FirstaidforyourcarYourexpertguidetocommonproblems&howtofixthemCarlCollins
FirstprintedinpaperbackformatinJune2013.FirstpublishedinebookformatSeptember2013byVelocePublishingLimited,VeloceHouse,ParkwayFarmBusinessPark,MiddleFarmWay,Poundbury,Dorchester,Dorset,DT13AR,England–Fax01305250479–[email protected]–webwww.veloce.co.ukordigital.veloce.co.uk.
EbookeditionISBN:978-1-845846-60-2PaperbackeditionISBN:978-1-845845-19-3©CarlCollinsandVelocePublishing2013.Allrightsreserved.Withtheexceptionofquotingbriefpassagesforthepurposeofreview,nopartofthispublicationmayberecorded,reproducedortransmittedbyanymeans,includingphotocopying,withoutthewrittenpermissionofVelocePublishingLtd.Throughoutthisbooklogos,modelnamesanddesignations,etc,havebeenusedforthepurposesofidentification,illustrationanddecoration.Suchnamesarethepropertyofthetrademarkholderasthisisnotanofficialpublication.
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ContentsIntroductionAbouttheauthor&importantinformation
oneStartingproblemstwoWarninglights&gaugesthreeNoisesfourSmellsfiveLeakingliquidssixExhaustproblemssevenWindscreeneightEnginenineLights&indicatorstenBrakeselevenGearbox&clutchtwelveSteeringthirteen4x4problemsfourteenSuspension,wheels&tyresfifteenEnginecoolantsixteenFuelseventeenWinter
Furtherreading
IntroductionWhatdoyoudoifyourcarhasawaterleakorifyoudiscoveroilonthegroundbeneathit?Whatifawarninglightcomeson?Whatcouldbethecause?CanIdriveit?DoIneedabreakdownserviceoramechanic?HowcanIgetittoagaragesafely?Ourcarsareessentialtous,andit’shardtoimaginebeingwithout
them.Ifyoudriveone,thenthisisthebookforyou–evenifyouhaveminimalmechanicalknowledge.Youcanavoidseriousrepairbillsbylearningexactlywhattodowhensomethinggoeswrong;doingthewrongthingcouldcostyoualotofmoneyandbearealinconvenience.Youcanfindoutwhetherthecarissafetodrive,andwhatactionyouneedtotaketocompleteacrucialjourneyorgetyourcartoagarage.Coveringthemostcommonproblemsthatoccuronmodernvehicles,
suchasbrakefaults,oilandwaterleaks,startingissues,unusualnoises/smells,anddashboardwarninglights,thisbookisoneofthemostvaluableitemsyoucanhaveinyourcar.
Abouttheauthor&importantinformationAbouttheauthorFormanyyearstheauthorhasbeenprovidingtechnicalcontentforhisautomotivehelpwebsite–carbasics.co.uk.
Hisengineeringbackground,experienceasatrainer,andpassionforallthingsautomotivehaveledtoaskillforwritinghighlydetailedyeteasy-to-followcarDIYarticles.Since2006,carbasics.co.ukhashelpedthousandsofcarownerssavemoneyandkeeptheircarssafeontheroad.Thesuccessofhiswebsiteandwritingstylehaveresultedinhimbeingaskedtowriteanumberofautomotivebooks.
ImportantinformationIfanythingcontainedinthisbookcontradictswhatiswritteninthevehiclemanufacturers’
handbook,theadviceintheofficialhandbookshouldalwaystakepriority.Theguidanceinthisbookisgeneral,so,whilst
yourcaranditsindividualcomponentsmaylookalittledifferentfromthefeaturedprojectcarsandtheircomponents,the
actionsdescribedwillstillbeperformedinessentiallythesamemanner.Allbolts,nutsandscrewsareturnedanti-clockwisetoundo,unlessstatedotherwiseinthehandbook.Alwaysusethecorrectsizetools(spanners,sockets,screwdrivers,etc)oryouriskdamagingpartsofthecarandincreasetheriskofinjuring
yourself.
oneStartingproblems
1.1Starterturnsengineslowlybutenginewon’tstart
Whenturningthekeytostarttheengine,theengineturnsoverslowlybutwon’tstart.Thisindicatesthatthebatterydoesnothaveenoughcharge.Ifyou
haveaccesstoabatteryboosterpack,oryoucangetsomeonetohelpjump-startthecar,youshouldbeabletogetitstartedthatway.
Thecarbattery,themostcommoncauseofcarstartingproblems.
Thisproblemcanbecausedbyanumberofthings:•Afaultwiththealternator,meaningthatthebatteryisnotgettingrechargedwhilstyouaredriving.•Afaultybatterythatisnotholdingitscharge.
•Abatterythatislosingchargeovernight,becausesomethingisdrawingelectricityfromit.
Atypicalbatteryboostercanhelptostartacarwithlowbatterylevel.
Useabatterychargertorechargea‘flat’battery.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
Thesearethemostcommonreasonsabatterylackscharge,andtheproblemwillneedtobelookedintofurthertopinpointtheexactcause.Youwillneedtogetthecarlookedatbyanauto-electriciantoseewhichpartneedsreplacing.Ifyouhaveaccesstoavoltmeter,connectittothebatteryterminalsandcheckthevoltageoutputfromthealternator.Ifthevoltmeterreadsaround13.8vormore,thealternatorisgoodandwillnotneedchanging.
Afaultyalternatorcanbethecauseofaflatbattery.
Atypicalalternatorremovedfromcar:it’sbeingchangedforanewunit.
Lesscommonfaultsthatcangivethesamesymptomsareabadearthconnectionbetweenengineandbody,partiallyseizedengineorseizedclutch,amongstothers.Beforebuyinganewbattery,gettheoldonetestedbyagarageorcar
partsshop.Theywillhavespecialistequipmenttotestthebatteryfully,asitsperformancecannotbeproperlytestedbyusingjustavoltmeter.Ifbothalternatorandbatteryareingoodcondition,thensomethingmaybedrainingthebatterywhenthecarisnotbeingused.Youwillneedtotakethecartoanauto-electricianfordiagnosisoftheproblem.
1.2Starterturnsenginestronglybutenginewon’tstartThisindicatesthatthereisnofuelgettingtotheenginewhenyouturnthekey.Youwouldgetthesameproblemifyouranoutoffuel,oriftherewasafaultwiththeignitionsystem,ienosparkatthesparkplugstoignitethe
fuel(petrolengines).Dieselenginesdonothavesparkplugs,soforthemyoucanrulethisoutandassumethatnon-startingisduetoafuellingissue.Thefirstthingtodoischeckthatyouhavesufficientfuel.Checkthe
fuelgaugeonthedashboard,andthinkaboutwhenyoulastfilledup.Ifyouhaverunoutoffuel,refertochapter16.1,‘Runningoutoffuel.’
Engineturnsbutwon’tfire,indicatingafuellingfault.Checkforsufficientfuel.
Ifthereissufficientfuelinthetank,thefaultmaybethatit’snotgettingtotheenginefreely.Thiscanbecausedbyablockedfuelfilter,especiallyifthevehicleisgettingold.Perhapsyourecentlyranverylowonfuel,whichmayhavedrawndirtfromthebottomofthefueltankintothesystem?Assessingwhetherthesparkplugsareworkingandfuelisgettingtothe
enginecaninvolvelooseninginjectorsandcheckingsparkplugs–butthisisreallybeyondfirstaid,asyou’llneedaworkshopmanualtohelpwith
procedureanddiagnosis.
Insufficientfuelgettingtothefuel-injectorscanpreventtheenginefromstarting.
Ifyouhavecarbreakdowncover,it’stimetocalltheorganisationtoseeifitcangetthecarstartedanddiagnosetheproblem.1.3NonoisewhenignitionkeyturnedIftheenginewillnotstartwhenyouturntheignition,youfirstneedtocheckwhetherthebatteryhaspower.Areanyofthevehicleelectricsworking,suchasdashboardlights,radio,headlights,etc?Ifheadlightsareworking,butareverydim,thenyouhaveanalmost-flatbatterythatwillneedtoberechargedusingacharger.Youcanalsotryusingabatteryboosterpack,orgettingsomeonetohelpjumpstartthecar,Alsochecktomakesurethatthebatteryterminalsaresecurely
tightened.
Nothinghappenswhenignitionkeyisturned.Checkforpowertoradioordashboardlights.
Caution!Don’tallowthemetaltoolyouuseforthistoshortthepositiveterminaltoanadjacentpieceofmetal.Ifyoudomanagetogetthecarstarted,youstillneedtoestablishthecauseoftheproblembeforeithappensagain.
If,whenyouturntheignitionkey,therearenolightsonthedashboardandnoelectricalitemsareworking,youmayhaveatotallyflatbatterythatwillneedtoberechargedandthecauselookedintofurther.Ifalloftheelectricsseemtobefineandyouhavesufficientpowerin
thebattery,themostlikelycauseisafaultystartermotor.Thisiswhatfirstrotatestheenginetogetitstarted.Youmaybeabletocheckthatallthewiringtothestartermotorisstillinplace,asifthiscomeslooseorhasbeendamaged,itcanpreventstartermotoroperation.Ifthewiringseemsokay,youmayneedanewstartermotortogetthecarworking
again.However,theproblemcouldalsobeafaultyalarm/immobiliserratherthanstartermotor.Thiswillneedtobelookedatbyaspecialist.Carswithfaultystartermotorscanoftenbegotgoingby‘bump-
starting’thecar.Thisistheprocessoftryingtostartthecarwhilstitisrolling,eitherdownahillorwhilstbeingpushed.Usuallyoncerolling,youcandepresstheclutchpedalandputthevehicleintosecondgear,thenwiththeignitionturnedon(caution–makesuresteeringlockisoff!)liftyourfootofftheclutch.Thiswillengagetheroadwheelsandturntheengine,basicallyreplicatingwhatthestartermotordoeswhenthecarisstationary.Providingthereisenoughfuelandbatterypower,thecarshouldstartanddriveokay.However,assoonasyouturnofftheignition,youwillnotbeabletostartthecaragainwithoutanotherbump-start.Pleasealsonotethatyoucannotbump-startvehiclesthathaveautomaticgearboxes.Youmaywanttolearnmoreaboutbump-startingcarsbeforeyouattemptityourself–theinternetisagoodplacetostart.
1.4Clickingnoisebutenginewon’tstartTheclickingsoundyoucanhearisthestartermotor.Thisnoisesignalsthatthestartermotorisnotturningovertheengine.
Themostlikelycausesareafaultystartermotor,oralackofbatterypower–seesection1.3foraddressingtheseissues.Checkallofthewiring/connectionstothestartermotorandsolenoidincasetheyhavecomelooseorhavebeendamaged.
Aclickingnoiseandnothingelsemayindicateafaultystartermotor.
Atypicalstartermotorwithstartermotorsolenoid(arrowed)mountedontop.1.5CarstrugglestostartfromcoldTherearequiteafewreasonswhyacarmightbedifficulttostartfromcold,especiallyinthewintermonths.Ifyourcarisadiesel,makesurethatyouarelettingtheglowplugswarmsufficiently–readsection2.13‘Glowpluglight(dieselengines)’formoreinformationonthis.Plentyofdieseldriversdon’tknowtheyneedtolettheglowplugsoperateforafewsecondsbeforetheystarttheengine.
Failedglowplugscancauseproblemswithcold-startingondieselengines.
Iftheweatherisverycoldandyourcarisnotnew,theproblemsyoufacecouldbecausedbyanumberofthings.Carbatteriescanbemorepronetounder-performingincoldweather,andalternatorshavetoworkharder,alsoprovidingpowerforlights,demisters,windscreenwipers,andheaters.Basically,thecar’schargingsystemhastoworkalotharderinwintermonths,soensurethateverythingisinfullworkingorderbeforeanannoyingdifficultstartbecomesafull-blownbreakdown.Manygarageswillperformwinterchecksandwilllookatthehealthof
thebatteryandalternator;thisiswellworthdoingifyouwanttokeepyourcaronthemove.Also,fordriversofolderdieselcars,inthewintermonthsconsiderwhethertheglowplugsareperformingaseffectivelyastheyusedto,orsomeofthemmaynolongerbeworkingandneedchanging.(It’swisetochangealloftheglowplugsatthesametime.)Otherproblemscouldbetodowiththeignitionsystemon
petrol/gasoline-enginedcars,particularlyoldervehicles.MoisturecangetintotheHTleadconnections,sparkplugscouldbegettingold,andsomevehiclesalsohaveanextrafuel-injectorforcoldstartingthatcouldbeatfault.Onmodernvehicles,numeroussensorsmonitoringandcontrollingthestartingofanenginecouldbeatfault.Explaintheproblemstothemechanicandseewhatfaultcodesarereturnedfromthediagnosticcheck.Ifyourcarisstillunderwarranty,donothesitatetotakeitbacktoyourdealerandhaveitdiagnoseandrectifythefault.1.6CarstrugglestostartfromhotIfyourfuel-injectedcarstrugglestostartfromhot,thereismostlikelyaproblemwithanenginesensor.Thisisbecausethefuelissuppliedunderpressureandnotgenerallyroutednearanyheatsources,soshouldnotbepronetoevaporationproblems.Anotherpointtoconsiderwithmoremodernfuel-injectedengines
(petrolordiesel)strugglingtostartfromhotistheenginetiming.Iftheenginetiming,oranysensorsrelatedtoenginetiming,arefaultyorincorrectlyadjusted,thecarmaystartfinefromcold,butwhenhot(andespeciallyinhotweather)maytakeafewseconds.Ifthisisthecase,takethevehicleforadiagnosticcheckandaskthetechniciantolookattheenginetiming.Startermotorsstickinginhotweathercanbeaproblem:moresoon
oldervehicles.Thisissomethingworthchecking,asitcanmakeenginestartingdifficult.Astickingstarterorsolenoidcanbeeasilycleaned/replaced.1.7Enginestarts,butstopsstraightawayIftheenginestartsbutthenstopsstraightaway,youcannormallydismissanyproblemswiththebattery,alternatorandstartermotor,asitstartedtobeginwith.However,therearesomanysensorsonmoderncarsthatitisimpossibletopointyoudirectlytoaspecificcause.Immediatestoppingcanoftenbecausedbyafuellingproblem.
Ascertainwhetherthereisaconstantfuelsupplytothefuel-injectors.Checkforanyblockagesinfuelfilters.Also,lowfuelpressurecausedbyafaultyfuelpressureregulatororsensorcanpreventtheenginefromstarting.Locatethefuelpump,ifpossible(manyareimmersedinthefueltank),andcheckthatyoucanhearitoperating.Youcanalsocheckthattherelevantfusesarealloperational.Inrelationtopetrolengines,establishthatthereissufficientsparkfrom
thesparkplugstoignitethefuel.Simplecausesforafailedsparkareadamagedorfaultyplug,looseorfaultyignitionleads,andonoldercarsafaultwiththedistributor.Theenginemanagementlightwillmostlikelyappearonyour
dashboardtoindicateafault.Ifanyotherlightsareilluminated,youmayneedtorefertothevehicleowner’smanual.Ifyoucannotestablishwhytheenginewillnotkeeprunning,findout
whatenginefaultcodestheECU(EngineControlUnit–thecomputerthatcontrolstheengine)isproducing.Youcanpurchaseyourownenginefaultcodereaderquitecheaply,andthisshouldpinpointanyfaultysensorsthatcouldbecausingtheproblem.Ifyoudonotwishtodothisyourself,andyouarenotamemberofarescueorganisation,youwillhavetocontactagaragetotowthecarorsendoutamobilemechanicwiththerelevantequipment.Ifyouhavecarbreakdowncover,considercallingthepolicyprovider
andaskingiftheycanidentifyandpossiblyrepairthefault.Alsoworthcheckingisthesecurityimmobiliser,iffitted.Ifthisisnot
beingturnedoff,ornotoperatingcorrectly,itmaystopthecarfromrunning.HavealookaroundthedashboardforanyswitchesorLEDlights,andcheckanypaperworkthatcamewiththecar.Ifthisisatfaultthenyoumayneedtocontactanalarmspecialistoranauto-electriciantorepairorbypassthefaultywiring.
twoWarninglights&gauges
Thissectioncoverswhattodoifcertainwarninglightscomeonatanypointduringyourjourney.Asallcarsvaryinthetypeofwarninglightstheyhave,wewillconcentrateononlythemostcommonandmostimportantofthem.Ifthevehiclehaswarninglightsthatarenotincludedinthisbook,consultthecar’susermanual.2.1EnginewarninglightThislightnormallyilluminateswhentheignitionisturnedonandgoesoutwhentheengineisstarted.Ifitstaysonorcomesonwhilstdriving,itistellingyouthatthecar’sECU(ElectronicControlUnit–its‘brain’)hasidentifiedafaultthatneedstobelookedat.
Typicalenginefaultwarninglight.Yourcarmayneedadiagnosticscheck.
