Tips for Driving in the Dark
How to Clean Your Car Engine
Knowing how to clean your engine is an important part of vehicle maintenance, and it can save you money. Tidying up under the hood helps extend the life of belts, hoses and other components. Plus, it’s easier to spot leaks, tears and other damage on a clean engine. Check out the steps below to properly clean your car engine, and be sure to consult your car’s operation manual before you get started.
1. Eliminate any residue
Your car’s hood, grille and vents are prime areas for dirt buildup. Blow them out with compressed air or clean the areas with a wire hand brush.
2. Get the temperature just right
Next, let your engine warm up to a moderate temperature – not too hot. This will help soften grease buildup in the engine compartment.
3. Know what to cover when cleaning your engine
Plastic sandwich bags come in handy when it’s time to clean up your car. The parts to keep covered when cleaning your engine are:
- Electrical wiring
- Sensors
- Spark plug openings
- Alternator
- Distributor
Secure the baggies with tape. To protect your battery, cover it or simply remove it.
4. Don’t forget the drip pan
Place old towels on an absorbent mat under the engine’s oil drip pan to catch any hazardous waste.
5. Give the engine a good spritz
Thoroughly spray the engine compartment with an engine cleaner, avoiding the wiring you bagged and taped. Since petroleum cleaners can damage rubber and vinyl components, consider a citrus or water-based degreaser. For parts that seem extremely oily or greasy, let the cleaner soak in for 15-30 minutes and repeat if necessary.
6. Rinse and unwrap
Once the engine cleaner has done its job, lightly rinse engine and components with water. Remove the bags you used to protect the wiring. Once the towel or mat is dry, dispose of it properly. And if you removed the battery, don’t forget to replace it.
7. Remove excess moisture
Blow away excess water in the engine compartment with compressed air.
8. Dry out the interior
Lastly, turn on your engine and let it run until warm. The heat will help dry the hard-to-reach areas.
Things to Do When Your Car Is Stuck in Snow
10 Reasons Why Your Car Won’t Start
It’s one of the worst things that can happen to a driver. You turn the key in your car’s ignition, perhaps hear a few alarming noises, and then…nothing. Whether in the parking lot after dinner, in your driveway before work, or even at the rest stop after you’ve stopped for snacks, there’s never really a good time for your car to not start. It’s usually indicative that your car needs some kind of repairs, and even when it doesn’t, it creates a serious logistical challenge on your hands.
What do you do when your car won’t start? After calling roadside assistance and getting you and your car to a safe location (preferably an auto shop), you’ve got to figure out why it’s not starting. Here are ten possible reasons why your car won’t start.
1. Bad or dead battery
The most common reason cars don’t start is a dead or faulty battery.1 Even though most cars run on gasoline, they all require electrical power to function. The starter that cranks your engine to start requires an electrical signal to fire.2 If something’s wrong with your battery, your car engine won’t turn over. There are other symptoms that may indicate a dead battery, but checking if your engine turns over at all is always a good first step.
The good thing about dead batteries is that you don’t need a professional to get your car going again. Jumping a car battery is something that anyone with a base level of know-how can accomplish. Battery jumps are temporary solutions though, and new batteries can be expensive, so it’s best to just take good care of your battery. For more on how to do that, check out these tips for avoiding a dead battery.
2. Bad alternator
A bad alternator goes hand-in-hand with a bad battery. The alternator recharges the battery and keeps the car’s electrical systems running after the car has started. If you’ve got a bad alternator, you don’t necessarily have a bad battery, but you certainly might not have a functioning one. Any bad alternator should be replaced, so be sure to look out for any signs of a bad alternator.
3. Starter motor
Dead batteries or alternators aren’t the only things that can stop your ignition from functioning. If something is wrong with the aforementioned starter motor that receives the electrical signal to crank the engine, your car may not respond to the turn of your key.
Common symptoms
One of the easiest ways to tell if your starter motor has a problem is to check if your lights come on when you turn your key in the ignition. Turning your key turns your battery on, so if you’ve turned your key all the way and the lights come on, but the engine doesn’t turn over, your starter motor could be the culprit. Any signs of electrical failure could also indicate the starter motor needs help. Repeatedly trying to use a starter motor that has been subject to a blown fuse could cause it to overheat and emit smoke.3
4. Bad ignition switch
The ignition switch is another step on the road that leads from turning your key to starting your engine. It plays a crucial role between your battery and starter motor, carrying power from the battery to the engine.
