Engine Repair
Engine Repair Raleigh, NC
Not all drivers know everything about their car and some drivers probably don’t even know how the engine works. When the “Service Engine Soon” or “Check Engine” light comes on, some drivers may even panic unnecessarily. Don’t be one of them.
The engine converts the fuel into energy, which makes your car run. In electric cars, the concept is the same and it’s just the energy source that is different. Without the engine, a car is just a heap of metal.
Engine problems are frustrating and repairs or replacement can be expensive. But if you take care of your car and couple it with timely maintenance checks, you can save yourself from a lot of headaches and more expensive repairs.
Common Engine Problems
This is probably the most common as well as the most nerve-racking problem for a lot of drivers. Nearly every driver has experienced this and it can happen for several reasons. Below are some of them and what you can do when it happens.
- Discharged battery or low battery – Call your on-site mechanic and have the battery checked because it might need replacement.
- Corroded battery cables – Clean and grease the terminals. Make sure they are screwed in place.
- Blocked fuel filters – Ideally, you wouldn’t have this problem with quality filters. Ask your mobile mechanic if the filters need replacement. Don’t skimp on cheap filters; try to follow what the manufacturer recommends.
- Faulty ignition switch – As your car gets older, expect this to happen. Replacement should be easy.
- Alternator problem – Your local mechanic should be able to diagnose this easily and recommend repair or replacement of the parts.
When the engine overheats, it could be caused by immature ignition or defective spark plugs. Overheating can be caused by a few things like a broken thermostat, dirty coolant, damaged cooling fan, or a defective radiator cap. To avoid this, keep the coolant in good condition and have your car checked regularly by your auto repair service.
This light turns on when an error is detected by the Electronic Control Module, which makes sure your engine is running as it should be. The error can be due to a faulty gas cap or a sensor failure. It doesn’t necessarily mean a huge problem, just that something might be off. Just to be sure, pull over when this happens and call a mobile mechanic immediately.
Cooling System
The car’s cooling system works by transferring heat to the air to prevent the engine from overheating. The cooling system is designed to keep the engine working within the range of its optimal temperature.
Too much heat buildup in the engine could cause it to malfunction and affect your car’s performance. Like all car parts, the cooling system is subject to normal wear and tear.
If you wait too long to address problems, you could end up with extensive damage to your engine or worse, ruining your car for good. This is why a good working cooling system is critically important for your vehicle.
- Broken hose – When the hose starts to leak, water can’t flow and will eventually dry out resulting in overheating.
- Broken fan belt – If the belt is broken, the water pump won’t run and the coolant can’t be distributed where it’s needed.
- Defective radiator cap – A defective cap won’t seal properly and compromise the proper function of the cooling system.
- Thermostat failure – The thermostat regulates the temperature. When it fails, the heat can’t dissipate and the engine will overheat.
- Water pump failure – When the pump fails and water can’t flow through the engine system, it will overheat.
- Check for broken hoses and belts regularly.
- Check the radiator cap for signs of deterioration.
- Change the coolant according to the manufacturer’s suggestion.
- Watch out for leaking coolant.
Ask your mobile mechanic to diagnose problems when you encounter overheating. They can give you the best advice and do the repairs accordingly.
Exhaust System
The exhaust system is another very important component of your car. It’s made up of numerous parts, which only function properly as a whole if these parts work harmoniously together.
The exhaust works by diverting dangerous fumes from the engine.
When these fumes pass through the catalytic converter, most of the deadly gases burn off, which is important in passing emission standards. The muffler reduces the noise when the fumes are pumped through it before finally being expelled through the rear pipes.
- Check engine light is on – A faulty exhaust system could trigger this light on. If the light keeps on flashing, it could be a serious problem. Pull over on the side of the road and call your on-site mechanic.
- Decreased fuel efficiency – If you’ve been driving for a long time, you will have an idea of the standard mileage you can get on a full tank. If you notice that the car isn’t up to the usual fuel efficiency, it could be an exhaust system issue.
- Noxious smells – As unusual as exhaust fumes are, you shouldn’t be able to smell them inside the car. If you do, you could suffer from monoxide poisoning. This could be a problem with the converter.
- Weird noises when accelerating – When you hear rattling sounds or if the car is unusually loud upon acceleration, it might be a problem with the pipes or the muffler.
- Vibration – An exhaust problem is possible when the car vibrates too much or if it loses power when you’re driving.
Preventive Maintenance
Prevent exhaust problems from happening by having the exhaust system checked by a professional auto repair service twice a year. Do this, even once a year, even if you don’t notice problems right away.
Again, the cost of preventive maintenance when it comes to your car will be a more reasonable expense than costly repairs if you neglect your car. But if it can’t be avoided and you end up having problems on the road, call Mobile Mechanic Raleigh, NC for proper engine and cooling system diagnosis and repair.