Therearesomanysensorsonmoderncarsthatyouwillnotbeabletoestablishwhatthefaultiswithoutthecarhavingadiagnosticscheck.Yourlocalgarageordealershipwillneedtoconnectyourcartotheircomputerandextractthefaultcodesfromthecar’sECU.Thesefaultcodescanhelpyou,oryourtechnician,diagnosethefault.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Aslongasyouhavethediagnosticcheckperformedassoonaspossibleandtherearenootherfaultswiththecar,itshouldbeokaytodrive.Ifyouexperienceoddenginesymptomssuchasstalling,erraticidlingorenginespluttering,youshouldonlydrivethecartothegaragetoavoidcausingfurtherdamage.Beforestartingordrivingthevehicle,youMUSTensurethatithas
sufficientoilandwater,andthattherearenoleaks.2.2OilpressurewarninglightThislightnormallyilluminateswhentheignitionisturnedonandgoesoutwhentheengineisstartedasoilpressureincreases.Enginesneedgoodoilpressureinordertoworkcorrectlyandnotsufferseriousdamage.
Typicaloilpressurewarninglight.Checktheengineoillevelimmediately.
Ifthislightremainsilluminatedorilluminateswhilstdriving,pulloverandturnofftheengineassoonaspossible.Youwillthenneedtochecktheengineoillevelbyinspectingthedipstick.Iftheoillevelislow,topping-uptothenecessarylevelmayresultinthewarninglightgoingout.Thecarmustnotbedriveniftheoilpressurewarninglightstayson.
DONOTignoreit;itcanbeindicatingaveryseriousproblemwiththeengine...
Iftheoillevelisokay,theproblemcouldpossiblybeafailedoilpressureswitch/sensor,orworse,afailedoilpumporseverelyworncrankshaftbearings.Listenforanyunusualenginenoisesthatcouldindicateafailedoil
pump/wornbearings.Iftherearenone,it’slikelythattheoilpressureswitch/sensorhasfailedandshouldbechanged.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Duetothepossibilityofanoilpumpfailure,itisnotrecommendedthatyoudrivethevehicleuntiltheoilpressurefaulthasbeenthoroughlyinvestigated.Startbychangingtheoilpressureswitch,asthisistheleastexpensivecomponent.Ifyouhaveit,callyourcarbreakdownservicetorecoveryourcartoalocalgarage.Thereareanumberofotherindicatorsofoilpumpproblems,suchas
increasedengineoperatingtemperature,orincreasedenginenoise,especiallyfromthetopoftheengine.Iftheoilpumpfails,itwillcauseseriousandcostlydamagetotheengine.Theneedtotopupengineoiloccasionallytomaintainthecorrectlevel
isquitenormal,particularlywiththeonsetofdashboard‘oillevelindicators.’Yourvehicleusermanualmayadvisehowmuchoiltheengineshouldbeusing.Ifyouhavetoaddoiltotheenginequitefrequently,somethingiswrongwithitandneedstobelookedatassoonaspossible.
2.3Alternator/batterywarninglightThislightnormallyilluminateswhentheignitionisturnedon,andgoesoutwhentheengineisstarted.Ifthislightcomesonwhenyouaredriving,itisindicatingthatthereisafaultwiththechargingsystem.
Typicalalternatororbatterywarninglight.Checkyourchargingsystem.
Thefirstthingsthattolookatare:•Checkthatthebatteryterminalsaresecurelyinplace(seesection8.1).•Checkwhetherthealternatordrivebelthasbrokenorcomeoff.•Checkthatthealternatordrivebeltistightenoughandisnotslipping.Thealternatordrivebeltshouldbeincontactwiththepulleyattheend
ofthealternator.Tocheckthedrivebelt‘play,’holditbetweenyourfingerandthumbhalfwaybetweentwopulleysandmoveitbackwardsandforwards.Itshouldfeelquitetightandonlymoveabout1in.Iftheplayismorethanthis,considerhavingthealternatortensionadjustedorthebeltreplaced.Ifbothoftheseareokay,assumethateitherthebatteryorthe
alternatorneedstobereplaced.Ifyoudonotknowhowtocheckwhichoftheseneedstobereplaced,havethecarlookedatbyanauto-electrician.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Ifthealternatorbeltisnolongerinplace,youshouldnotdrivethecar,asitispossiblethebeltisalsodrivingthecoolantpump.Ifcoolantisnotpumpedaroundtheengine,itwilloverheatandthiscancauseverycostlydamage.Ifthealternatordrivebeltisinplaceandnotloose,youshouldbeokay
tocompleteyourjourney,providingitisnotalonghaul.However,understandthatifthefaultiswiththechargingsystem,suchasthealternator,thebatterywillnotberechargingasyouaredriving.Lowbatteryvoltageonmoderncarscancauselotsofproblems,andifyouaredrivingapetrol/gasoline-enginedcar,eventuallytherewillbenomorepowertothesparkplugsandtheenginewillstoprunning.
BatterywarninglighttipsIfyouhaveidentifiedthatthefaultlieswiththealternatoranditisnotchargingthebattery,turnoffasmanyelectricalcomponentsaspossible,eginteriorheater,radio,air-conditioningetc.Thiswillensurethatthepowerremaininginthebatteryisonlybeingusedforessentials,whichmayhelpyoureachyourdestination.Ittakeslessbatterypowertokeepacarrunningthantorestartit.Soif
youhaveabatterywarninglightfaultandajourneytocomplete,becarefulnottostallthecar,astheremaynotbeenoughbatterypowertostartitagain.2.4ABSwarninglightIftheABSlighthascomeon,firstmakesurethatitactuallyistheABSlightandnotthewarninglightforthewholebrakingsystem.Youmayneedtorefertothecar’susermanualtocheckiftheilluminatedlightismultifunction,whichcouldindicateeitherproblem.
ExampleofABSwarninglight.
Forthepurposesofthissection,itisassumedthatthelightisnotmultifunctionalandthecardoeshaveanABSfault.Forbrakingsystemfaults,seechapter2.9,‘Brakefluidlevelwarninglight.’IfitisdefinitelytheABSthat’sfaulty,thefirstthingtodoisturnthe
ignitionoffandonagaintoseeifthisfixestheproblem.TheremaybeafaultwiththeABSmodule/sensor,orperhapsabrokenwireorlooseconnector.Ggetyourcardiagnosedbyatechnicianusingtherelevantfaultcodereader.Thereisusuallyasmallcostforthis,butthecoderetrievedfromthecarshouldhelpidentifythefault.
CanIstilldrivemycar?Yes,butyoumustbeawarethatwithouttheABSworking,yourcar’sstoppingdistanceswillbeincreased,reducingyoursafety.Haveyourcar’sABSsysteminspectedandrepairedassoonaspossible.2.5AirbagwarninglightWithmostcars,whenyouturnontheignitiontheairbaglightshouldcomeonforashortwhileandthengoout.Ifthewarninglightstaysonallthetime,thisindicatesafaultwithintheairbagoperatingsystem.
Exampleofairbagwarninglight.
CanIstilldrivethecar?
Thecarisstilldriveable,butintheeventofanaccident,afaultintheairbagsystemmayresultintheairbagsnotbeingdeployed.Itis,therefore,essentialtogetthefaultinspectedbyagarageassoonaspossible.2.6TemperaturegaugestoppedworkingIfthetemperaturegaugeseemstohavestoppedworking,ieisshowingnotemperatureatall,stopthecarimmediatelyandturnofftheengine.Atemperaturegaugethatwasworkingandthenseemstostopworking
canbeanindicationofalossofenginecoolant.Visuallycheckthecoolantlevelinthetransparentexpansiontankintheenginebay.Itshouldbebetween‘max’and‘min.’
Ifyourcar’senginetemperaturegaugestopsshowingareading,turnofftheengineandcheckthecoolantlevelimmediately.
Ifthelevelisokayandtherearenoapparentleaks,it’slikelythatthe
sensorthatsendsthesignaltothetemperaturegaugehasfailedorbecomedisconnected.Ifyourcarhaslostenginecoolantorhasacoolantleak,refertochapter15‘Enginecoolant’forfurtheradvice.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Ifyouhavesufficientcoolantintheenginecoolingsystemanditjustappearsthatasensorhasfailed,itshouldbeokaytodrivethecar.Getthisfaultinvestigatedassoonaspossible,becauseenginecoolanttemperatureiscriticallyimportanttothecar’swell-being.2.7TemperaturegaugeshowingveryhotIftheindicatedtemperatureisveryhighfortheweatherordrivingconditions,turnoffthevehicleassoonaspossible.Alowcoolantlevelisoneofthemostcommoncausesofanoverheatingengine.Checkthatthereisenoughcoolantintheexpansiontank:iebetweenthe‘min’and‘max’marks.Topupifnecessary.
Typicaltemperaturewarninglight.Checkenginecoolantlevelsimmediatelyifthiscomeson.
Caution!Waituntiltheenginehascooledbeforeremovingtheexpansionchambercap.
RadiatorfanTheradiatorfanshouldstartoperatingatacertaintemperature,helpingtoreducetheheatoftheenginecoolant.Whentheengineishot,youshouldbeabletoheartheradiatorfanoperating.Theradiatorfanwillbelocateddirectlybehindtheradiatoratthefrontoftheenginebay,betweentheheadlights.Ifitdoesnotappeartobeworking,theenginecanoverheat.Checktheradiatorfanfuseandallofthewiring/plugstoensureitisworkingcorrectly.Normally,theenginecoolantthermostatcontrolsthefan.Ifthishasfailedthenthefanwillnotoperate.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Ifyoudoneedtocompleteyourjourney,youmustmakesureyouhaveplentyofcoolantinthecoolingsystem,andmakeregularstopstolettheenginecooldown.Lettingtheengineoverheat,orrunoutofcoolant,cancause
catastrophicdamagetotheengine.Ifyouhavelostenginecoolant,orhaveacoolantleak,thenrefertochapter15,‘Enginecoolant’forfurtheradvice.
Hotenginetips•Ifanoverheatingengineisbeingcausedbyhotweatherandsittingintraffic,turnonthecarcabinheatertofull/hotforawhile.Thismayhelpreducethetemperatureorstopitincreasing,asitwilldrawsomeoftheheatoutoftheenginecoolingsystem.•Drivewiththeair-conditioningturnedoff.Air-conditioningputsaloadontheengine,meaningthatitwillhavetoworkharder,andhencebehotter.•Ifyou’vehadtotopuptheenginecoolantlevel,checkintheenginebayforsignsofaleak.Checkallthehoses,theradiatorandunderthecar:seechapter15.2,‘Thereiscoolantleaking.’•Makeregularstopsonyourjourney,openingthebonnettolettheenginecooldown.•Don’tdriveintherushhour,assittinginslowtrafficwillmakethecaroverheat.Waitforthetraffictodiedown,andwhilstyouarewaitingtheenginewillbecooling.2.8ElectronicpowersteeringwarninglightIfyourcarhaselectronicpowersteering(EPS)therewillbeamotor,for
assistingthesteering,attachedtothesteeringcolumnorsteeringrack.Thiskindofsystemremovestherequirementforthetraditionalhydraulicsystem,andisbecomingmuchmorecommon.IfyourEPSwarninglightcomeson,youmaybeexperiencingan
intermittentorfulllossofpowersteering,resultinginthesteeringbecomingheavy.Youwillneedtotakeyourcartoyourlocalgaragetohaveadiagnosticcheckperformedonthevehicle.Yourlocalgarageordealershipwillneedtoextractthefaultcodesfromyourcar’scomputer.CommonEPSfaultsoccurwiththeelectronictorquesensorandtheelectroniccontrolunit.Ifyourcarisstillunderwarranty,anyfaultfindingandsubsequentrepairchargesshouldbecoveredbyyourcardealership.Ifyourcarhasa‘citymode’–amodeusedforparkingortowndriving
inwhichthesteeringismadeverylight–tryturningthisofftoseeifithelps.Also,tryturningofftheengineforafewminutesandthenrestarting,whichmayalsosolvetheproblem.Beawarethatifeitherofthesemethodsdorectifythefault,itwillonlybeatemporaryfixandtheproblemwillreturn.Youshouldstilltakeyourcartoyourlocalgarageassoonaspossibletogetthefaultdiagnosed.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Yes,youshouldstillbeabletodrivethecarasyoursteeringwheelisstilllinkeddirectlytothewheels,onlynowtherewillbenopowerassistancewhensteering.Youwillfindthatthesteeringbecomesheavier,especiallyatslowspeedsandwhilstparking.
Warning!Ifthecar’sEPSwarninglighthascomeon,butyourpowersteeringstillfeelsasthoughitisworkingfine,beawarethatitcouldstopworkingatanymoment,and,althoughyourcarwillstillbedriveable,thesteeringcouldsuddenlybecomeheavy.Proceedwithcaution,andremainalertaboutthepossiblechangeinthesteering.
TipIfyourEPSdoeshavea‘city’or‘parking’modetomakethesteeringlighterwhilsttowndrivingintrafficorwhenparking,makesureyouturnitoffwhenyoudon’tneedit.Thesesettingsmakethesteeringmotorworkharder,andusingthemcontinuouslycancauseproblems.Refertoyourvehiclehandbookfor‘bestpractice’regardingusingyour
EPS.
TipIfyoukeepgettinganintermittentpowersteeringfault,makesurethatthebatteryandchargingsystemareworkingfully.Ensurethattherearenolooseconnectionsatthebatteryandthatitisfullycharged.2.9BrakewarninglightWiththeignitionon,yourbrakewarninglightshouldremainonwhilstthehandbrakeisengagedandgooutwhenitisreleased.
Typicalbrakewarninglight.Checkbrakefluidlevelimmediately.
LowbrakefluidlevelThemostcommoncauseforthebrakewarninglightcomingonisthatthebrakefluidneedstobetoppedup.Youwillneedtotopupthebrakefluidlevelviathereservoirinthe
enginebay.Lookinyourcar’susermanualforthecorrecttypeofbrakefluid,whichcanbepurchasedfromyourlocalcarpartsshop.Whentopping-upyourbrakefluid,takecarenottospillany–itis
corrosiveandcandamagepaintworkandothercarparts.Trynottogetanyonyourhands,andcleansmallspillswithawetcloth.
Wornbrakepads
Onmanycarsthislightalsoinformsthedriverthatthebrakepadsarewornandneedreplacement.
HandbrakeswitchAreasonforthebrakewarninglightnotgoingoutwhenthehandbrakeisreleasedisthatthehandbrakeswitchisfaultyorneedsadjusting.
Checkthatthehandbrakeswitchisnotfaultyorinneedofadjustment.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Unlessyouhaveconfirmedthatthereissufficientbrakefluidinthesystemandthefaultlieselsewhere(iewiththehandbrakeswitch),itisnotrecommendedyoudrivethecar.Callyourbreakdownserviceandgetthecarrecoveredtoagarage.
TipIfyourbrakewarninglightnevercomeson,itislikelythatthedashboardbulbbehindthelighthasfailedandneedstobechanged.
2.10TyrepressuremonitoringsystemwarninglightIffitted,thisnormallyilluminateswhentheignitionisturnedonandgoesoutwhentheengineisstarted.Thereareairpressuresensorsforeachwheel,whichwilltriggertheTPMSwarninglighttoalertthedrivertoaproblem.
TypicalTPMSwarninglight.
TheTPMSwarninglightindicatesanunsafechangeintheairpressureinoneofyourtyres.Usuallya25percentdropinpressurewilltriggerthewarninglightinthedashboard.Usually,thelightstayingonmeansatyrepressurefault,butifthe
TPMSlightflashesonandoff,thisindicatesafaultwiththeTPMSsystem,notatyrepressurefault.Refertoyourcar’susermanualforfurtheradviceregardingthecorrectoperationofthesystemfittedtoyourcar.Ifalltyrepressuresarecorrect,buttheTPMSwarninglightisstill
activated,thisindicatesthatthereisaproblemwiththesystemthatneedsinvestigatingbyyourgarage.Theywillperformadiagnosticcheckonthecarandidentifywhatfaultcodesarebeingpresented.Thefaultcodesshouldidentifywhichofthesystem’scomponentsareatfault.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Drivingacarwithlowtyrepressurescanbedangerous.AfaultyTPMSsystemwillgiveyounoindicationofaproblemwithyourtyres.Thecarcanstillbedriven,butyouwillhavetomakeregularchecksonyourcar’styresuntilthesystemisrepaired.2.11SeatbeltwarninglightCheckyourcar’susermanualforthecorrectoperationofyourseatbeltwarnings,assomevehicleswillonlywarnyouforashortperiodorwillonlyworkforthedriver’sseat.Somesystemswillonlywarnyouofanunfastenedseatbeltoveracertainspeed.Therewillbeawarninglightonthedashboard,andonsomevehiclesthisisalsoaccompaniedbyabuzzer.Thesystemwillestablishthatsomeoneissittingintheseat,andwhetherornottheyhavefastenedtheirseatbelt.Thisisdonebyuseofasensorintheseattodetectdriverorpassengerweight,andalsoasensorintheseatbeltbuckletodetectthatthebelthasbeenfastened.
