Hello, my name is Roy. For many years, I drove a 1976 Ford estate car around Sydney. The car had belonged to my grandpa. It was passed down to me when I had just passed my driving test at the age of 18. That was in 1986 and the car was already in a pretty bad condition then. Fast forward to 2006 and I was now aged 38 and still driving the same car around. Sometimes the car wouldn't start, white smoke came out of the exhaust and the gearbox made a terrible sound. I did my best to patch it up, but eventually, I had to scrap the car and buy a new one. I decided to start a blog to encourage others to service their cars.
Not all car problems that you have with your vehicle are going to be expensive to fix, which is why it's good to get them checked out quickly rather than put it off, trying to avoid a repair bill. You may also be misdiagnosing a problem, assuming it's a very expensive part that is malfunctioning when it's actually a relatively minor one. Note a few car problems that are easy to misdiagnose so you can know what to expect by way of repairs when you do notice these with your own car.
Pulling by one tire alone
If both tires in the front or back seem to pull your car to one side, the wheels probably just need an alignment. However, when it's just one tire that is pulling, don't assume you need major repairs to the steering; the wheel rim may be bent and the tire then pulls or drags. Another possibility is a bent tie rod. This is the rod that connect the wheel to the steering column that runs down the middle of the car's underside. If the tie rod is bent, the tire won't be spinning straight and it will easily pull or drag. If the rim seems fine and the tire itself is in good condition, check this tie rod for proper alignment.
Rough starts
If the car has a hard time starting, you might assume it needs an entirely new starter. However, the car may simply need a new fuel pump. If the fuel pump breaks down, the engine only gets a small amount of fuel and it cannot turn over easily. The vehicle may also have damage to what is called the oxygen boot. This is a long tube or hose that pulls oxygen into the engine, to mix with fuel and create combustion. When the boot is damaged, it lets oxygen leak out; without enough oxygen, combustion is faulty and the engine struggles to start.
No acceleration
If you hit the gas pedal and your car seems to hesitate or slide around rather than pick up speed, it may not be the accelerator or fuel to the engine that's the problem, but the tires. If the tires of a vehicle are very worn or need a rotation, alignment, or balancing, they won't grip the road very easily. In turn, you may give the car gas, but the tires just slide and skid rather than spinning, and the car struggles to pick up speed.
For assistance, talk to an auto repair professional.
Share22 February 2017