Common symptoms of a bad ignition switch
If you have a bad ignition switch, you won’t hear the starter motor working to start the engine. You also might experience some electrical issues since the ignition switch effectively activates your car’s main electrical systems. Flickering or dying dashboard lights are a prime example. You may also have difficulty turning your key in the first place.4
5. Spark plugs
If your car doesn’t start, it’s possible that its spark plugs are old or dirty. Spark plugs that have become defective in any way can lead to reduced gas mileage, lack of acceleration, engine troubles like misfires, and yes, even difficulty starting your car at all.5
6. Broken distributor cap
It’s not necessarily the spark plugs’ fault. The distributor cap routes power from the engine’s ignition coil to the spark plugs. Broken or malfunctioning distributor caps can cause your engine to misfire, activate the check engine light, cause strange noises, and, of course, prevent your car from starting.6 Make sure there is no moisture under the cap and replace it immediately if it’s broken.
7. Bad timing belt
Your timing belt is another component that is integral to a functioning engine. The timing belt rotates the engine’s cam and crankshaft in unison, causing the cylinders to fire at the appropriate times.
Common symptoms of a bad timing belt
If something is wrong with your timing belt, you may hear ticking noises from your engine, strange disparities in your engine’s revving, or your engine may not turn over. Replacing your timing belt is a piece of maintenance that needs to be performed on a semi-regular basis, so if you notice any issues that could be tied to it, don’t hesitate to call your mechanic.7
8. Jammed steering lock
Ever gotten into your car and found that you can’t even turn your key? If you’ve experienced this, it’s likely that your steering lock is jammed. Your steering lock activates when someone tries to move the wheel while the key is not inserted in the ignition as an anti-theft measure.8 However, it can occasionally serve as an anti-driver measure by accident.
If your steering lock jams, try to wiggle it left and right and then gently turn it in whichever direction allows some movement. Once the lock is unjammed, you can turn the key in the ignition normally.
9. Clogged fuel filter
If fuel can’t reach your engine, your car is going to have a difficult time burning it. As obvious as that sounds, you might not realize that the fuel filter is preventing your car from starting.
Common symptoms of a clogged fuel filter
You may notice an array of fuel-related troubles, ranging from sputtering to poor gas mileage, and, of course, difficulty starting. Your fuel filter should be replaced every 30,000 miles, so if yours is coming up on that milestone and your car doesn’t start, it’s worth checking and replacing.9
10. Empty fuel tank
No one wants to run out of gas, but if you do, the silver lining is that there isn’t anything wrong with your car. If your tank is empty, your best bet is to procure a gas can and give your car the couple of gallons it needs to start, and get to a gas station.
What to Do When the Check Engine Light Comes on
The dashboard of a car is full of mysterious lights that run the gamut from warning to a friendly reminder. Most of these lights remain dark most of the time, and when they do emerge, few people understand all of them. The check engine light is cardinal among these cryptic signals, with many possible reasons for its appearance and more than a few ways to make it go away. But what does the check engine light mean? Despite its varied reasons for appearing, there is an overarching rationale to it, and an important one at that. Understanding what to do when the check engine light comes on can mean the difference between a dangerous mechanical issue and an easy fix at the auto shop.
What does the check engine light mean?
Let’s start with what the check engine light doesn’t mean. It’s easy to see a warning light come on and hit the panic button, but the check engine light doesn’t usually warrant immediate concern. If you’re driving along and it turns on, you don’t usually need to pull over and call for help. You should take the light as a sign it’s time to get to a mechanic soon, though. The check engine light is a part of your car’s onboard diagnostics system, which monitors variables like engine speed, fuel mixture, and ignition timing. When that system detects a problem it can’t correct on its own, it responds by switching on the check engine light.
What does the check engine light look like?
So, your car’s diagnostics have detected a problem, what are you looking for? A yellow check engine light will appear on your dashboard, though the shape may vary based on the car you’re driving. In some cars, the check engine light literally reads “check engine” and nothing else, while in others it appears in the shape of an engine, occasionally with the word “check”. The light’s appearance may also vary depending on the problem. A solid check engine light indicates a less urgent issue, while a flashing check engine light signals a problem that requires immediate attention. Some cars also show a red check engine light if the problem is severe.