Typicalseatbeltwarninglight,sometimesaccompaniedbyabuzzer.
Otherthantakingyourcarforadiagnosticscheck,theonlycheckyoucanreallyperformonyourseatbeltwarningsystemisensuringthewiring/plugstotheseatandseatbeltsensorsarestillfirmlyinplace.Ifyoudorectifyfaultywiringoralooseplug,youmayneedtohavetheseatbeltsystemresettoclearthewarninglight.
Adiagnosticscheckonthevehiclewillrevealafaultcodeidentifyingthepreciseproblem.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Yesyoucan,butbeawarethatifitisfittedwithothersafetydevices,suchasseatbeltpre-tensionersorsideairbags,theymaynotoperatecorrectly.
2.12Dieselparticulatefilter(DPF)warninglightDPFwarninglights,alsoreferredtoastheDPF/CATlight,arefittedtomanydiesel-enginedvehiclesfromaround2009onwards.Particulatefiltersaredesignedtocapturesootfromtheexhausttoreduceemissions.
Typicaldieselparticulatefilterwarninglight.
TheDPFwarninglightwillcomeonatapresetpoint(forexample,whenthefilteris45percentfull).Refertoyourcar’susermanualforinformationonhowitshouldoperate,andwhatyoucandototurnitoffagain.Itmaybeyourdrivingstylethatiscausingyourcar’sDPFtofillupwith
soot,asitisahighexhaustgastemperaturethatfacilitatestheautomaticcleaningofthefilter(referredtoasregeneration).RegenerationisnormallycontrolledviatheECU,whichaltersthecar’sfuellingandtimingtoincreaseexhausttemperatureuntilthecapturedsootisburntoff.
However,withtown/stop-startdriving,theactiveregenerationprocessmaynotcompleteitscycle,andthefilterwillfillup.Takeyourcarforaprolongedfastdrive,say10-20minutesatspeeds
greaterthan40mph,orbetterstill,motorwayspeed.Thisshouldincreasethetemperatureintheexhaust,andtheDPFwillperformitsregeneration.Youshouldthenfindthatthewarninglightgoesoff.AlthoughyourcarisstilldriveablewiththeDPFwarninglighton,
ignoringitforanylengthoftimewillresultinhavingtoreplacetheDPFcompletely...andtheyarenotcheap.Ifyouhavedriventhecarassuggestedandthelightdoesnotgooff,
takethevehicletoagarageforaninspection.
TipAnintermittentDPFwarninglight(onethatcomesonandgoesoff)istellingyouthatthefilterisstartingtofillupandyouneedtoadjustyourdrivingforashortperiod(confirmthisintheusermanual).Eventually,thewarninglightwillcomeonpermanently,requiringattention.
2.13Glowpluglight(dieselengines)Whentheengineiscoldandyouturnontheignition,thislightshouldilluminateforashortperiod.Ifthelightdoesnotcomeon,itmeansthatthereisafaultwiththeglowplugsystem.
Typicalglowpluglight.
Thepurposeoftheglowplugistopre-heattheenginebeforestarting.Withoutpre-heating,dieselenginesaredifficult–ifnotimpossible–tostart,becausethedieselfuelwillbetoocoldtoignite.
GlowplugchangingChangingyourcar’sglowplugsshouldrectifytheproblem.Itisrecommendedthatyouchangealloftheglowplugsatthesametime.Thereshouldbeonepercylinder(typicallyfourintotal).
GlowplugtimerrelayItisworthcheckingthatthetimerrelaycontrollingtheglowplugsisworking.Youmaybeabletoidentifyitslocationviayourcarusermanual,orbysearchingonline.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Yes,oncetheengineisstartedtheglowplugsnolongeroperate.However,youwillexperiencedifficultystartingthecar,especiallyduringcoldweather.
Glowplugtips•Startingtheenginewhilsttheglowplugisinitsheatingcycle(warninglighton)willoverheatanddamagetheglowplugs,thusshorteningtheirlife.Putanotherway,don’tstarttheengineuntiltheglowpluglighthasgoneout.•Donotbuycheapglowplugs,astheywillnotlast.Buyexactlytherightglowplugforyourvehicle,andensuretheyarefromareputablemanufacturer.•Ensurethatyourcar’schargingsystem(battery,alternator,etc)areingoodorder,astheoperationofglowplugscanbeaffectedbylowvoltagesduringcharging.
2.14Fuelfilterwatertrap(dieselengines)Thislightshouldbrieflyilluminatewhentheignitionisturnedon.Ifitdoesnotgoout,thisnormallyindicatesthatthereisexcesswaterinthevehicle’sfuelfilterwatertrap,orthatthefuelfilterneedstobechanged.
Typicalfuelfilterwatertrapwarninglight.
Oncertainvehicles,youcanperformadraintoremovetheexcesswaterthatthefiltertraphascaptured.Ifyouareabletoperformthisprocedureyourself,itshouldbeoutlinedinyourvehicleusermanual.Alternativelyyouwillneedtotakethecartoyourlocalgarage.Onsomevehicles,itmaynotbepossibletojustdrainofftheexcess
water,andyouwillneedtohavethefuelfilterreplaced.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Normallythevehiclewillbeokaytodrive.Thewarningshouldbedesignedtonotifyyouthatitneedsattention,notthatthevehicleisundriveable.Ifyoudonotperformthedrainingprocedureordonotchangethefuelfilterassoonaspossible,theexcesswaterwillstarttocauseotherproblemswiththevehicle.
TipIfyouhavejustfilledthecarwithfuelandsubsequentlythewarninglightcomeson,considerthepossibilitythatthenewfueliscontaminated.Inthissituation,stopthecarandgetthematterinvestigatedfurther.Itmaybeagoodideatocontactyourbreakdownserviceproviderforfurtheradvice.
threeNoises
Youwillgettoknowthesoundofyourcarasyoulivewithitanddriveit.Howyourcarsoundsshouldbethesameeveryday,andchangesmaybeanindicationthatsomethingisdifferent.Noisesareagoodwayofidentifyingproblems,andthissectioncoversthemostcommononesandtheirpossiblecauses.3.1EnginebaynoisesTheenginesoundsextremelyloudIftheenginesuddenlygetsextremelyloudjustafterstartingorwhilstdriving,turnitoffimmediately.Thisisanindicationthatsomethingserioushasgonewrong,anddrivinganyfurtherwillcausemajorproblems.Ifthetimingbelthasfailedorhaschangedposition,theinternalpartsoftheenginecancomeintocontactwitheachotherandcausecatastrophicdamage.
Reallyloudenginenoisecanindicateatimingproblem.Turnofftheengineimmediately.
Timingbeltsshouldbechangedatregularintervals,asrecommended
bythemanufacturer.Thisisoneareaofcarmaintenancethatyoushouldnotcutcornerson,becausethecostforneglectingthecar’stimingbeltcanbeextremelyhigh.Ifyouareatallconcernedthatthetimingbeltmayhavefailedor
moved,donotdrivethecar.Arrangetohaveitinspectedwhereitis,orgetittowedtoagarage.
CanIstilldrivethecar?No,donotstarttheengine.Haveitcheckedoutimmediatelybyamechanic.Callyourbreakdownservicetohavethecartowedtoagarageandinvestigated.
LooseenginecoversAnythingthatsoundslikeaslightrattleorvibrationmaywellbeoneofthemanyenginecovers,partitionsortheengineundertray.Ifthecargenerallydrivessmoothly,andwithoutanylossinpower,itislikelythatsomethinghasworkedloose,andisnothingmajor.
Checkaroundtheenginebayforlooseenginecoversthatcouldbevibrating.
Withtheenginerunning,listentowherethesoundseemstobecomingfrom.
Caution!Ifyoudothiswiththebonnet/hoodopen,donotallowlooseclothingtodangleintothecompartmentanddonotputyourhandsinthere.Withtheengineoff,checktheplasticcoversandpartitionsforsecurityandthatallthefixingsareinplace.Anythingthatislooseandflappingaroundislikelytovibratewhenyouaredrivingalong.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Ifthevibratingnoisetendstogoawayasyousteadilyrevtheengine,you’reprobablyfinetoproceedwithyourjourney.However,checktheenginebaytomakesurenothingisabouttodropoffandcausedamagetoanyotherparts.
FailedenginemountThisisgenerallyaimedatolderorhigh-poweredvehicles,asmostmodernvehicleenginemountsshouldnotfail.Lookattheenginewhilstitisrunning.Ifitseemstobemovingaround
andvibratingalotmorethanusualitishighlylikelythatanenginemountinghasfailed.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Yes,youcanstilldrivethecarforashortdistance,butyoumustgetthemountreplacedorrepairedassoonaspossible.Drivingwithabrokenenginemountwillputstressonothercarcomponents,suchastheotherenginemounts,aswellasdriveshafts,gearboxlinkages,andanythingelseconnectedtotheengine.
SquealingsoundwhenacceleratingThisismostprobablythesoundofadrivebeltslipping.Youmaygetthissoundmorewhenfirststartingthecar,withitbeginningtodisappearasthecarwarmsup.Carscanhavemanydrivebelts,andtheyallneedtobeingoodorderforthecartoworkcorrectly.Sometimesthesquealingnoisewillgoaway,butfindingoutwhichbeltiscausingtheproblemshouldbeapriority.
Checkthetensionofyourcar’salternatordrivebelt,asitmaybelooseandslipping.
Checkthetensionofyourcar’salternatordrivebelt,asitmaybelooseandslipping.
Squealingwhenacceleratingcanbecausedbyaslippingalternatorbelt.
Themostlikelycausesofasquealingnoisewhenacceleratingareaslippingalternatordrivebeltoraslippingpowersteeringdrivebelt.Itismorelikelythatafaultypowersteeringbeltwillsquealwhenyouareturningthesteeringwheelatlowspeeds,thusputtingthepumpundermoreload,whilethealternatordrivebeltismostlikelytosquealoninitialstart-up.Itislikelythatthedrivebelttensionerneedstobeadjustedorreplaced
assoonaspossiblebeforetheloosebeltcomesoff,orsnaps.Aseizedpowersteeringpumporwaterpumpcancausethesametype
ofnoise,butyouwillprobablyalsobeabletohearagroaningnoisefromthosepartswhentheengineisidling.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Ifthesquealingisconstantanditisapowersteeringpump,waterpumporsimilarthathasfailedorseized,thenyoushouldnotdrivethecarand
itshouldberepairedassoonaspossible.Ifthesquealingisconstantandfromabelt,thenitshouldalsobe
lookedatassoonaspossible.Thisisbecausethebeltthat’sslippingcouldbedrivinganimportantcomponent,suchasthealternator,powersteeringorwaterpumpinefficiently.Ifthebeltsquealingisintermittentandmainlyoccurswhenthecaris
firststartedandthengoesawayquitequickly,thecarshouldstillbeokaytodriveforashortwhile.However,thefaultwillstillneedtobeattendedto,asitwillonlygetworseovertime.
Hissingnoise/steamcomingfromunderbonnetIfthereisahissingsoundcomingfromunderthebonnet,themostlikelycauseisafaultwiththeenginecoolingsystem.Thatsoundisprobablysteamescapingfromaleakinghoseorradiator.
Inspecthosesforsplitsandholes.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
Thefirstthingtodoisstopthecarandturnofftheengine.Thencheckthecoolantlevelbyobservingthetransparentexpansiontank–thecoolantlevelshouldbebetweenthe‘min’and‘max’markings.Itisimportanttoturntheengineoffassoonaspossible;youdonotwanttorunitwithoutanycoolant.
Caution!Removingtheexpansiontankcaponahotoroverheatingenginecanputyouatriskofscaldingfromescapingsteam.Considerputtingaclothoverittoprotectyourselfbeforeyouunscrewit,orbetterstill,lettheenginecooldownfirst.
Topupthecoolantlevelifnecessaryandthenrestarttheengine.
Caution!Donotallowlooseclothingtodangleintotheenginecompartmentanddonotputyourhandsinthere.
Checktheenginebaytofindoutwherethehissingiscomingfrom.Lookforsteamandalsowatercomingfromanyhosesortheradiator.Also,checkonthegroundundertheenginetoseeifthereisanythingdripping.
Checksecurityofwaterhosesfrombeneaththecaraswellasfromabove.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Ifyouhaveidentifiedarelativelyminorcoolantleakbutneedtocompleteyourjourney,itisessentialthatyoukeepthecoolanttopped-up.Iftheengineoverheatsduetoalackofcoolant,thedamagetoitcouldbecatastrophic.Ifyouhaveamajorleak,donotdrivethevehicle.Youwillneedtoget
thepartreplacedandthecoolantsystemrefilled.Contactyourbreakdownserviceandhavethevehiclerecoveredtoanearbygarage.3.2Exhaustnoises
TheexhaustismuchnoisierthannormalIfeverythingelsewiththecarseemsokay,butthenoisefromtheexhaustisnoticeablylouder,thechancesarethatyouhavealeakintheexhaustsystem.
Withtheenginerunning,standoutsidethecarandlistenforexhaustgasesescapingfromanywhereotherthanthetailpipe.Youmayalsobeabletosmelltheexhaustgasescomingfromunderneaththecar,whichmayhelpyoutoidentifytheleak.
Checkforexhaustleaksbylookingforsootbuild-up.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
Youmayalsobeabletoseewheretheexhaustleakis,astheremaybeasootbuilduparoundthedamagedarea.
Caution!Donottouchtheexhaustuntilithascooledsufficiently.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Yes,smallexhaustleaksshouldnotcauseanynoticeabledifferencetotheperformanceandfeelofthevehicle.Itmaybealittlelouderandthefuelconsumptionmayincreasealittle.However,itisimportanttorepair
orreplacethefaultyexhaustcomponentassoonaspossible,astheproblemwillonlygetworse.Youcanpurchaserepairproductsforsmallexhaustleakssuchas‘exhaustrepairbandage’andexhaustputty–seechapter6.3,‘Exhaustisleaking.’
BangingfromexhaustIftheexhaustishittingtheundersideofthecarorapartofthevehiclechassisyouwillhearitasyoudrivealong.Itwillsoundlikesomeoneistryingtogetinthroughthecarfloor.Ifthisishappening,apartoftheexhaustoranexhaustmountinghasfailed.Eithertakethecartoanexhaustspecialisttoidentifyandrepairtheproblem,ortakealookatityourself.
Theexhaustshouldbesuspendedbeneaththecarviarubberhangers.Ensurethesearesecure.
Caution!Ifyouaregoingtoperformanyworkunderneathyourcar,
makesurethatyouworksafelyusingthecorrectjack,axlestandsandwheelchocks.Refertotheusermanualforthecorrectjackingpoints.Neverworkunderacaronthejackalone.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Youcanstilldrivethecar,butbeawarethattheproblemwillnotgoawayifyouignoreit.Itwillgetworseandeventuallythiswillresultinapartoftheexhaustfailingandneedingrepair.Equipmentlikecatalyticconverters,dieselparticulatefiltersand
exhaustsensorswillnotlikebeingbangedaboutandanydelayinrepairingtheexhaustcancausedamagetothesecomponents.3.3Wheelnoises
Humming/vibratingfromwheelsathigherspeedsIfyourcarmakesahummingorgrumblingnoisethatseemstoincreaseordecreasewithvehiclespeed,themostlikelycauseisafaultywheelbearing,assumingthatallothercomponentsonthecarareworkingsatisfactorilyandtherearenoproblemswiththebrakes.Themostcommonwheelbearingstofailarethoseonthefrontofthe
vehicle,astheycarrythemostloadwhendriving.Youmayalsonoticethatthenoisebecomeslouderwhenturningin
onedirection.Forexample,avehiclewithafaultywheelbearingontheleftmaygetquieterasyouturnright,asyouarelesseningtheloadonthefaultybearing.Conversely,itmaygetlouderasyouturnleft.Changingawheelbearingdoesrequireagoodlevelofmechanicalskill
andagoodsetofmechanic’stools.Considergettingthefaultinvestigatedfurtherbyyourlocalgarage,andhaveitperformtherepair.Also,ifyouarenot100percentsurethatitisafaultywheelbearing,youshouldgetanotheropinion.
TipAsyouaredrivingalongandthenoisestarts,takeyourfootofftheacceleratorpedalanddepresstheclutchtoquietentheengine.Thismayhelpyoutoidentifywhichsidethenoiseiscomingfrom.Havingthewindowsopenmayalsohelp.
TipAfterdrivingthecar,carefullyfeelthewheelcentrestoseeifanyofthemseemtobehotterthantheothers.
Caution!Takecarenottotouchthebrakediscsorpads,astheymaybehot.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Ifyouhaveestablishedthatawheelbearingneedschanging,beawarethatthefaultwillonlyworsenwitheverywheelrotation.Youwillmostlikelyhaveadamagedbearingwithbrokenpartsinitandnolubrication.
