors
- Incorrect brake rotor cuts
Your brakes are some of the most essential parts in your car, which is why you don’t want to experience these types of issues with them. You should have them looked at and fixed as soon as you can.
Poor Fuel Economy
Does it feel like you’re spending a small fortune at the gas pump these days? It could be because your car’s fuel economy is lacking.
In some cases, this could be simply because you need to put some more air into your tires. Underinflated tires can cause a car’s fuel economy to slump.
But in other instances, your car’s fuel economy might tank because of bad oxygen sensors, a clogged up fuel filter, or issues with your air conditioning system.
Your driving habits could also be wasting gas when you’re behind the wheel. If you’ve gotten into the habit of idling a lot while your car is turned on, you might be using up more gas than you realize and paying the price for it every time you visit the pump.
You should try to find ways to scale back on the amount of gas that you use. It could make a huge difference in how much you’re spending to fill up your car with fuel each month.
Don’t Let These Common Car Issues Slow You Down
It’s pretty much impossible for vehicle owners to avoid having to deal with at least a few car issues every so often. It comes with the territory when you own a vehicle.
But you don’t need to let these car issues sideline your vehicle. You can clear them up in a hurry as long as you’re able to identify the issues and find quick fixes for them.
Read more about making repairs to your car by browsing through the informative articles on our blog.
