If you’re anything like me, your automobile knowledge doesn’t extend much beyond the gas cap and ignition switch. I find myself much more comfortable under the hood of a stove than the hood of a car and happily leave it to the men in my life to tell me when something’s wrong. Yet, in an age where women are becoming increasingly independent and adept at a variety of skills, I think it’s time to demystify the automobile world. I enlisted the help of Phil Reed, senior consumer advice editor with Edmunds.com, to explain what’s really going on when you’re having car trouble.
Forget Warning Lights, This Baby Won’t Even Start.
When your car won’t even turn on, you most likely have a dead battery—the most common problem experienced by motorists. Leaving on the music and interior lights has robbed your battery of its power to crank the engine. The good news is you don’t need to immediately call a tow truck. Any good neighbor in the parking lot with jumper cables can jump your car off with the power in his battery. This process will not only start your car, but it will re-power your battery so you don’t have to get a new one. Unless, that is, your battery hasn’t been replaced since Regis and Kathie Lee were a duo.
If this attempt doesn’t work, your battery may be unable to take a charge or there was a bad connection to one of the posts. Most auto parts stores can test your battery to see if you need a new one. However, if your car frequently fails to start, it could be the sign of a deeper problem, namely, the alternator. If you often find yourself stuck in a parking lot with no power, let an auto mechanic look at your car.
Smoke Is Coming Out of the Hood and We’re Not at a Prince Concert.
Smoke coming out of the hood is generally a sign that your car has overheated. There is probably a lack of coolant in the cooling systems or there may be a problem with your radiator. While I’d leave the radiator to an experienced professional, adding coolant to the system is easy and may just solve the problem.
Sometimes, smoke isn’t coming from the hood yet, but the temperature light inside your car comes on to warn you that the engine is getting too hot. If the gauge is slowly rising, you have time to get to an exit, but if it’s all the way up, stop as soon as possible to avoid destroying the car engine.
Coolant, which can be purchased at any auto parts store, needs to be added to the overflow tank, the tank beside the radiator. This is extremely important because adding it directly to the radiator could cause it to spew back and burn you. The cap is color-coded and should be easy to identify. Once you add it to your system, try starting the car and see if the temperature goes down. Pat yourself on the back it if does for the potential thousands of dollars you just saved. Whatever you do, don’t drive an overheated car—unless you want to destroy your engine.
The Noises Coming from My Car Are Worse Than Sanjaya’s.
One of the most obnoxious and scary noises your car can make—one that sounds like it’s getting ready to explode—is actually not a dangerous sign if it’s the result of a broken fan belt. If your car, particularly when you first start it, produces a horrible racket but all of your gauges and signs show that everything is normal, then you probably just have a broken fan belt and there’s nothing to worry about. A mechanic can easily fix the problem and it shouldn’t be too expensive.
There’s More Vibration than the Bed at a Cheap Motel.
One of the most common signs of trouble is front-end vibration. This shaky, uncomfortable sensation while driving, sometimes accompanied by a thumping noise, is telling you your tires are either out of balance or, in extreme situations, you’ve got a flat.