Caution!Drivingthecarwillputyouatriskofthewheelbearingfailingcompletelyandcausingdamagetootherpartsofthecar.
SquealingnoisewhenturningsteeringwheelIfyouexperienceahighpitchedsquealingorscreechingnoisewhenturningthesteeringwheel,thereisafaultwiththepowersteeringsystem.Ifyouhaveafaultypowersteeringdrivebeltorpump,thenoisewillmostoftenoccurwhenthevehicleisstationary,atslowspeeds,oronfull-lock.Youshouldnotexperiencethistypeofnoiseifthevehicleisfittedwith
electronicpowersteering(EPS).Mostcommonly,thisnoisewillbecomingfromthepowersteering
drivebeltslippingwhenitisunderload.Themostcommoncauseofapowersteeringbeltslippingisage–theywillstretchovertime.Althoughthevehiclemayallowforsomeadjustmentofthedrivebelttension,itisadvisedthatyougetthedrivebeltchangedassoonaspossible.
Checkingthetensionofthepowersteeringbelt.Toomuchmovementmaymeananewbeltisrequired.
Anotherpossiblecauseforthisnoisemaybethatthepowersteeringsystemislowonfluid,orthatthepumpitselfisfaulty.Firstcheckthepowersteeringfluidlevelandtopupifnecessary.Ifyoudonothavemuchmechanicalexperience,youmaywanttohavethisperformedbyyourlocalgarage,astheprocedureisnotoftencoveredinthecarusermanual.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Thecarcanstillbedriven,butifthedrivebeltcomesofforsnaps,youmustbeawarethatyouwillbeleftwithoutanypowersteering,andifthishappenswhilstyouaredrivingitcouldresultinanaccident.Ifthecauseofthenoiseislowpowersteeringfluidlevel,drivingthe
vehiclecouldcausedamagetothepowersteeringpump,resultinginitneedingtobereplaced.
Thefaultwillcontinuetogetworseuntilthenecessarypartshavebeenrepairedorchanged,andyoumustbeawareofthepotentialforabruptchangesinsteeringfeelwhilstdriving.
TipIfthepowersteeringfluidneedstobetoppedup,ascertainwhy,astheremaybealeak.3.4Brakenoises
Knockingnoisewhenbraking(front)Thiscanbeadifficultareainwhichtoidentifythespecificproblem,becausetherearequiteafewthingsthatcouldbecausingthenoise.Also,theolderthecargets,themorepartswillwearoutandthemorepossiblecausestherewillbe.Themostlikelycausewillbeawornorbrokensuspensionpart,andthissectionoffersguidancetohelpyouidentifytheproblem.IfthevehicleisfittedwithABS(anti-lockbrakingsystem)wewill
assumethattheknockingoccursundernormalbraking.Ifitisonlyoccurringunderveryheavybraking,itislikelythattheABSiscausingit,whichistotallynormal.YoumayalsofeeltheknockingthroughthebrakepedalwhentheABSisactive.Thefirstthingtocheckisthatthewheelnuts/boltsareallsecured
tightly.Itsoundsobvious,butthisisasimpleprocessandshouldbethefirstthingtoberuledout.Ifanyoftheboltsrequiretightening,besuretocheckalltheotherstoo.
Ifyouhearknockingwhenbraking,checkthatthewheelnuts/boltsaretight.
Secondly,checkthatthebrakepadsaresecuredinplace,withoutanymovement,andthatanysecuring/vibrationsprings/clipsareinplace.
Removethewheelandcheckthesecurityofthebrakecomponents.
Inspectingbrakes:ensurethatbrakepadretainingspringsaresecurelyinplace.
Withthewheelnowoffandthebrakecomponentsinspected,havealookatthesuspensioncomponentsforsignsofabreak,excessivemovement,oranycontactpoints(seetips).Herearesomeofthemostcommonsuspensionproblemsthatshould
beinspected:•Brokensuspensionspring.•Wornanti-rollbarbushes.•Wornorbrokendroplinks.•Worntrackrodendwear.•Wornlowerballjoint.Ifthecarhasanyothersymptoms,suchaspullingtooneside,referto
therelevantsectioninthisbookforadvice.Refertochapter14,‘Suspension/wheels/tyres,’forfurtheradvice.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Inmostinstances,yes,itshouldbeokaytodrivethecar.However,beawarethatthefaultisverylikelytoaffecthandling,soyoushoulddriveaccordinglyandhavethefaultypartidentifiedandreplacedquickly.
TipIfthevehicleisunderwarranty,takeitbackandletthegaragehavethefunoftryingtotracewhat’scausingtheknockingnoise.
TipCheckingforcontactpointsonsuspensionpartsmayhelpyouidentifythecauseoftheproblem–thesepartsshouldnotcomeintocontactwitheachother.Ifthereareanysmallsurfaceareasonthesuspensionpartsthatappeartohavebeenrubbedcleanorareshiny,thenthisindicatesthattherehasbeencontactandthatthepartsareworn,brokenormaladjusted.
Knockingnoisewhenbraking(rear)Themostlikelycausewillbeawornorbrokensuspensionpart,butyoushouldalsoinspecttherearbrakestoensurethateverythingisfirmlyinplace.Checkthatallofthewheelnuts/boltsaretight.Therearefewersuspensionpartstowearoutontherearofthecar,so,comparedwiththefrontsuspension,itmaybeeasiertodiagnosethefault.Checkthattherearsuspensionspringsarenotbrokenorunseated.Ifthecarisfittedwithreardroplinks(manyBMWs,forexample),
checktheseareokayandthereisnowearinthebushes.Checkthattherearshockabsorberissecurelyinplaceandnot
leaking.Ifyoucannotidentifythecauseoftheknocking,youwillneedtohavea
mechaniclookintotheproblem.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Inmostinstances,yes,itshouldbeokaytodrivethecar.However,beawarethatthefaultisverylikelytoaffecthandling,sodriveaccordinglyandhavethefaultypartidentifiedandreplacedpromptly.
Grinding/scrapingnoisewhenbrakingThemostcommoncauseofagrindingnoiseunderbrakingisthatthebrakepadsonthecarareworndowntotheirmetalbackingsandneed
replacing.Anothercausecouldbedebrisbetweenthebrakepadanddisc,or
stuckinthecalliperandrubbingonthedisc.Takeoffthewheelsandinspectthediscsurfaceforunevenwear.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Caution!Wornbrakepadswillseriouslylimitthecar’sbrakingability,andmustbechangedassoonaspossible.Ifyoudiscoveryourpadsareworntothemetal,youshouldn’tdrivethecar.Delayingchangingthebrakepadsmaycausedamagetothebrake
discs.Theycouldoverheatandwarp,ortheycouldbegintowearoutmorequicklyorunevenly.Thiscouldresultinneedingtohavethebrakediscschangedtoo,insteadofjustthepads.
SquealingwhenbrakingThisdoesnotnecessarilyindicateabrakingsystemfault.Ifyouhaverecentlyhadthebrakepadsordiscschanged,andareexperiencingsquealingunderbraking,thereisprobablynoproblemandthenoisewilllikelystopovertime.Thesquealingnoiseiscausedbyachangeinthefrequencyatwhichthebrakeanddiscfrictionmaterialsrubtogether.Asthefrictionmaterialswearaway(undernormalbraking)thesquealingsoundwillprobablydisappear.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Yes,providingthatthebrakingperformanceofthecarhasnotbeenaffecteditshouldbesafetodrivethecar,andthenoiseshouldgoawayonitsownasthebrakepadswear.3.5Suspensionnoises
KnockingnoisefromthefrontonbumpygroundThemostlikelycauseofthistypeofnoiseiswornanti-rollbardroplinks.Thesearethebarsthatconnecttheanti-rollbartothesuspensionarm.Whenthebushesinsidethemwearouttheywillmakeabangingsound,especiallywhenyouaretravellingoverspeedbumps.Thesearerelativelyeasytochange,andshouldbeavailablefromyourlocalcarpartsshop.
Makesurethesuspensionspringsaresecureandnotbroken.
Knockingfromthefrontoverbumpygroundcanbecausedbyworndroplinks.
Checkingdroplinksforsignsofmovementandwear.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
CanIstilldrivethecar?Yes,butgetthepartschangedassoonaspossible,asiftheyfailitcouldresultinotherdamageoccurringtothevehicle.3.6Clutchnoises
NoisewhendepressingtheclutchpedalIfyouexperienceagratingorgrumblingnoisewhendepressingtheclutchpedal,thisislikelytobecausedbyawornthrustbearing(alsocalledathrowoutbearing)withintheclutch.
Investigateanynoiseyouhearwhentheclutchleverisdepressed.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Yes,butthisbearingwillprobablyfailatsomepointandyoushouldgetitchangedbeforethishappens.Whilstthemechanicisreplacingthethrustbearing,itwouldbeagoodideatochangetheotherwearingpartsintheclutch,likethefrictionplateandcover,especiallyifthecarhasdonealotofmiles.Changingaclutchcanbequitealabourintensivejob,sowhilstthe
mechanichasthecarstrippeddowntoreplacethethrustbearing,itdoesmakesensetohavethecompleteclutchreplaced.3.7Under-carnoisesKnocksorbangsseemingtocomefromunderneaththecarwhendrivingaremostlikelycomingfromtheexhaustsystem.Checkthattheexhaustismountedsecurelyinplaceandisnot
bangingontheundersideofthecar.Havealookunderthereandgiveit
ashake(whencold!).Ifitseemsveryloose,theremaybeafaultyhangingbracketormissingexhaustrubberhanger.
Knockingfrombeneaththecarcouldbeduetoalooseexhaustsystem(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
CanIstilldrivethecar?Typically,yes,providingthattheexhaustisnotgoingtodropoffandcausefurtherdamagetoyourcarorcauseanaccident.Ifyouareinanydoubt,youshouldnotdrivethecar,andshouldcontactyourbreakdownserviceorlocalgarage.Assoonaspossible,getthefaultypartrepairedorreplaced.
fourSmells
Unusualsmellsarealwaysworthinvestigating,astheymayindicatethatsomethingneedstoberepairedorreplaced.4.1SweetsmellAsweetsmellinthecar(likemaplesyruporbutterscotch)ismostlikelytheresultofanenginecoolantleak.Anti-freeze(orenginecoolant)smellsverysweetwhenithasbeenheatedbytheengine,andthesmellismostlikelycomingfromaleakinghose,theradiator,ortheheatingsystem.Stopthecarandlookforanyleaksintheenginebay.Firstcheckthe
levelintheexpansiontanktoseeifanycoolanthasbeenlost.Ifthelevelisokay,startthecarandlookintheenginebaytoseeifyoucanfindtheleak.Checkthecoolanthosesandradiator,andhavealookunderthecartoseeifthereisanythingdripping.
Asweetsmellcomingfromthecarisusuallycausedbyanti-freeze,solookforacoolantleak.
Ifyoufindaleakinghoseoraradiatorleak,youwillneedtofixitbyeitherchangingthepartorusinga‘stop-leaktreatment’(forradiators)or‘hoserepair’forcoolanthoses.
Coolant/anti-freezeleakindicatedherebywhitefurrydeposit.
Ifyoucannotfindaleakintheenginebay,checkwhethertheleakiscomingfromtheheatingsysteminsidethecar.Checkthecarpetsinthedriverandpassengersidefootwellfordampness.Also,withtheenginerunning,ifthesmellonlyoccurswhentheheaterisblowinghot,itcouldbetheheatermatrixorrelevantpipeworkthatisleaking.Youmaybeabletofixthisleakbyusinga‘stop-leak’treatment.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Ifthevehiclehasplentyofcoolantintheenginecoolingsystem,andtheleakissmall,thecarshouldbeokaytodrive.Beawarethatanysmallleakhasthepotentialtobecomeabigleakveryfast,causingthelossofcoolantandoverheatingtheengine.
TipAlwaysmakesureyoukeepalargebottleofwaterinthecarincaseyouneedtotoptheenginecoolingsystemup.
4.2FishysmellBurningrubberormeltingplasticwillgiveoffafishysmell.Ifyouexperiencethissmellcomingfromyourcar,lookintoitstraightaway.Itusuallyindicatesthatsomepartsarerubbingtogetherthatshouldnotbe,orthataplasticpartismeltingortouchingsomethinghot.Youwillneedtohavealookaroundtheenginebayforthecauseofthesmell.Lookforsuchthingsasaplasticenginecoverrubbingonamoving
part,orapieceofwiringorrubberhosetouchingahotexhaustandmelting.
Caution!Bewareofmovingpartsintheenginebay,andcatchinglooseclothing,jewelleryandlonghair.Considerinvestigatingthesmellwiththeengineturnedoff.
Checkthatalloftheenginedrivebeltsareinplaceandrunningcorrectly,iealternatordrivebeltorair-conpumpdrivebelt.Afaultycomponentcouldcausebeltslip,creatingthesmell.Makesurethatnoneoftheplasticbeltcoversarelooseandtouchingthemovingparts.
Fishysmellscanbecausedbyburningplastic.Checktherearenoloose
enginecoversincontactwithhotormovingcomponents.
Checkthetyresarenotcatchingonanybodywork,andthatthereisnodebristrappedunderthewheelarches.Alsocheckunderthecarincasesomething,likeaplasticbag,has
meltedontothehotexhaust.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Thisdependsonthecauseofthesmell–itcouldbeextremelyseriousifnotdealtwithimmediately.Forexample,ifthecarhaswiringmeltingontoahotexhaust,itisnotrecommendedtodrivethecar,butifyouhaveadrivebeltcoverthatisslightlyrubbingthenitwouldbeokaytodriveuntiltheproblemisfixed.4.3SmellslikeburningpaperIfyouaregettingasmelllikeburningnewspaper,themostlikelycauseisaslippingclutch.Usuallyitisfrictionmaterialthatiscausingthesmell.Aslippingfriction
platecausesthefrictionmaterialonbothitsfacestooverheat.Youmayexperiencethesmellmoreifyouhavebeendrivingfastandperformingfastgearchanges,orifyouhavebeentowingacaravanortrailerandtheclutchisslippingasyoupullaway.Alsoifyou‘hold’thecarstationaryonagradientbyslippingtheclutchinsteadofusingthehandbrake(badpractice!).Ifyouexperiencethissmell,refertotheindextoidentifyother
problemsthatwouldindicateaslippingclutch.
Anoldclutchexposed:aburningpapersmellmaysignalaslippingclutchfrictionplate.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Yes.However,iftheclutchisslippingandyouchoosetodonothingtheneventuallyitwillfailcompletelyandthecarwillbeundriveable.Havealookatchapter11,whichgivesadviceonhowtodrivewitha
slippingclutch.4.4BurningoilsmellMostcommonlythiswilloccurifengineoilhascomeintocontactwithaveryhotpartofthecar,suchasanexhaust.Ifyouhaverecentlyhadtheoilchangedortopped-up,it’spossiblethat
theremaybeanoilspillthatshouldburnoffquitequickly,makingthesmellgoaway.Withregardtooilleaks,youwillneedtoidentifywheretheleakis
comingfromandhowsevereitis.Checkthatthereissufficientoilinthe
engine,incasetheleakhasbeenhappeningforsometime.Alsocheckthegroundwherethecarismostoftenparkedtoseeif
therehasbeenanyoildripping.Thismightgiveyouanindicationofhowlongithasbeenleakingorhowbigtheleakmaybe.
Oilcomingfromtherocker/camcoverisacommonleak.
Oilleakingontoahotexhaustmanifoldcancauseastrongburningsmell.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Providingthatthereissufficientoilintheengineandtheoilleakisonlysmall,thecarisokaytodriveuntiltherepairhasbeenmade.Makesureyoucleanoffasmuchexcessoilaspossiblefrominandaroundtheleak,anddonotleaveanyragsorpapertowelsintheenginebay.Ifthereisalotofoilleakingfromtheengine,drivingthevehiclewillrisk
damagingtheengineorcausingittocatchfire.
Afterdiscoveringanoilleak,makeregularchecksontheengineoillevel.
Untiltheoilleakhasbeenrepaired,youshouldnotdriveinamannerthatwillcauseexcessiveheatbuildup.Oilcancatchfireifitcomesintocontactwithredhotexhaustmanifoldsorturbohousings.4.5FuelsmellOnmodernvehicleswithfuel-injectedenginesyoushouldneverbeabletosmellpetrol(gasoline)ordieselunlessthereisafault.Ifyoudriveanoldervehiclethathascarburettorsoramanualchoke,petrolsmellsarecommon,andnotnecessarilyanindicationofasignificantproblem.Thefuelsystemsonmodernvehiclesaresealed,andthereshouldbenosmellfrominside.
Checkingfuel-injectorsforsourceofstrongpetrolordieselsmell.
