How to Diagnose Auto Engine Problems
Engine problems can sometimes be a bit tricky to diagnose. The more common problems, however, are not too hard to figure out. Engine problems are caused primarily by one or two factors: improper maintenance or fatigue caused by normal wear and tear. Diagnosing auto engine problems is the first step you must do before replacing or fixing anything. Without diagnosing the problem, you are really just guessing--and that can get expensive fast.
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Instructions
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Start the engine.
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Listen for a steady and fast ticking sound coming from under the valve cover on the top of the engine. Ticking is symptomatic of valves sticking or the engine timing being off. You will need to have a valve adjustment done on the vehicle to correct this problem.
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Check for smoke coming out of the tail pipe. White smoke indicates that the head gasket on the engine has failed. The white "smoke" is actually steam caused by the engine heating (and trying to ignite) the water in the engine coolant once it seeps past the failed head gasket. Blue smoke indicates oil making its way into the combustion chambers. This is caused by faulty oil seal rings or a blown valve cover gasket. These components will need to be replaced to stop the oil leak. Grey or black smoke is an indication of the engine running "rich"--too much fuel and not enough air. This problem must be fixed by having your engine tuned.
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Check for engine surging. This is caused by a bad or malfunctioning throttle position sensor. The sensor is not able gather and provide information about the position of the throttle that meters the fuel to the engine. The sensor needs to be replaced to solve this problem.
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Listen for a knocking or pinging sound. This sound will be different from a ticking sound. A pinging or knocking sound throughout the RPM range or even at one particular engine speed indicates misfiring. The fuel in the engine is being detonated at an improper time (either early or late), and the pinging is actually the sound of the piston slapping against the side of the engine cylinder walls. This could potentially cause catastrophic engine failure. The timing on your engine needs to be checked.
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