Common reasons the check engine light comes on
Engine problems
There is a slew of engine problems that can cause your check engine light to come on. Most are minor and cause your car’s fuel economy and emissions rating to decline, however, some can develop into major issues if unchecked. Engine misfires, for example, will cause poor fuel economy and performance in the short run, but can eventually lead to outright engine failure.
Damaged or loose parts and equipment
Any parts that are damaged, loose or missing will trigger the check engine light. Loose gas caps are a common example of this, though this problem does not pose any serious harm to your car.
Sensor issues
If your diagnostics system detects faults in any of your engine’s many sensors, your check engine light will come on. Some common examples are your oxygen sensors, which measure unburned oxygen in your exhaust system, and mass air flow sensors, which measure the amount of air entering your engine to determine the amount of fuel it needs.2
Transmission problems
As the master of your engine’s power output, your transmission can also trigger the check engine light if it malfunctions. Transmission problems can lead to increased tailpipe emissions.3
Overheating
If your coolant has not been changed properly it can eventually cause your engine’s thermostat to degrade, eventually overheating the engine. If this happens, your check engine light will activate.
How long can you drive with the check engine light on?
Many of us willfully ignore the check engine light until we see the symptoms of whatever caused it to turn on. That’s a tempting strategy, but it’s not wise. Your issue may be minor at first but develop into a major problem, as is the case with a bad catalytic converter. Even if the problem is merely reducing your fuel economy, that’s still additional emissions and expenses out of your pocket that a quick trip to the mechanic could fix. In either case, you should have your car evaluated as soon as possible.
What should you do when the check engine light comes on?
Turn your car on and off
Turning your car on and off three times consecutively may reset your car’s trouble codes. It’s worth trying this before taking your car in for service.2
Check gas cap
Yes, sometimes it’s as simple as tightening your gas cap. Be patient after doing this, as it may require several trips before the light resets.
Perform a diagnostic test
Many newer cars come with onboard remote diagnostics systems. These systems can report trouble codes and schedule a service appointment accordingly.
Reduce your speed
If your check engine light blinks on while you’re driving, a good first response is to reduce the strain on your engine. Lowering your speed will help. This is especially important if the check engine light is blinking or if it is red, indicating a more urgent issue.
Reduce load
You can also reduce the strain on your engine by reducing the haul it’s carrying. If you’re towing anything, you might want to stop.1
Wait and see
It’s not advisable, but you can always wait and see what happens. Most check engine lights do not need to be addressed immediately, and worsening problems will make themselves apparent. If your car’s situation is becoming more urgent, you’ll probably see or hear the signs.
Visit a mechanic
If you haven’t discovered the reason your check engine light is on, it’s probably a good question for your mechanic. You should take your car in for service as soon as possible.
What to Do if You Notice an Automotive Fluid Leak
Your car has various types of fluids that keep certain automotive systems performing well. Some provide lubricating properties while others are hydraulic fluids that power specific components. If you notice any fluid leaking from your car, you will want to do something about it. There are any number of reasons why a fluid may be leaking. Some fixes may be easy. Other repairs may be more complex. Either way, leaking fluid is usually a bad sign. You are better off dealing with it as soon as possible, rather than waiting for the problems to get worse.
Identifying a Leaking Fluid
The first thing an automotive mechanic will do is determine what type of fluid it is. Different types of automotive fluids have different colors and consistencies. Sometimes, colors can vary and leaking fluids are burnt or contaminated, so they can be hard to identify without professional experience. Here is a list of fluids that you will find in most vehicles:
- Engine Oil (Motor Oil)
- Transmission Fluid (Transmission Oil)
- Brake Fluid
- Power Steering Fluid
- Radiator Coolant (Antifreeze)
- Air Conditioner Coolant (Freon)
- Windshield Washer Fluid
- Suspension Hydraulic Fluid
- Fuel (Gasoline or Diesel)
Not All Fluids Are the Same
As you might expect, some fluids are more important to the vehicle’s operation than others. Leaking windshield washer fluid is no big deal, but you will want to patch or replace the reservoir because you don’t want that fluid getting on other parts and causing problems. Leaking air conditioner coolant can be very dangerous and you never want to touch it with bare hands. However, it only affects your A/C performance and not how the vehicle will run. Everything else on that list serves a very important mechanical function, so you do not want to ignore any leaks for too long. Engine oil and transmission fluid leaks are particularly concerning.