Astrongsmellofdieselorpetrolcanbecausedbysuchthingsasleakingfuellines,hoseconnectors,fuel-injectorleaksorpressure
problems,orevenpoorignitiontiming.Whateverthecause,chancesarethatitisprettyseriousandrequirestheattentionofanexpertmechanic.Itisnotsomethingthatyoucanjusthopewillbeokay,andnotsomethingyoushouldjustcleanupandthencarryonwithyourjourney.
Checkfuellinesforsourceofstrongpetrolordieselsmell.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
Warning!Turnofftheengine,takethekeysoutoftheignition,anddonotuseanyofthevehicleelectricsuntiltheproblemisfixed.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Untilyouhaveidentifiedwhattheproblemisandfixedit,youshouldnotdrivethecar.Leakingfuelhasthepotentialtoigniteandcauseapotentiallyfatalincident.Contactyourbreakdownrecoveryserviceorcalloutamechanicto
identifytheproblem.Heshouldbethepersontotellyouwhetherthecar
issafetodrive.4.6RotteneggsmellThemostlikelycauseofthissmellisthecatalyticconverter,anditisapopularmisconceptionthatwhenyoucansmellrotteneggsitmeansthatitneedschanging.Thecatalyticconverterisdesignedtoconverttoxicchemicalsintoless
harmfulsubstancesviaaninternalchemicalreaction.However,thischemicalreactionwillalsoconvertanysulphurinthepetrolordieselintohydrogensulphide,andthisiswhattherotteneggsmellis.So,thissmellwillonlyoccurwhenthecatalyticconverterisactuallyworkingwell–notwhenitisfailing.Infact,afailingcatalyticconverterwillnotbeperformingitschemicalreactioneffectivelyandwillnotbeproducinganyhydrogensulphide.
Catalyticconverter–rotteneggsmellcausedbysulphurinfuel.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
Ifyounoticethesmellmorewhenstartingthecarinthemorning,orespeciallyafterfastaccelerating,thereisprobablynoproblemandthesmellshouldsoongoaway.However,carsarenotdesignedtobesmellyallthetime,andaconstantsmellofrotteneggsisanindicatorthatthereissomethingwrongwiththefuelmixtureofthevehicle.Youwillneedtotakeyourcartoyourlocaldealershipandhavetheproblemcheckedout.Thereasonpeoplethinkthattherotteneggsmellmeansthecarfailing
isbecausetheunderlyingfaultwiththefuellingwilleventuallyresultinthecatalyticconverterfailing–thetwoproblemsalwaysseemtocometogether.Fixingthefuellingproblemshouldremedythebadeggsmell,andalsohelpthecatalyticconverterlastalongtime.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Yes,youcancontinuetodrivethecar,butifyoudonothavetheunderlyingfuellingproblemcheckedthenyouwilldefinitelyeventuallyneedanewcatalyticconverter.Itmayonlybeasensorthatiscausingthefuellingproblem.Having
thatcheckedandchangedwillprobablycostalotlessthananewcatalyticconverter.
TipConsiderchangingtoalow-sulphurfuelinsteadofyourusualstuffandseeiftheproblemsmellsgoaway.
fiveLeakingliquids
5.1OilleakingfromgearboxIfyouthinkyourcarhasagearbox(transmissionunit)oilleak,thissectionwillhelpyouconfirmwhereitiscomingfrom,andadviseyouwhattodo.Gearboxoilusuallysmellsmorethanengineoil–itcanbequite
distinctive.Itisalsousuallylighterincolourandlessthickthanengineoil.Checkthegearboxoillevel.Thisprocedurewillnotbeoutlinedinthecar’susermanual,soyouwillneedeitheraworkshopmanualspecifictoyourvehicle,ordoasearchonlineformoreadvice.Ifthelevelislow,getittopped-upwiththecorrectoil.Again,thisinformationwillbeinyourworkshopmanualoravailableonline.
Identifyingaleakfromthegearboxbeneaththecar.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
Atypicalplasticundertraybeneaththeengine:ithastoberemovedbeforeinspectionispossible.
Checkunderthecartoseewhereanyoildripsareforming.Remembertheirlocation,thengivetheareaathoroughwipedownsoyoucantracewherethegearboxleakiscomingfrom.Commonplacesfortransmissionleaksarethedriveshaftseals,propshaftseals,differentialseals,endhousingandbellhousingseals.Manygearboxoilleakscanberectifiedbyreplacingspecificgearbox
seals,whichcaninvolvemuchstrippingdownofthegearboxandassociatedcomponents.Youneedagoodlevelofmechanicalskillandagoodsetoftoolstoperformmostkindsofgearboxrepair.Itmaybebettertogetthefaultdiagnosedbyagoodmechanic,andperhapshavethemperformtheworkandgiveyouagoodwarrantyontherepair.
Gearboxoilleakbuildingupanddrippingfromtheclutchbellhousing.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Aswithanypartofthecarthatissupposedtocontainoil,youshouldnotdriveitunlessthereissufficientlubricationinthegearbox.Agearboxwithoutanyoilinitwillfail,andthegaragecostforrepairingitwillbeveryhigh,asitwilleitherneedthegearboxtoberemovedandthedamagedpartsrepaired,orawholenewgearbox.Notadvisable,unlesstheleakistiny,butkeepingthegearboxtopped
upwiththecorrectoiluntilyoucangetitrepairedmaybeokay,butitispossiblethattheinternalsofthegearboxweredamagedwhilstitwaslowonoil.Bewarned:ifyoucontinuetoignoreagearboxoilleak,youarealso
runningtheriskoftheclutchneedingtobereplaced.Ifoilisleakingfromthegearboxontotheclutch,prettysoontheclutchwillstopworkingandwillneedreplacing.
5.2Oilleakingfromsumpgasket/plugAleakingsump(oilpan)gasketorsumpplugcanbeidentifiedbyoilontheroadsurfaceunderneaththecar,directlyunderthemiddleoftheengine,unlessthereisanengineundertray.Thesumpisbasicallythepanthatfitstothebottomoftheengine,and
itisfullofengineoil.Thesumpgasketmakesthesealbetweenthebottomoftheengineandthesump,andovertimeitcanstarttoletoilpassthrough,andwillthenneedtobechanged.
Identifyingoilleakingfromsumpplug.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
Manymodernvehiclesarefittedwithanengineundertray.Thesepreventyoufromseeingthebottomoftheengineuntiltheyareremoved.Theyarenormallyheldinplacebyafewfixings,andarequiteeasytoremovefromunderneaththecar.Thesumpplugislocatedatthelowestpointofthesumppan.Itisused
todraintheengineoilduringanoilchange.Manysumpplugsarefittedwith‘singleuse’washerstosealtheplugand,iffitted,theseshouldberenewedateachoilchangeandnotbere-used.Oilleakingfromthesumpgasketorsumpplugcanusuallyberectifiedbyfittinganewsumpgasketorfittinganewsumpplugsealingwasher.
Identifyingoilleakingfromaroundtheenginesumpgasket.
Ifyouwanttoundertakethisworkyourself,itisrecommendedthatyoupurchaseaworkshopmanualforthevehiclesoyouknowexactlywhattodo,whattypeofoiltouse,andhowmuchoiltheengineholds.Thepartsarereadilyavailablefromyourlocalcarpartsshoporonline,andarerelativelycheap.Whilstchangingthesumpgasket,itisrecommendedthatyoualsotake
theopportunitytochangetheengineoilandoilfiltertoo,asyouwillhavetodraintheengineoilanyway.
Checkforoilleakscomingfromaroundtheengineoilfilter.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
Alternatively,youcangetagaragetoperformtheworkforyou.Butdoensurethattheyusegoodqualityparts,andthattheworkcarriesaguarantee.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Yes,providingthattheleakissmallandtheenginealwayshassufficientoil.However,leakstendtogetworsewithtime!5.3OilleakingfromheadgasketAsheadgasketsbecomeoldtheycanleakoil.Ifyoufindoilleakingfrombetweentheheadandtheengineblock,thiswillmostlikelybetheresultofaheadgasketfailure,andtheheadgasketwillneedtobereplaced.Youmustalsobeawarethatifthevehiclehashadanyengine
overheatingproblems,theoilleakmightbearesultoftheheadbecoming
warpedandnolongersittingcorrectlyontheengineblock.Thistypeoffaultwillrequiretheheadtoberepairedorreplaced,aswellasanewheadgasket.
Checkinginsidetheoilfillercapforsignsofheadgasketfailure:thisseemsokay.
Youneedagoodlevelofmechanicalskillandagoodsetoftoolstoperformaheadgasketchange,soconsiderhavingtherepairworkundertakenbyareputablemechanic.Theywillalsobeabletoinspecttheengineforsignsofwearordamageandadviseyouaccordingly.Iftheundersideoftheoilfillercaphasyellowsludgeonit,thisisan
indicationoftheaforementionedproblemswiththeengine,andyoushouldseekexpertadvice.
Thisoilfillercapshowssignsofheadgasketorheadfailure:acreamysludgedeposit.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Yes,providingthattheenginehassufficientoilinitandthatitisingoodcondition,ietherearenosignsofwaterleakingintotheoil.Thereshouldbenoproblemswithdrivingthevehicle,astheleakshouldbequiteslowandwouldappeartobeleakingexternallyandnotinternally.Ensurethattheengineoillevelischeckedregularlyandtoppedupif
necessary.Youshouldalsoregularlycleanoffanyexcessoilandnotallowittobuildupinanyareas,especiallyaroundanyheatsourcessuchasturbohousingsorexhaustmanifolds.Ifyoufeelthattheoilleakingfromthegaskethasoccurredasaresult
ofanoverheatedengineandthattheenginehasawarpedcylinderhead,considergettingthisrepairdonequickly.Runningavehiclewithawarpedheadwillcausesignificantdamagetootherpartsoftheengine,andwill
resultinthecarneedingmorethanacylinderheadandheadgasketreplaced.
OilleaktipsIfyouarehavingtroubleidentifyingwhereanoilleakiscomingfrom,here’saquicktiptohelpyoutrackitdown.Onceyouhavecleanedoffalltheexcessoilfromthearea,applyalightdustingoflightweightwhitepowder,suchastalcumpowder,orevenfootpowder,tothearea.Anyoilthatcrossestheareawillleaveatrail,andyoucanidentifywhereitiscomingfrom.Also,thepowderwillsoakuptheoilandassistinitsremoval.Youmayneedtocarryoutthisprocessanumberoftimestofindreallytrickyleaks.
5.4BrakefluidleakingfrombrakelinesorhosesIfyouthinkyourcarhasabrakefluidleakfromabrakelineorhose,thissectionwillhelptoconfirmwhereitiscomingfrom,andadvisewhattodo.Whennew,brakefluidhasverylittlesmellandisquiteclear,withjusta
slightyellowtinge.Asitagesitstartstoturnasmokybrowncolour.Fluidstainsonthegroundbehindanyofthewheelsarethebest
indicatorthatthereisaleakrelatedtothatwheel.Checkthebrakefluidleveltoascertainhowmuchfluidhasbeenlost,andtopuptotherequiredlevel.Youmayneedtojackupthecarandremovethewheelinordertoviewwheretheleakiscomingfrom.
Afluidstainonthegroundbehindawheelindicatesabrakefluidleak.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
Caution!Workinasafemannerandalwaysuseaxlestandsifyouneedtoworkunderneaththecar.
Ifyoucannotclearlyidentifywherethebrakefluidisleakingfrom,youmayneedtowipeoffthesuspectareawithaclothandpumpthebrake
pedaltotryandforcethebrakefluidoutoftheleakingpart.Makesureyouhaverefilledthebrakefluidreservoirbeforepumpingthebrakepedal.Donotknockorstartthecarifitisonanaxlestand.Leakingbrakelinesorhosescannotberepaired,theymustbe
replacedurgently.Youwillneedagoodlevelofmechanicalskillandagoodsetoftoolstoperformanyworkonthebrakingsystem.Youmaywanttoconsiderhavingtherepairworkundertakenbyareputablemechanic,asanymistakescouldresultinyoudrivingavehiclewithfaultyornobrakes.
Inspectingfrontbrakehosesforsignsofwearordamage.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Beyondthejourneytoalocalgarageforrepair,no.Drivingavehiclewithdamaged/faultybrakehosesputsyouandothersatseriousriskofanaccident.Ifthefaultypartcompletelyfails,youmaybeleftwithnobrakesandunabletostopthevehiclesafely.
Inspectingbrakelinesforsignsofdamageorcorrosion.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
Badly-corrodedbrakelineslikethiswillneedtobecompletelyreplacedwithnewexamples.
5.5BrakefluidleakingfromabrakecalliperorbrakedrumIfyouthinkyourcarhasaleakfromabrakecalliperorbrakedrum,thissectionwillhelpyoutoconfirmwheretheleakiscomingfrom,andadvisewhattodo.Whennew,brakefluidhasverylittlesmellandisquiteclearwitha
slightyellowtinge.Asitagesitstartstogoasmokybrowncolour.
Fluidstainsonthegroundbehindanyofthewheelsarethebestindicatorofaleakrelatedtothatwheel.Checkthebrakefluidleveltoascertainhowmuchfluidhasbeenlost,andtopuptotherequiredlevel.Youmayneedtojackupthecarandremovethewheel,inordertosee
wheretheleakiscomingfrom.
Checkingbehindthewheelforsignsofbrakefluidleakingfromthebrakecalliper.
Caution!Makesureyouworksafely,anduseaxlestandsifyouneedtoworkunderneaththecar.Ifyoucannotclearlyidentifywherethebrakefluidisleakingfrom,wipe
offthesuspectareawithaclothandpumpthebrakepedalstotryandforcethebrakefluidoutoftheleakingpart.Makesureyouhaverefilledthebrakefluidreservoirbeforepumpingthebrakepedal.Donotknockorstartthecarifitisonanaxlestand.
Inspectingrearcallipersforsignsofabrakefluidleak.
Thisrearcalliperisshowingsignsofabrakefluidleak.
Leaksthatcomefrombrakecallipersordrumsareusuallycausedbyinternalpistonsealsgettingoldandworn,allowingbrakefluidtopassoverthemandseepout.Callipersandwheelcylinderscanusuallybecompletelyreplacedorrepaired.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Beyondthejourneytoalocalgarageforrepair,no.Drivinganyvehiclewithdamagedorfaultybrakecomponentsputsyouandothersatseriousriskofanaccident.Ifthefaultypartcompletelyfails,youcouldbeleftwithnobrakesandnomethodofstoppingthevehiclesafely.
5.6Coolantleakingfromradiator/enginehoseIfyouidentifyenginecoolantleakingfromtheradiatororacoolanthose,thefirstthingtodoisstopthecarandchecktheamountofcoolantremainingintheengine.Turnofftheengineandcheckthecoolantlevelattheexpansiontank–itshouldbebetweenthe‘min’and‘max’marksshownontheoutside.
Checkhosesforsignsofcoolantleaklikethis.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
Lookingdownthroughanenginebay:coolantonroadcausedbyaradiatorleak.
Alargecoolantlossmaybetheresultbyaloosewaterhose,whichcanberefitted.
Dependingonthetypeandsizeoftheleak,youwilleitherneedtoreplacethefaultypartorgetitrepaired.Thereareproductstorepairsuchleaks,availablefrommostcarpartsshopsandsomegarages.Forcoolantleaksfrompipesandhoses,youcanpurchase‘emergencyrepairtape’products:self-amalgamatingtapesthatwraparoundthepipeandstoptheleak.Forleaksfromradiators,youcanpurchaseproductslikeRadweldorStopLeakthatarepouredintothecoolingsystemviatheexpansiontankorradiatorcap.Astheengineruns,theywillbepumpedaroundthecoolingsystemtowherethefaultisandblockitwhentheycontactoutsideair.Thelattertypeofrepaircanlastalongtime,andisoftenreferredtoas
permanent.Theproductsarecosteffectiveandrelativelyeasytousebyanyone.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Onlyiftheleakisonlyverysmallandyoucanensurethattheenginewillnotrunlowoncoolant.Itisessentialthatyoukeepacloseeyeontheenginetemperaturegaugeanddonotlettheengineoverheat.Itisrecommendedthatdamagedorfaultyhosesbereplacedassoon
aspossible,eveniftheleakhasseeminglystopped.
TipIfyouhaveajourneytocomplete,makesurethatyoucarryalargebottleofwatertotopupthecoolingsystem.
Typicalproductforrepairingleaksinradiatorsandhoses.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
Addingleakrepairtotheexpansiontank.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
sixExhaustproblems
6.1WhitesmokecomingfromtheexhaustWhitesmokecomingfromtheexhaustisusuallycausedbywaterpassingthroughtheexhaustsystemandturningintosteam.It’scommontohaveasmallamountofwhitesmokewhenfirststartingthecar,orincoldweather.Thisisquitenormalandnothingtoworryabout,butthereshouldbenonastyodoursorburningsmells.Ifthereislotsofwhitesmokebillowingfromtheexhaust(forexample,
yourcarlookslikeasteamtrain),immediatelystopthecarandturnofftheengine.Ifyoudonot,catastrophicdamagecanoccurtotheengine.Themostcommoncauseofthissymptomisafailedcylinderhead
gasketorwarpedhead,whichmustberepairedbeforethecarcanbeusedagain.Callyourbreakdownserviceorlocalgarageandgetthecartowedsomewherefortheproblemtobedeterminedandrepaired.
