Several common situations that require auto repairs include faulty fuel-air sensors, dead batteries, and blown tires. However, you should know that these issues can happen to any vehicle. Small issues can be easily fixed, but more serious ones may require you to sell the car. So, you should know the signs and symptoms of these problems and take your car in for service as soon as possible.
Tire Blowouts Caused By Worn-out Or Under-inflated Tires
The “tire blowout season” is when people tend to drive faster, farther, and with more weight on their vehicles. This can lead to under-inflated tires, which can cause heat to build up and cause a crash. To avoid a tire blowout, keep tires properly inflated all year long.
When tires are under-inflated, they flex more in the sidewall. This excessive flexing will eventually cause the sidewall of the tire to rupture. This rupture will cause the tread to separate and lead to an abrupt loss of air pressure. In some cases, the driver may even experience a loud bang.
While under-inflated tires are the leading cause of tire blowouts, other causes can be just as dangerous. For example, hitting a pothole or damaged road patches can lead to serious damage to tires. In addition, nails can puncture the tire, causing air to leak out and weaken the tire structure. So it would help if you had it checked by auto repair Edmonds WA professionals.
Faulty Fuel-air Sensors
A faulty fuel-air sensor is one of the most common situations requiring auto repairs. These sensors measure the fuel in the exhaust and send a signal to the PCM when the mixture is too rich. When this happens, the car will start to run rough and even misfire. Therefore, fixing the fuel-air sensor as soon as possible is important because if you ignore it, the problem could worsen.
In some cases, a bad MAF sensor can also cause your car to run too lean or rich, causing the engine to stall, jerk when you accelerate, and other serious issues. If you want to prevent the next major auto repair bill, try to clean the sensor and its wires. If this doesn’t fix the problem, consider getting it fixed by a mechanic. Otherwise, running a diagnostic check first is a good idea to rule out any damage or misdiagnosis.
Squealing Belt
A common scenario where you might need to schedule auto repairs is when your car’s engine belt begins squealing. A worn or cracked belt causes this noise, usually made of rubber. The squealing sound warns you to have the belt replaced as soon as possible.
You might not notice the noise until you’re driving your car. The squealing will start as a high-pitched noise and worsen as you accelerate. It may also happen more frequently on rainy or humid days. In either case, you should pull over and park in a safe place far away from traffic. You last want to cause a collision or damage your car’s engine.
Dead Battery
A dead battery is a common situation that triggers an auto repair. The car battery is the power source for starting the engine and stores any excess electricity the alternator produces. The vehicle can’t start or operate any electrical accessories when the battery dies.
A variety of situations can cause a dead battery. For example, the battery wears out over time, and extreme temperatures can drain it. You can check the battery’s age by referring to its sticker, which should state the month and year of manufacture.
Check Engine Light
A check engine light is an indicator of a malfunctioning system or part. Often, ignoring it can lead to more expensive problems. While most situations that trigger a check engine light are relatively inexpensive to resolve, the longer you ignore the warning light, the more damage it will cause.
If your car’s check engine light comes on, you’ll want to pull over immediately. A faulty sensor may be the cause. In this case, you may need to take it to your mechanic. Another possible cause is overheating. If your car is running hot, the light will flash. If the light comes on or keeps flashing, you should pull over and schedule an appointment with a mechanic.
It would help to consider the cause of a check engine light before deciding which auto repair is needed. If you ignore this warning, you could potentially damage expensive parts and lead to poor fuel economy and higher levels of harmful pollutants. The check engine light is part of the onboard diagnostics system, which controls your car’s performance. It controls things like the engine speed, the fuel mixture, and ignition timing. It also tells the automatic transmission when to shift gears.
