How to Diagnose Car Problems for Free
Diagnosing your own car issues can save you money by helping a mechanic target the area that needs fixing. This will also prevent mechanics from charging you for services you don't need, since you can arrive with specific knowledge. Taking your car out for a quick spin around the neighborhood can become a visit to the car doctor's office, allowing you to run a full check-up.
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Instructions
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Attempt to turn the car on. If the vehicle does not start than there are many possibilities. A good preliminary diagnosis is to listen for a clicking sound before the motor goes dead. This likely indicates a dead battery. Next turn on an interior light, such as above the dashboard. If this light turns on, then the more likely culprit is a broken ignition switch.
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Drive slowly around the neighborhood while being wary of stalls. If the power steering goes out, lights go out or the engine shuts down, you have stalled. This likely indicates issues with piston cylinders inside your engine. Aim repairs at the fuel injector or spark plug.
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Continue driving while paying close attention to the noise emerging from the exhaust pipe. Loud noises, such as popping and sputtering, indicates damage to the lining of the exhaust pipe, requiring either cleaning or replacement. Another possible target, particularly if the exhaust is more black than normal, is a clogged catalytic converter.
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Steer both left and right, then go straight, allowing the wheel to demonstrate any bias to one side or the other. Steering problems could require realignment of the tires, which can cause a car's trajectory to cant to one side. Hissing sounds from the steering column are likely indicators of low levels of power steering fluid.
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Accelerate and listen for grinding or hissing noises from the transmission. This could indicate faulty o-rings or other issues with the transmission. Other transmission issues to pay attention to include leaking fluid, which may be demonstrative of a larger problem.
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Slow down, being careful to listen to scraping or scratching noises emanating from the foot box around the brakes. This could indicate worn brake pads or even misalignment.
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Tips & Warnings
If you suspect brake problems it is best to seek a professional rather than trying to diagnose alone.
