subject: Find Out The Best Way To Diagnose Your Car [print this page] Automobile problems don't have to be for specialists only, and there are several ways you can troubleshoot problems and solutions. Although there are a couple of problems experts are needed for, many problems can be solved by checking a few things. The rest of the article concerns some of the questions you'll be able to ask yourself to learn what to do when your car is having problems.
The first thing you can easily do is look under your vehicle and see if you notice any spots, which could be stains from leaking fluids. Wet spots may be indicative of something wrong with your car, and that's why you have to check for it. What color or shade is the fluid, what's the smell? Antifreeze leaking and overheated engines generally tend to be blue, orange, and yellow-green colors. Your water pump might call for correcting, or your radiator may very well be leaking. When this is the trouble, the mechanic shop is where you have to head immediately. If the engine happens to be leaking oil, it will show up as a black oily fluid, or dark brown fluid. A reliable auto mechanic is the best option if you realize that you will need to fix a bad seal or gasket which is causing the engine leak.
Whenever the spot you find is red oily looking, then the leak is most likely the transmission or the power steering. Finding a mechanic is the thing that you need to do. If you find a clear fluid, you do not have to be worried as this is condensation from the air conditioner in your vehicle that is harmless. A tow truck is required if you have a stuck brake and light smoke is coming through the steering wheel. Smoke coming from a vehicle is almost always, if not always, a sign that something needs to be repaired. You most likely are able to detect the problem by sniffing around your car. Anything that smells similar to burned toast is often burning insulation or perhaps an electrical short. Having a mechanic show up to you is a lot safer than driving it.
If the auto gradually stops working and there is a smell of fuel, the engine is probably flooded. Try again after waiting around for a few minutes. A gas system drip can be a plausible problem if the odor of gas isn't eliminated. Swift actions will be needed to be able to fix this situation, as it can be dangerous. When there is steam leaking out from underneath the hood, stop and pull to the side of the road. It is really not a good idea to continue driving an overheated vehicle. Engine harm is probable if you continue driving, so a tow truck is a right course of action.
All you need to do is ask yourself some common-sense questions, and just stick to these simple guidelines. You might just know the problem before you even contact the mechanic, and this might save you money and/or time.