Failedrepairofarearsilencerholecausedbycorrosion.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Itisnotrecommended,becauseifyoudo,theenginewillnotlastlong.Evenifyoutopuptheengine’scoolingsystemwithwatertopreventoverheating,damagewillstilloccurasthewaterwillcrossthedamagedheadgasketandrunintotheengineoilandcylinders.6.2BluesmokecomingfromtheexhaustBlue/greysmokefromtheexhaustindicatesthatengineoilispassingthepistonringsorvalveguides,beingburned,andexitingthroughtheexhaust.Youmaynoticethatthesmokehasaburntsmelltoit,differentfromthenormalexhaustsmell.Whentheengineisworkingcorrectly,itshouldnotburnnoticeable
amountofoil.Largeplumesofbluesmokeindicateaproblemthatneedstobelookedatimmediately,nomatterhowneworoldyourvehicle.Smallamountsofbluesmokeonahigh-mileageoldercarindicatealessimmediate,probablywear-relatedproblem.Onanewercar,however,thissymptomneedstobeinvestigatedassoonaspossible.Firstchecktheengineoillevelandseehowmuchoilhasbeenlost.If
youfeelitisanageandwearrelatedproblem,keeptheengineoiltoppeduptothecorrectleveluntilthefaulthasbeenrepaired.Ifyoufeeltheproblemisnotagerelated,andareconcernedthatan
enginecomponenthasfailed,youshouldn’tdrivethecaruntiltheproblemhasbeenthoroughlyinvestigated.Thisisdefinitelythecaseifyourcarhaslostalotofengineoilinaveryshortspaceoftime.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Iftheexhaustpipeisemittinglargeplumesofbluesmoke,stopthecarstraightawayandcontactyourbreakdownserviceorlocalgarage.Theymaywanttotow/traileritsomewhereforfurtherinspectionandrepair.Ifyoucontinuetodrivethecarinthiscondition,youcouldcause
terminaldamagetotheengine.Asmallamountofbluesmokeonoldercarsisquitecommonasthe
internalenginecomponentswearthroughuseandallowoiltopass.Thisismorelikelyawear-relatedproblem,andalthoughitstillneedstobeaddressed,youshouldstillbeabletodrivethecaraslongasyoukeepaconstantcloseeyeontheengineoillevelandkeepittoppedup.
6.3ExhaustisleakingAholeintheexhaustmaynotnecessarilymeanthatyouneedareplacementexhaustorcomponent.Youcaneasilyrepairsmallholesyourself,sowon’tneedtotakeyourcartothegarage.Thereareproductsavailabledesignedtorepairsmallholes.Theymakeagoodlow-costoption,andareeasytouse.
Exhaustleakscanoccuratloosejoints.Tryretighteningclamps.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
Ifyoudon’trepairexhaustholes,theywillquicklygetworse,resultinginyouhavingtogettheexhaustreplaced.Holesintheexhaustarenotonlynoisy,theyalsoaffectthefueleconomyofthecar.
Holeinexhaustpipehighlightedbysootbuild-uparoundtheoutside.
Caution!Donotworkonahotexhaustduetoriskofburns.Alwaysletthevehicleexhaustcoolsufficientlybeforeyoucommenceworkonit.
Thetypeofproductyouusetoundertaketherepairwilldependonthelocationorsizeofthehole.Thetwoproducttypesare‘exhaustputty’and‘exhaustbandage.’Theexhaustputtyisnormallyusedonsmallerholesorinareaswhereexhaustbandagecannotbefixed,suchasinacorner.Exhaustbandageisnormallyusedineasytoaccess,relativelyflatareas.
Bandagerepairproductforrepairingexhausts.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
Bandagerepairproductusedtorepairholeinexhaust.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
Typicalputtyrepairproductforrepairingsmallerholesinexhaustsystems.
Exhaustputtyproductbeingappliedtohole.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
CanIstilldrivethecar?Providingthatnopartoftheexhaustsystemisabouttodropoff,yes,youcanstilldrivethecaruntilthefaultypartisrepairedorreplaced.Youmaynoticethatyourcarusesmorefuelwhilsttheexhaustisleaking,butefficiencyshouldimproveoncetheproblemhasbeenrectified.
6.4PartoftheexhausthascomeoffDamagecanoccurtoanyexhaustsystem.Theyarepronetorottingandfallingtopieces,andsometimescangethitorcaughtonthingsbeneaththecarandbreakoff.Clearlyifthisdoeshappen,youaregoingtoneedtogetthecarrepairedstraightaway.Ifyouhavebreakdowncover,youdohavetheoptionofcallingoutyourprovidertoassesswhatcanbedone.Theymaybeabletogetthecargoing.
Caution!Ifyousmellexhaustfumesinsidethecarstopimmediatelyandsummonhelp.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Normally,yes,butonlyiftherearenopartshangingoffthecaranddraggingontheroad.Takethecarstraighthomeortoalocalexhaustspecialist.Itwillbeverynoisyandyoumightfeelthatthecarhaslesspower,butdrivingitashortdistancetogetitrepairedshouldnotcauseanydamage.Ifanyoftheremainingpartsareatriskofcomingoffwhilstyouare
driving,youwillneedtoremovethemorsecurethem,sothattheywillnotcauseahazardtootherroadusersandnotdamageyourcarfurther.
sevenWindscreen
7.1WindscreenhascrackedIfthewindscreenbecomescrackedwhilstdriving,getitreplacedassoonaspossible.Thiscannormallybedonethroughyourinsurersforasmallcost.Asmallchipinthewindscreencanberepairedusingmanyofthe
readilyavailablewindscreenchiprepairkits.Thequestionregardinglargewindscreencracksis,“canIstilldrivethe
vehicle?”Evenifyouhaveareallybigcrackinthewindscreen,itishighlyunlikelythatthewindscreenisgoingtobreakandfallontoyou.Becauseofthewaythatmodernwindscreensaremanufactured,theyaredesignedtoremainintact.Thinkofitthisway:itissaidthatwithmoderncarsthewindscreencancomprise30percentofthevehicle’soverallstructuralstrength.Intheeventofahardcollisionorthecarrolllingontoitsroof,thewindscreenwillbeproviding30percentofthevehicle’sstrength.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Onmodernvehicles,providingthatthecrackisnotaffectingyourvisibility,youshouldbeokaytodriveshortdistancesuntiltherepairisundertaken.
Caution!Fromalegalperspective,ifyoucannotconfidentlyprovethatyourdrivingvisibilityisnotaffected,youshouldnotdrive–itcouldbeclassedasadrivingoffenceifyouarestoppedbythepolice.
Concernsaboutdrivingthecarwhilstawaitingrepairareunfounded.Modernwindscreendesignmeansitshouldbeokaytodrive,providingyoudriveappropriately.However,foryourpeaceofmind,checkwithyourinsurerthatthevehicleisfullyinsureduntiltherepaircanbemade.7.2WindscreenwiperswillnotworkIfthewindscreenwipersstopworking,getthemfixedimmediately.Firstcheckthefuseboxtoseeiftherelevantfusehasblown.Ifithas,change
itforanewoneofthesamevalue.Thecar’susermanualwilltellyoutherelevantfusenumberandlocation.Ifthewindscreenwiperfusekeepsblowing,thisindicatesanother
problem.Themostlikelycausewillbeaseizedwipermotororwipermechanismwhichmayneedtoberepairedorreplaced.YoucouldtrygivingthewipermechanismaspraywithaliquidlubricantsuchasWD40toseeifthissolvestheproblem.
Caution!Donotoperatethewindscreenwiperswhenyouorsomeoneelseisinspectingthewipermechanism.
Ifthefaultdoesnotappeartobemechanical,thevehiclewillneedtobelookedatbyaprofessionalauto-electrician.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Itisamotoringoffencetodriveyourvehiclewithdefectivewindscreenwipers,soitshouldnotbedrivenuntiltheyarefixed.Ifyouareawayfromhomeandcannotfixtheproblemyourself,
considercontactingabreakdownservicetoassesstheproblem.Asthefaultismechanicalandrendersthecarunroadworthy,theyshouldbeabletohelp.
7.3Windscreenwasherswon’tworkIfthewindscreenwashersstopworking,getthemfixedimmediately.Firsttopupthewasherbottleandtestthemagain.Iftheyarestillnot
working,checkthefuseboxtoseeiftherelevantfusehasblown.Ifithas,changeitforanewoneofthesamevalue.Thecar’susermanualwilltellyoutherelevantfusenumberandlocation.
Washerjetsthatarenotworkingcancauseseriousvisibilityproblems.
Ifthewasherjetsarestillnotworking,listentoseeifyoucanhearthepumprunningwhenthewasherswitchisoperated.Ifyoucan’thearthepumpandthefuseisokay,youcanprettymuchassumethatthepumphasfailedandwillneedtobereplaced.Makesureyouhavecheckedthewiringtothewasherjetpumpbeforeyougetitchanged.IfyoucanhearthepumpworkingandthereissufficientfluidInthe
washerbottle,theremaybeablockedwasherjetsorablockedpipethatwillneedtobecleared/cleaned.
Ifthewindscreenwasherjetsarenotworking,firsttopupthewasherbottle.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Itisamotoringoffencetodriveyourvehiclewithdefectivewindscreenwasherjets,soitshouldnotbedrivenuntiltheyarefixed.Pleasenotethatitisalsoamotoringoffencetodrivewithanempty
windscreenwasherbottle,anditisalwaysagoodideatokeepabottleofwaterinthecar.
eightEngine
8.1EnginehascutoutwhendrivingTheengineshouldnotjustcutoutwithoutanywarning–normallyyouwouldhaveawarninglightorlightsappear.Iftheenginehascutoutwithoutanywarning,thereareafewsimplechecksthatyoucanperformtodismissorconfirmthemostlikelyproblems.Firstcheckthatyouhavenotrunoutoffuel.Makesureyouare
confidentthatthecaractuallyhasfuel.Afaultyfuelgaugecouldwronglyindicatethatyourcarhasfuel.Checkthatthebatteryterminalsaresecurelyinplace.Lossofvehicle
powercanbecausedbyabatteryterminalvibratinglooseornotbeingrefittedcorrectly.
Iftheenginecutsout,checkbatteryterminalsareinplace.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
Ensurethatthebatteryterminalsaretightlyinplaceandcannotworkloose.
Caution!Donotshortthepositiveterminaltoearth(ground)withthetoolyouareusing.
Anotherconsiderationisthatyourcarmayhaveablockedfuelfilterorafailedfuelpump.Inthisinstance,whenattemptingtostartthecartheenginewillturnover,butwillnotstart.Ifyouhavedismissedafuellingorbatteryfault,contactyour
breakdownserviceandhavetheminvestigatetheproblemfurther.8.2CarhaslimitedpowerwhendrivingIfyouaredrivingalongandthecarseemstohaveverylittlepowerwhenyouaccelerate,itmaybethattheECU(electroniccontrolunit)hasswitcheditselfintowhatiscommonlyreferredtoas‘limphomemode.’Thiswillusuallybeaccompaniedbytheilluminationofanenginewarninglight.Thepurposeoflimphomemodeistoreduceenginepowerandprotect
theengineintheeventthattheECUhasidentifiedafaultthatcouldbedamaging.Itisverycommontoexperiencethisproblemwhentheenginewould
normallybegintodeliverthemostpower–forexample,aturbodieselacceleratingquicklyfromlowenginespeed,andatthepointwheretheturbowouldnormallybeworkingfully(saybetween2000-2500rpm).Here,theECUreducestheengineoutputandyoufeelasubstantialreductioninenginepower.Nowadays,moderncarshavesomanysensorssendinginformationto
theECUthatitcanbevirtuallyimpossibletoknowwhatiswrongwithoutthecarundergoingaprofessionaldiagnosticcheck.
Averycommoncauseoflossofpoweristheairmassmeter.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
CanIstilldrivethecar?Providingthatthecarseemsokayunderlow-loadconditions,ieacceleratinglightlyandnottravellingathighordemandingspeeds,itshouldbeokaytodriveshortdistancesuntilthefaultisrepaired.Ifyouexperienceanyothersymptoms,suchasfrequentstallingor
juddering,thenconsidernotusingthecaruntilthefaulthasbeeninvestigated,asitmaycausefurtherdamagetotheengine.8.3EngineoverheatingIftheengineisoverheating,stopandturnitoffassoonaspossibletoinvestigatethecause.Failingtoactpromptlycancausecatastrophicdamagetotheengine.Thefirstthingtocheckiswhetherthereisanenginecoolantleak,and
thatthereisenoughcoolantinthecoolingsystem.Dothisbychecking
aroundandunderthecarforanysignsofwater.Checkthatthecoolantlevelisbetweenthe‘min’and‘max’marksontheexpansiontank.
Atanysignofengineoverheating,turnitoffandcheckcoolantlevelinexpansiontank.
Iftherearesignsofawaterleakoralargelossofenginecoolant,investigatethisfurther,asthisisthemostlikelycauseoftheengineoverheating.Toppingupthecoolantandrepairinganyleakswithanemergencyhoserepairorstop-leakproductmaysolvetheproblem,andallowyoutodrivethecaragain.Theseareavailablefromcarsparesshopsandsomefuelfillingstations/supermarkets(seechapter5).Ifthereisnolossofwaterandnoobviousleak,theradiatorfanmay
notbeoperatingandthusnotassistingwithcoolingtheengine.Thiswillbeparticularlyevidentinhotterweather.Checkwhethertheradiatorfanfusehasblown,andthatthewiringtotheradiatorfanisstillintact.
Inspectradiatorfanwiringandconnectors.Anon-operativefanwillcauseoverheating.
Ifyoucannotidentifyanyofthefaultsmentioned,assumethatthereisamoreseriousreasonfortheengineoverheating.Haveitlookedatimmediatelybyyourbreakdownserviceoralocalgarage.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Ifyoucannotfindoutwhatiscausingtheenginetooverheat,youshouldn’tdrivethecaruntilthefaulthasbeenidentifiedandrectified.Iftheoverheatingisbeingcausedbyaleakorlossofenginecoolant,
fixtheleak,topupthewater,andkeepaverycloseeyeonit.Overheatingcancausecatastrophicandverycostlydamagetotheengine.Ifyoureallydoneedtocontinueyourjourney,agoodtipistoturnthe
carinteriorheatingsystemtohotandfullfan.Thismayhelpremovesomeoftheheatfromtheengine’scoolingsystem,reducingtheengine
temperature.
Caution!Removingtheexpansiontankcaponahotoroverheatingenginecanputyouatriskofbeingscaldedfromescapingsteam.Ifyoudohavetoremovethecapinthissituation,putaheavyclothoverittoprotectyourselfbeforeyouunscrewit.
8.4Hissingnoise/steamcomingfromunderbonnetThiswillmostlikelybewaterescapingfromtheengine’scoolingsystemduetoaleak.Stopthecarimmediatelyandturnofftheengine.Alossofenginecoolantcancauseittooverheat,whichcancausecatastrophicandverycostlydamage.
Hissingorsteamfromunderthebonnet?Checkhosesforwaterleaks.
Checkaroundandunderthecarforanysignsofwater,andcheckthecoolantlevel,toppingupifnecessary.Onoccasion,ithasbeenknownfor
waterpipestocomeloose,andrefittingthemcansolvetheproblem.Youmayneedascrewdrivertorefitthepipeclamp.Morecommonly,theleakwillbecomingfromeitheraholeinawater
pipeorfromtheradiator.Youmaybeabletofixthisbyrefillingthecoolantandrepairingtheleakwithanemergencyhoserepairorstop-leakproduct.Ifyouarenotabletorepairtheleakyourself,considercontactingyour
breakdownservice.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Seesection8.3.
nineLights&indicators
9.1Brokenheadlight/taillightIfaheadlightortaillightbulbfails,getitreplacedassoonaspossible.Itisrecommendedthatyoualwayscarryasparesetofbulbsinthecaratalltimes,andmakeregularchecksonbulboperation.Thecar’susermanualmayoutlinetheproceduresforchangingheadlightandtaillightbulbs.
Brokenheadlightsrequirerepairorreplacement,andcancausebulbstofail.
Abrokenlensonaheadlightortaillightshouldberepairedorreplacedassoonaspossible.Withregardtoheadlightlensesanddrivingoffences,takethefollowing
intoconsideration.Anyfaultypartofthecar’sbodyworkthatcancausedamagetoapedestriancanbeclassedasadrivingoffence:sharpglassorplasticonabrokenheadlightlens,forexample.Anypartofthecarthatisfaultyandcausesahazardtootherroaduserscanbeclassedasadrivingoffence–forexample,aheadlightlensrepairedwithcleartapethatdazzlesoncomingdrivers.Althoughyoumaychoosetotemporarilycovertheheadlightlens,you
mustunderstandthatthelenswillnolongerbeworkinginthecorrectmanner.Headlightlensesaredesignedtoshinelightinacertaindirection,wherethedriverneedsitandawayfromotherroadusers.Withregardtotaillightlenses,ifanypartofitdoesnotshineinthe
correctcolouryouarecommittingadrivingoffence.So,aredbrakelightsegmentwiththeinsidebulbshiningthroughacrackcanbeclassedasanoffence.