Automotive Fluid Leak Repair
Unless you are very familiar with automotive fluids and have the ability to pinpoint the source of the leak, you will probably want to leave fluid leak repairs to the professionals. If you are in the Bay Area, you can turn to the auto repair experts at San Francisco Automotive Solutions. Our technicians will get right to the source of any fluid leak and let you know exactly what’s wrong. Whether it requires minor or major repairs, we’ll tell you our findings and our repair recommendations.
Some fluid leaks are very easy to see. You may notice something dripping from under your car or even see puddles of leaked fluid after the car has been parked for a little while. Some leaks are undetectable unless you get up under your vehicle for closer inspection. That’s why it’s always a good idea to stick with a routine preventative maintenance plan. Get your fluid levels and quality checked regularly along with standard oil changes and other automotive services.
What You Need to Know About Your Vehicle’s Filters
When to Replace Your Tires
New tires are an inevitable expense, but telling when it’s time to get new tires may not be widespread knowledge to all drivers. Conflicting information from friends and family, from what you read online, etc. may make diagnosing your tire situation a dubious task.
Here are the five telltale signs you should check to determine if you need new tires.
1. Low tire tread depth
To test tire tread depth insert a quarter upside down into the tread. If it doesn’t cover George Washington’s hairline, it means the tread is less than 4/32 of an inch deep, and it’s about time to bite the bullet and get new tires. In many states, just 2/32 of an inch is considered the minimum legal tread depth. However, more tread is safer.
Tests conducted showed a car going 70 miles per hour with tread of 2/32 of an inch took 5.9 seconds to stop and required a distance nearly double that of a vehicle with new tires. Meanwhile, with treads that were 4/32 of an inch, while it still took 100 feet more to stop and 1.2 seconds longer, this was much better than what was achieved with the minimal 2/32 of an inch tread.
2. Tires are old
No matter how rock-solid the tires were when you first purchased them, time leaves its mark. With age, rubber becomes brittle. In addition, the tire’s reinforcing cords can weaken over time. It’s important to know how often to replace your tires. Even if the tread appears intact, most manufacturers advise you to replace your tires after six years.
If you look at the side of the tire, you’ll see the manufacturer’s code. The last four numbers here indicate the production date. If this is 3009, for example, it means that the tire was produced in the 30th week of 2009 and it may be time to get new tires. In more severe climates where you may routinely deal with extreme heat, the ultraviolet rays of the sun may impart structural changes in your tires. This may mean that you will have to make the change sooner.
3. Tire sidewall cracking
Look beyond the tread to the sidewall of the tires. Are there any noticeable cuts or grooves? If so, you may be wise to purchase new tires, since these can be signs that a leak is developing or that the tire is weakening and may soon blowout.
4. Bulge in tire sidewall
If the tire has begun to weaken, sometimes the rubber may begin to bulge. This is a red flag, indicating that the tire has begun to fail and may unexpectedly blow out at any time, putting you and your passengers in jeopardy.
5. Vibrations while driving
Has the ride recently seemed very rough or have you noticed vibrations while driving? If so, this can be a sign that your tires are indeed shot, and it’s time to put aside your skepticism and get new ones.
5 Signs of Hybrid Battery Failure
It feels good to own a hybrid vehicle. You’re saving money on gas and leaving less of a carbon footprint. But like any vehicle, hybrids need proper care—in fact, even more care—to keep running efficiently. Hybrid batteries are built to last the life of the vehicle. However, they are still prone to malfunctions and failures just like any automotive component.
Here are some of the most common signs that your hybrid vehicle battery isn’t working right:
1. A Drop in MPG
Numerous issues can affect your vehicle’s fuel economy, but a weak hybrid battery will certainly affect your miles per gallon (MPG). If you notice a steady drop in your MPG, it could be the battery.
2. State of Charge Fluctuations
If your state of charge (SOC) is fluctuating wildly, it’s either a battery issue or a problem within the charging system.
3. Increased Use of Internal Combustion Engine
If you notice that your Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) is running more than usual, there could be a problem with your hybrid battery.
4. Decreased Battery Charge
If your battery charge goes down when the vehicle is not in operation, then there is likely some sort of issue with the battery or charging system that you will want to have looked at by a professional mechanic who understands hybrid vehicles.
5. Strange Engine Noises
The more your internal combustion engine runs, the more likely it is to experience its own issues. You may hear strange noises or the car struggles to accelerate. This is an example of a failing hybrid battery leading to overuse and damage within the ICE.