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Engine
Home » Car Maintenance » What's Wrong with My Car? » EngineThe engine of your car has scores of moving parts, and a defect in any one of these parts can cause both minor annoyances and major safety hazards. While it may take a mechanic's training to accurately diagnose a problem, you can learn to make an educated guess if you learn what you're looking, listening, and smelling for.
If you turn the key in the ignition, and nothing happens, you have what's called a no-crank start. The first thing to do is to check the battery and get a jump-start, which will temporarily fix many no-start issues. If a jump doesn't work, however, you may have a bad starter; tapping on the starter while the engine is cold may get you one or two more starts, but you'll need a new starter. Finally, you may have a cracked distributor cap, which you'll need to have a trained mechanic repair.
On the other hand, your engine may start but then hesitate or stall as you drive, perhaps only at particular speeds. This problem is likely attributable to a minor part such as a fuel or air filter, spark plugs or ignition wires. A moderate handyman can replace these parts himself, but a bigger problem such as water in your gasoline tank will require a mechanic's touch.
A mechanic's touch is also needed to respond to the appearance of smoke from your hood or exhaust. Hood smoke likely means an oil or coolant leak, but some of your electrical wiring may also be burning. Exhaust smoke, on the other hand, might have many causes, everything from a clogged air filter to worn piston rings or a carburetor choke.
Smoke may indicate a problem with your engine coolant, but the more obvious symptom of a coolant problem is an overheating engine. Hopefully, an overheating engine is simply a problem with your thermostat, but usually, you'll need to add coolant and check for a leak in the coolant system. In addition, as with many engine problems, tightening or replacing the drive belts and adjusting the ignition timing might solve the problem.
Maybe, however, it's what you hear that's the problem. A hissing sound often indicates that you need new vacuum lines or that there is a problem with your exhaust system. A whirring engine probably means your power steering is malfunctioning or that you need a new part, such as an alternator or a water pump. Squealing or rattling sounds that occur while you accelerate should direct your attention to tightening or replacing the drive belts or to adjusting the ignition timing.
Finally, perhaps the most notorious engine problem is the mysterious "Check Engine" light. Many a driver has rushed to the mechanic only to hear that the light didn't indicate any observable problem. Most "Check Engine" lights are tied to the electrical control of your engine and/or the emissions level of your car. Check your owner's manual to determine exactly what your light means, but in many cases, it does not indicate a problem on the level of a brake light, which indicates need for an immediate repair.
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