Crackedrearlight.Thiscanberepairedusinglensrepairtape.
Ifyourcarhasacrackedlensononeoftherearlights,youcanpurchaselensrepairtape.Itcomesinclear,amberandredcolours,isveryeasytoapply,andisavailablefrommostlargecarsparesshops.Aslongasthetapeiscoveringthedamagedpartcompletely,youshouldno
longerbecausingaroadtrafficoffence,anditwillalsopreventanymoisturegettinginandblowingthebulb.
Lensrepairtapeisavailableindifferentcolours.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Ifyourcarhasabrokenrearlensandyou’vefixeditwithrepairtape,youshouldbeokaytousethecar.Withabrokenheadlightlens,ifyoudonottapeitupthenthebulbwill
beexposedtomoistureanddebris,andwillfailquitequickly.Thiswillmakeyouinbreachofanotherdrivinglaw.Fromadrivingoffenceperspective,regardingdamagedheadlight
lenses,reviewthischapterthoroughlyandmaketheappropriatechoiceyourselfbasedonthedamagetothecar.
tenBrakes
10.1SteeringwheelvibrationwhenbrakingIfexperiencingvibrationthroughthesteeringwheelwhenapplyingthebrakes,youhaveabrakefaultatthefrontofthevehicle.Ifexperiencingvibrationthroughthesteeringwheelallthetimeorwhenyouarenotapplyingthebrakes,thiswillbeadifferentproblem,andyouwillneedtoexploreothersectionsofthisbook.Themostcommoncauseofvibrationunderbrakingonlyisawarped
brakediscatthefrontofthecar.Youcantestforthisyourselfbyjackingupthecarandrotatingeachwheelindividuallybyhand.Agoodbrakediscwillrotatefreelywithoutanyproblems,withnosignsofdragging.Awarpeddiscwillsoundasthoughitisdraggingatacertainpointinitsrevolution,andyoushouldfeelmoreresistanceatthatpoint.
Identifyingawarpeddiscbycheckingthewheelforexcessiveheatbuild-up.
Anotherquickcheckistoseeifonewheelishotterthantheothers.Thehottersideshouldbetheonethatiswarped.
Caution!Takecarenottoburnyourselfonhotbrakeparts–youshouldbeabletofeelatemperaturedifferencebyjustfeelingthewheelitself.Also,takenoteofanyburningsmellthatmaybecomingfromthebrakepadsonthewarpedside.
Getthefaultybrakediscreplacedassoonaspossible.Havebothfrontdiscsandpadsrenewedatthesametime.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Everytimeyoubrake,thevibrationwillbeputtingmorestrainontheothersuspensionandsteeringcomponents,causingthemtowearoutsooner.Therefore,althoughyoushouldbeokaytodrivethecar,notchangingthefaultypartcouldendupcostingyoumoreinthelongrun.Ifyoudoneedtodriveacarwithawarpedfrontbrakedisc,youwill
needtoalteryourdrivingstyleaccordinglytominimiseheatbuildupandreducethevibrationsthecarcomponentsexperience.Thiscanbedonebyavoidinghardbraking,andbrakingslower/earlierthanyounormallywould.10.2HandbrakenotholdingcarstationaryWhenyouapplythehandbrake,the(usually)rearbrakesofthecarshouldbelockedandthereshouldbenomovementatall.Ifthehandbrakeisnotholdingthevehicle’sweightthenthereisafaultthatneedstobeinvestigated.Manymoderncarsarenowfittedwithelectronicparkingbrakes(EPB)
thatarecontrolledbyoperatingaswitchtoengageanddisengagethem.Ifyouhaveoneofthesesystemsfittedtothecarandthereisafaultwithit,itisrecommendedthatyoutakethecartoagarageforadiagnosticcheck.Morecommonly,thehandbrakewillbeoperatedbyaleverbetween
thefrontseatsthat,whenoperated,pullscablesunderneaththecarthatputtherearbrakeson.Sometimesthesecablescanstretchorsnapandpreventthehandbrakefromworking.Ifthehandbrakeisnotworkingat
all,thenitismostlikelythatoneofthesecableshassnappedandwillneedtobereplaced.Ifthehandbrakeisworkingalittle,thenitismostlikelythatoneofthecableshasstretchedandwillneedtobeadjusted.Adjustingorchangingahandbrakecablewillnotusuallybeoutlinedin
thecarusermanual,soifitisajobyouwishtodoyourselfyoumayneedtopurchaseaworkshopmanual,orhavealookonlineforinformation.
Typicalarrangementallowingadjustmentofhandbrakecablesunderneathcar.
Thehandbrakesonmanymodernvehiclescanbeadjustedfrominsidethevehiclebyremovingthegaiteraroundtheleverandmakinganadjustmenttothemechanism(seeworkshopmanualorinternet).Ifyourcar’shandbrakecableisadjustedfrombeneaththevehicle,you
cantracethehandbrakecablestothemiddleofthecar,wheretheyallmeet–themainonefromthefrontofthecar,andtwosmalleronesthatgotoeachwheel.Theymeettogetherina‘Y’shape,anditisatthispointthehandbrakecanbeadjusted.Therewillbealengthofthreadwitha
nutonit–thisnutwillaltertheamountofdistancethehandbrakecablehastobemovedbeforetherearbrakescomeon.Withthehandbrakeoff,turnthenutclockwisetotightentheslackfromtherearcables.Adjustitbyonlyafewturns,thenapplythehandbrakeandseeiftherearwheelslock.Youmayneedtomaketheadjustmentafewtimestogetitexactlyright.Remembernottoover-tightenthehandbrakeadjuster,asthiscancausethebrakestobindandthecabletostretchorsnap.Ifthehandbrakeremainsinefficientafteradjustment,considerthatrear
brakeshoesordiscsmayneedchanging,orthatoneofthehandbrakecableshasstretchedorsnappedandwillneedtobechanged.Withasnappedbrakecable,youcaneitherchangeallthreesections
orjustthepiecethathasbroken.Thepartsdon’tallhavetobenewforthehandbrakemechanismtoworkcorrectly.Replacingahandbrakecableisrelativelyeasy.Withthehandbrakein
theoffposition,thecablesshouldunhookfromanyholdersalongthechassis.Aworkshopmanualwillmakethejobeveneasier,andthecostofitandthenewpartsshouldstillbelessthanpayingsomeoneelsedothework.
Caution!Performinganyworkunderneathyourcarcanbedangerous,andyoumustensurethatthecarissecureandwillnotmovewhilsttheworkisbeingcarriedout.Makegooduseofaxlestands,andchockthewheelsfirmlybeforegoingunderneath.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Youwillstillbeabletodrivetemporarily,providingtherearenobitsofbrakecablehangingofftheundersideofthecar.Youwill,however,havetoensurethatyoucandrivethecarsafelywithouttheuseofahandbrake.Forexample,areyouconfidentandpractisedenoughtoperformhillstartsusingonlythebrakepedalandclutch,withoutthecarrollingbackwardsandhittingsomeone?Iftheanswertothisisno,thenyoushouldnotbedrivingthecaruntilithasbeenrepaired.Youwillalsoneedtoensurethereisasafeplacetoparkthecarwhen
youreachyourdestination.Youwillhavetoleavethevehicleingeartopreventitfromrolling,soparkitonaflatsurface.
TipIfyoudohavetoparkonaninclineandchoosetoleavethecarin
therelevantgear,itissuggestedthatyouturnthefrontwheelsintothekerbwiththenoseofthecarpointingdownhill.Thismayhelptopreventthecarfrommovingintheunlikelyeventofslippingoutofgear,andwillalsohelprelievesomeofthepressureonthegearbox.Whenfacingdownhill,thefrontwheelsshouldbeturnedslightlytowardsthekerbwiththeweightofthevehicletouchingthekerb.Whenfacinguphill,thefrontwheelsshouldbeturnedslightlyawayfromthekerb,lettingthevehiclerollbackslightlysoittouchesthekerb.Ifyoudriveanautomatic,leavethevehicleinP(park).
TipIfyoudohavewheelchocksavailable,itishighlyrecommendedthatyoumakeuseofthem.
Caution!Ifyourcarhasafailedhandbrakecable,neverleavepassengersinthecarunattended.10.3WheellockingunderbrakingWheelsoncarsshouldnotlockupwhenthebrakesareapplied–itisverydangerous,andwhilstthecarisskiddingitisoutofcontrol.Mostmoderncarsarefittedwithanti-lockbrakingsystems(ABS)that
shouldpreventthewheelsfromlocking.Theyaredesignedtoreducebrakingdistancesandalsoallowyoutosteerthecararoundanyobstacleswhilstbraking.IfyouhaveABSonyourcar,andyoufindawheelislockingunder
braking,thenthereisdefinitelyafaultwiththesystem.ThismaybeafaultywheelsensororaproblemwiththeABScontrolunit.Ifyouexperienceregularlockingupofthebrakes,evenifyourcarisnotfittedwithABS,youmayhaveaveryseriousproblemwiththecar’sbrakingsystemthatneedstobeinvestigatedimmediately.
TypicalABSsensor.ThewheelsshouldnotlockupiftheABSisworkingcorrectly.
Ensurethetyresareroadlegal,thatthereissufficientairpressureinthem,andthattheyhaveplentyoftread.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Clearlythisisnotagoodsituationtobein.Askiddingcarisonethatis
outofcontrol,anditisnotsafetodrive.Regularlockingofwheelsisnotacommonproblemandisvery
serious.Havethevehicleinspectedasamatterofurgency.Contactyourbreakdownservice–itshouldconsiderthissituationabreakdown,asthecarisnotsafetodrive.Ifyourservicecannotidentifyandrectifytheproblem,itwillprobablytow/traileryourcartoagarageforfurtherinspection.
10.4Handbrakelockedon/draggingwheelIfyourcarisfittedwithanelectronicparkingbrake(EPB)andthehandbrakewillnotrelease,thereisafaultwiththesystemthatwillneedtobediagnosedbyagarage.ManyEPBsystemsarefittedwithamanualreleasemechanismthatwilldisengagethesystemintheeventofafault.Thelocationandsafeuseofthismanualreleaseshouldbeshownintheusermanual.Inverycoldweather,alockedhandbrakecanoftenbecausedbywater
thathasgotintothehandbrakecablesleevesandfrozensolid.Thisismorecommoninoldervehicles,andwillprobablycontinuetooccuruntilthedefectivecableshavebeenreplaced.Seizedorfrozenhandbrakecablesonrearbrakescanoftenbe
releasedmanuallyfromunderneaththecar.Atthepointwherethehandbrakecablemeetstherearbrakethereshouldbealeverthatcanbeforcedwithascrewdriver,releasingthecable.
Aseizedhandbrakecablecanbemanuallyreleased.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
Fittingnewhandbrakecablesmaybenecessaryifthehandbrakeregularlysticksonordrags.
Ifthehandbrakecablesarefunctioningnormally,theremaybeaseizedrearbrakecaliper/drummechanism.Youcanidentifywhichwheelisseizedbyjackinguptherearofthecarandrotatingthewheelsbyhand.Thiswillhavetobedonewiththehandbrakeoff,somakesurethewheelsonthegroundarechockedadequatelyandthevehiclewillnotmove.Onceidentified,youwillneedtoeitherhavethefaultypartreplacedorrepaired.Iftherearofyourcarisfittedwithdrumbrakes,theymayneedtobe
strippedandcleanedorpartsreplaced.Wheelcylinderswithindrumbrakesareacommoncauseofmanyfaults,butseizedspringsoradjusterscanalsobetheproblem,whichagoodcleanupcanoftenrectify.Iftherearofthecarisfittedwithdiscbrakes,acommonfaultwiththe
caliperisthatthesurfaceofthe‘sliders’or‘sliderpins’becomespittedby
corrosion,preventingfreemovementandhencebrakedragging.Theslidersareprotectedbyrubbergrommets,andwhentheseperishandsplit,moistureandroadsaltgetinsideandcausedamagetotheslidingsurfaces.Youcaneitherfitanewreplacementcaliperorpurchaseacaliperrepairkitthatwillincludenewgrommetsetc,andcleanuptheoldsliders.
Caution!Youwillbeunderthecarwhenyoureleasethehandbrake,somakesurethevehicleisingearandthatthewheelsaresuitablychockedtopreventrolling.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Untilthehandbrakehasbeenreleased,itisnotsafetodrivethecar.Evenifyoucanrotatetherearwheelsbyapplyingmoreenginepower,youwillcausetherearbrakestooverheatcausingdamage.Also,youareatriskofloosingcontrolofthecarwhilstdrivingasthecarwillnotbeoperatingasithasbeendesigned.Forexample,inpoorroadconditionstherearwheelscanlockupandlosetraction,causingtherearofthecartoslideoutwhencornering.
HandbraketipsIfyouhavetime,andthecarisinanappropriatelocation,itmaybepossibletowarmupthehandbrakecableswithahairdryerorsmallelectricheater.
Caution!Appropriatesafetymeasuresneedtobetakenwhenusingelectricalappliancesoutdoorstoavoidelectricshock.Donotattempttomanuallyreleasethehandbrakemechanismunless
thefrontwheelsarechockedsecurelyandthecarisingear.Ifyoucangainaccessundertherearofthecarwithoutusingajackthenthisisrecommended.Wherepossible,topreventwinterfreezingofthehandbrakecables,
sprayawaterdispersinglubricantlikeWD40insidethecables,andcoveranyopeningsateachendwithpetroleumjelly.Ifthisisacontinuingproblemeverytimetheweathergetscold,itwillbebestpracticetoreplacebothofthehandbrakecableswithnewones.Theinsideofthehandbrakecablesisprobablycorroded,andthecableswillkeepseizing
and/oreventuallybreak,resultinginnohandbrakeatall.
Caution!Ifyourcarispositionedonasteepincline,donotattempttomanuallyreleasetherearbrakes.Usethewarming-upmethodwiththehandbrakeon,thecaringear(oppositetotheincline),andthewheelschocked.Alternatively,waituntiltheweatherwarmsandthehandbrakecablesthawout.10.5BrakepedalfeelsspongywhendepressedAnychangeinyourcar’sbrakingperformanceorcharacteristicsshouldbeinvestigatedassoonaspossibleandnotignored.If,whenapplyingthebrakes,thebrakepedalfeelssofterthannormal,thiscanbeanindicationoflowbrakefluidlevelorairinthebrakingsystem.Brakingsystemsaresealed,andshouldnothaveanyairinthematall.Airinthesystemwillcompresseasily(unlikebrakefluid)andwillhaveanegativeaffectonthecar’sbrakingability.
Checkbrakefluidlevelifthefootbrakefeelsspongy:itshouldbeatthemaximummark.
Aircanonlygetintothebrakingsystemthroughafaultypartorduetopoorrepairstobrakeparts.Youwillneedtohavealloftheairbledoutofthebrakingsystemtoreturnittonormalworkingorder.Youwillneedagoodlevelofmechanicalskillsandagoodtoolkitinordertobleedyourcar’sbrakingsystem.Havethisworkundertakenbyagoodmechanic,astheymayalsobeabletoidentifyanypotentialproblems.
Abrakebleednipple:theseallowairtobebledfromthebrakesystem.
Ifthefaultreturnsafterhavingthebrakesystembled,yourcarhasafaultypart,suchasaleakingbrakecaliperorwornmastercylinder.Thedefectivepartswillneedtobereplacedandthesystembledagain.
Awornmastercylindercanletairintothebrakesystemandcausespongybrakes.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Anyvehiclethathasabrakingfaultispotentiallydangerous.Beforetakingthecartoberepaired,youmustensurethereissufficientbrakefluidinthesystembytoppingup,ifnecessary,andyoumustbeconfidentthatyoucandrivethedistancesafelywithoutlosingadequatebrakingperformance.Ifnot,youwillbecommittingadrivingoffenceandputtingyourselfandotherroadusersatrisk.Ifyouareinanydoubtaboutthis,youshouldnotdrivethecar.Haveit
traileredtothegarageorhavetheworkundertakenwhereitis.
10.6Brakepedal–excessivetravelAnychangeinbrakingperformanceorcharacteristicsshouldbeinvestigatedassoonaspossible.If,whenapplyingyourcar’sbrakes,the
brakepedaltravelsfurtherthannormal,thisisanindicationoflowbrakefluidlevelorairinthebrakingsystem.Thebrakingsystemissealed,anddoesn’tuseupbrakefluidovertime.
Anylossoffluidisaresultofaleakthatneedstobeinvestigated.Checkthebrakefluidlevelandtopitupifnecessary.Aftertoppingup,startthecarandpumpthebrakepedaltoseeifitreturnstoitsnormalfeel.Ifyouarestillexperiencingexcessivebrakepedaltravel,thismaybe
duetoairinthebrakingsystemthatwillneedtobebledout.Thisshouldbedonebyaqualifiedmechanicifyoudonothavethesuitableexperience.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Anyvehiclethathasabrakingfaultispotentiallydangerous.See10.5.10.7BrakefluidleakingfromfrontbrakesWhennew,brakefluidhasverylittlesmellandisquiteclearwithaslightyellowtinge.Asitagesitstartstogoasmokybrowncolour.Fluidstainsonthegroundbehindanyofthewheelsarethebest
indicatorthatthereisaleakrelatedtothatwheel.Checkthebrakefluidleveltoascertainhowmuchfluidhasbeenlost,andtopuptotherequiredlevel.Youmayneedtojackupthecarandremovethewheelinordertoview
wheretheleakiscomingfrom.
Caution!Workinasafemanner,anduseaxlestandsifyouneedtoworkunderneaththecar.Themostcommonplacesforfluidleaksfromthefrontbrakesarethebrakecaliper,holesinbrakehosesorleakingunions.
Checkingbrakehoseunionsonfrontbrakesforfluidleaks.
Cleandirtfromaroundunions,andchecktightnessoffitting.
Oftenthesealsinsidethebrakecalipercanbewornordamaged,causingbrakefluidtoleakpastthepistons.Thiswillrequireanewbrakecalipertobefitted,ornewsealsintheexistingcaliper.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Itisnotrecommendedthatanyvehiclewithaleakingbrakingsystemisdriven,nomatterhowsmalltheleak.Contactyourbreakdownserviceorcalloutalocalgarage.
Caution!Iftheleakseemstobecomingfromahose,thisisfarmoredangerousandyouabsolutelymustnotdrivethecar.Althoughnotverycommon,damageorweartoabrakehosecanresultinasuddenlossofbrakes,asthedamagewillworsenquickly,resultinginrapidlossofbrake
fluid...andbrakes.10.8BrakefluidleakingfromrearbrakesWhennew,brakefluidhasverylittlesmellandisquiteclearwithaslightyellowtinge.Asitagesitstartstogoasmokybrowncolour.Fluidstainsonthegroundbehindanyofthewheelsarethebest
indicatorthatthereisbrakefluidaleakrelatedtothatwheel.Checkthebrakefluidreservoirtoascertainhowmuchhasbeenlost,andtopuptotherequiredlevel.Youmayneedtojackupthecarandremovethewheeltofindtheleak.
Caution!Followtheusualsafetyprocedures:seesection10.7.
Iftherearaxleofyourcarisfittedwithdiscbrakes,themostcommonplaceforabrakefluidleakisfromthesealsinsidethebrakecaliper,ortheunionofthebrakehosewiththecaliperbody.Often,thesealsinsidethebrakecalipercanbewornordamagedand
causebrakefluidtoleak.See10.7.Iftherearaxleofthecarisfittedwithdrumbrakes,themostcommon
placesforbrakefluidtobeleakingfromarethebrake(slave)cylinderinsidethedrum,ortheunionofthehydrauliclinewiththewheelcylinder.
Acommondrumbrakeleakisfromthehydraulicbrakecylinderinsidethedrum(top).
Ifthesupplyofbrakefluidtotherearofthecarisviametalbrakelines,ratherthanflexiblehoses,itiscommonforthemtobecomecorrodedandleakovertime.Brakefluidstainsneartherearofthecar,butawayfromthewheels,areanindicatorofcorrodedbrakelines.
Brakefluidleaksawayfromthewheelswillbecomingfromcorrodedbrakelines.
Itisrecommendedthatanyworkonleakingbrakecylinders,brakepipesorunionsisperformedbyaqualifiedmechanic.
CanIstilldrivethecar?No.Youmustnotdriveavehiclewithaleakingbrakingsystem,nomatterhowsmalltheleakappearstobe.Contactyourbreakdownserviceorcalloutalocalgarage.
10.9Steeringpullstotheleft/rightunderbrakingWhenapplyingthebrakesonyourcar,ifitbeginstoturntoonesideortheotherthenthereisafaultthatneedstobeinvestigated.Thefirstthingtocheckistyrepressures,andalthoughacarwith
mismatchedtyrepressureshouldlikelyhaveapullallofthetime,itwill
bemorenoticeableunderbraking.Becausethepullingcanbecausedbyanumberoffaults,itisimportanttoeliminatethemostobviousthingsfirst,socheckthatthetyresareallthesamesizetoo.Ifyouhaveanysuspicionthatthefaultisrelatedtotyres,consider
switchingthemtodifferentsides,ormovingthemfromfonttoreartoseeifthiseliminatestheproblem.Checkbrakepadsandbrakediscsforwear,especiallyunevenwear.If
younoticethatonesideismorewornthantheother,thisindicatesunevenbrakingforcebeingapplied.Checkforcontaminationofthebrakepadsanddiscs–anyoil,greaseorlubricantonthemwillaffecttheirbrakingcapabilities.Anyoddwearingonthesurfaceofabrakedisc,suchasdeepgrooveswithinthepadcontactarea,indicatesafaultwiththebrakepadsorthediscitself.
Checkyourcar’sbrakediscsandpadsforunevenwear.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
Abrakediscshowingunevenwear.Thisfaultcanreducebrakingforceandcausethesteeringtopulltoonesideunderbraking.
Ifyouhaveanysuspicionthatthebrakepadsordiscsareatfault,theyshouldbechanged,inmatchingpairs,toseeifthiseliminatestheproblem.Anothercommonfaultisastickingbrakecaliperontheoppositeside
tothedirectionofpull.Ifthecarpullstotheleftunderbraking,itmaybethatthebrakecaliperontherightisnotoperatingfreelyandapplyinglessbrakingforce.Thisrequiresthefittingofareplacementbrakecaliperorarepairtotheexistingone.
Brakepadshowingunevenwear,whichcanreducebrakingforceandcausethesteeringtopulltoonesideunderbraking.
Also,considermisalignmentofthewheels/suspension,asanyfaultinthisareacanbefarmoreevidentunderbraking.Ifthecauseofthefaultisstillnotevident,youwillneedtotakethecar
toabrakespecialist.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Aslongasthepullingtoonesideisgradual,ienotasharporseveresnatching,andeasilycontrolledbythesteeringwheel,youshouldbeokaytodrivethecaruntiltherepairhasbeenundertaken,butdoregardtherepairasurgent.10.10BrakepedalpulsesunderheavybrakingThemostlikelyexplanationofthisisthesensationyouexperiencewhentheABSsystemisoperatingandyoucanfeelquickpulsesthroughthe
brakepedal.Brakingheavilycausesapulsatingfeelthroughthefootbrakeasthesystempreventsthewheelsfromlockingandskidding.IfthissymptomonlyappearsunderheavyoremergencybrakingtheABSisworkingcorrectlyandthereisnotabrakefault.IfyourcarisnotfittedwithABS,apulsatingpedalindicatesabrake
systemfault.Themostlikelycauseofthissymptomisawarpedbrakediscorfaultywheelbearing.Youcantestforawarpedbrakediscbyjackingupthecarandrotating
eachwheelindividuallybyhand.Agoodbrakediscwillallowthewheeltorotatefreelywithoutanysignsofdragging.Awarpeddiscwillsoundasthoughitisdraggingatacertainpointinthewheelrevolution,andyoushouldfeelmomentaryresistancetoturning.Anotherquickcheckistoseeifoneofthewheelsishotter,nearits
centre,thantheotherafteradrive.
Caution!Takecarenottoburnyourself.Thehottersidewillbetheonewithawarpedbrakedisc.Theremayalsobeaburningsmellcomingfromthebrakepadsonthewarpedside.Youmustgetthefaultybrakediscreplacedassoonaspossible.
Renewbothfrontdiscsandpadsatthesametimetopreventunevenbraking.Withregardstoafaultywheelbearing,youcanperformthesameheat
testasforawarpedbrakedisc.Ifyourcarmakesahummingorgrumblingnoisethatseemstoincreaseordecreaseproportionatetovehiclespeed,itismostlikelyafaultywheelbearing.Refertochapter3.3,‘Wheelnoises,’formoreguidanceonfailedwheelbearings.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Yes,youcandrivehomeortogetthecartoagarage.Makesuretoadjustyourdrivingappropriately,asthecar’sbrakingperformancewillbenoticeablyreduced.
10.11BrakesorawheelgettingveryhotIf,undernormaldrivingconditions,youfindthatthebrakesatoneofthewheelsaregettingveryhot–perhapsyoucansmellthem,especiallywhenoutsideofthecar–thenthisfaultneedstobelookedintoassoonaspossible.
Themostcommoncausesofthisareeitherawarpedbrakedisc,abindingcaliperorafaultywheelbearing.Normally,theoverheatingwillmanifestitselfononesideofanaxleand
thefaultysidecanbefoundbyfeelingthewheelwithyourhand.
Caution!Takecarenottoburnyourselfand,especially,donottouchthediscorpads.Whicheversideisthehottestisthesidewiththefault.
Thinkaboutwhatothersymptomsyouareexperiencingwiththecar,suchasbrakingnoisesorpullingtooneside.Then,toinvestigatethefaultfurther,refertotheothersectionsonbrakinginthisbook.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Youshouldnotdrivethecaruntilthefaulthasbeeninvestigatedthoroughly.
10.12Electricparkingbrake(referredtoasEPBore-brake)failure
Ifthecarisfittedwithanelectronicparkingbrake(EPB)anditisnotfunctioningcorrectly,forexamplewillnotdisengageorre-engage,themostcommonproblemsareusuallyamotor/actuatorfailureoranelectricalswitchfailure.Afaultwiththeswitchonthedashboardwillpreventthesystemfrom
functioningcorrectly,soyoushouldcheckthattherelevantfusehasnotblown.Yourcar’shandbookwillidentifythecorrectfuseanditslocation.Youmayneedtotakethecartohaveaprofessionaldiagnosticcheck
performedonit.Thetechnicianshouldbeabletogetthefaultcodesfromthecartohelpidentifywhattheproblemis.Inanemergency,iftheEPBwillnotengageandyouneedtogetoutof
thecar,leaveitingear.Ifyouareonahill,putitintoagearopposedtothedirectionyou’repointing,ieiffacingdownhillputthecarinreverse,andiffacinguphillputthecarinfirstgear.Ifyoudriveanautomatic,leavethevehicleinP(park).Youcanalsoturnthefrontwheelssothattheywillbechockedbythekerb.IftheEPBislockedonandwillnotdisengage,orifthecarhasaflat
battery,somemodelsarefittedwithamanualhandbrakereleasemechanism.Refertothecar’suserhandbookandreadthesectionabout
EPB;itshouldoutlinewherethemanualreleaseisandhowtooperateit.Ifitisnotintheusermanual,searchonlineforinformationonyourspecificcar.Mostoften,themanualoremergencybrakereleaseismountedunder
apanelinthecentreconsole.Manyhaveapull-ringonthem,andcanbeoperatedusingtoolsfromthetoolkitthatwassuppliedwiththecar.PleasenotethatmanualreleaseisavailableonlyonEPBsystemsthat
useacabletooperaterearbrakecalipers.
elevenGearbox&clutch
11.1Manualgearbox/clutchfaults
CannotselectagearIfyouareexperiencingproblemsgettingthecarintoagear,oranumberofgears,therecouldbeavarietyofcauses.Thefirstthingtocheckisthatthereissufficientoilinthegearbox.Rule
thisoutfirstbeforeconsideringanyotherpossibleproblems.Ifthegearboxoilislow,topupandseeiftheproblemhasgone.Refertochapter5,section5.1,‘Oilleakingfromgearbox,’asgearboxesshouldnotnormallyneedtobetoppedup.Anotherpossiblecauseisthatthelinkage(notallcarsusealinkage)
connectingthegearsticktothegearboxneedstobeadjusted,orhaswornandneedstoberepaired.Ifthislinkagehasalteredslightlyduetodamageorwear,thegearboxcomponentswillnotaligncorrectlyandyouwon’tbeabletoselectgearseasily.Inordertorectifythis,thegearboxlinkagewillneedtobeinspectedfordamageorwear.
Difficultyselectinggearmightbeduetoagearlinkageproblem.
Ifyoususpectanydamagetotheundersideofthecar,agoodthingtocheckwhetheranyheatshieldsorprotectivetrayshavebeenbentandarefoulingthegearselectormechanism.Thismayjustbeamatterofbendingthembackintoshape,outofthewayofthemechanism.Removingtheplasticsurroundandgaiterfromaroundthegearstick
shouldallowaccesstosomeofthelinkagecomponents.Anywearinthegearlinkagerodsorassociatedbushescanmakeitdifficulttoengagegears.Ifjointsfeelverylooseandhavelotsofplayinthem,theymayneedtobereplaced.Also,checkthelinkagewhereitattachestothegearbox.Thismayneedtobeaccessedfromunderneaththecar,orthroughtheenginebay.Again,checkforwornlinkagesandjointswithlotsofplayinthem.Ifitlooksliketheseareatfault,theywillneedtobereplaced.Donotadjustthegearlinkageunlessyouhaveacertaindegreeof
mechanicalskillandarelevantworkshopmanual.Incorrectadjustmentcanmakegearselectionevenworse,soifyouareatalluncertainperhapsyoushouldhaveamechanicundertaketheworkforyou.Anotherpossiblefaultisthegearboxsynchromeshwear.Ifyouare
experiencingproblemsgettingthecarintosecondandthirdgear,thisisoftenacommoncause.Synchromeshfaultsusuallycausethemostproblemsonthegearsthataremostoftenused.Ifyouhavebeenexperiencingincreaseddifficultyinselectingcertaingears,andthecartendstocrunchalotwhengoingintothosegears,thegearboxsynchromeshmayneedtobechanged.Themainproblemwiththisisthat,althoughthesynchromeshisnotalargepartofthegearbox,replacingthecomponentscanbeverylabourintensiveandhencequitecostly.However,thiscanstillworkoutcheaperthananeworreconditionedgearbox.Thereisalotofdiscussionontheinternetregardingchangingthe
gearboxoiltoatypethatwillhelpwithgearboxsynchromeshproblemsandcrunchygearchanges.Forthecost,thismightbesomethingthatyoushouldlookintofurther.Ifyourcarisunderwarranty,anygearboxproblemsshouldbereferredtoyourcardealerastheymaybecovered.Consideralsothattheclutchmayneedtobechanged.Youcan
experiencemoreandmoredifficultyinselectinggearsastheclutchwears.Refertothenextsectionforadviceonhowtoidentifyaslippingclutch(indicatingseverewearoroilcontamination).Unlessyouhavea
highlevelofmechanicalskillandagoodsetoftools,itisrecommendedthatyouhavetheclutchreplacedbyagaragethatprovidesqualitypartsandagoodlevelofwarrantyforyourmoney.
Aclutchthatneedsreplacingcanmakegearselectiondifficult.
HowtoidentifyaslippingclutchThetypicalsymptomofaslippingclutchisthatwhenyouaccelerate,andtheenginenoiseincreases,thecardoesnotgoanyfaster.You’llseetheRPMriseontherevcounter,butgainnospeed.Thiscanbemoreapparentwhenmovingofffromstationary,especiallyifyouarepullingaloadorhaveafullcar.Ifthisishappeningandyouhavejusthadanewclutchfitted,youneed
takethecarstraightbacktothegarage.Thiscouldbeoilcontaminationormisalignmentofthereleasebearing/system.
HowtotestforaslippingclutchDriveataslowspeedwiththecarinahighgear(fourthorfifth)andthenaccelerate.Ifthevehicledoesnotbogdown(begintostall),andenginespeedincreaseswiththeacceleratorpedal,butvehiclespeeddoesnotincrease,theclutchisslipping.Asmostmodernvehicleshaveself-adjustingclutches,thereare
probablynoadjustmentsthatcanbemadetoimproveclutchbite,andyouneedtogettheclutchreplaced.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Yesandno.Aslongasyoucanengagethegearsokay,thenthecarcanbedriven.However,theclutchwillcontinuetoweareverfaster,andsoonthecarwillbeundriveablebecauseyouwillnolongerbeabletoengageanygears.Soitisbesttogettheclutchchangedassoonaspossible,beforeyou’releftstranded.
TipsfordrivingwithaslippingclutchThesearetipsdesignedtoonlygetyoutoagaragetogetthecarfixed.Aslippingclutchcouldcompletelyfailatanytime,whichcouldresultin
youbeingstrandedorthecarbeingleftinahazardousplace.Eventuallytheclutchwilljustslipcontinuously,asitcannolongertransferanypowerfromtheenginetothegearbox,asthereisnofrictionmaterialremainingontheclutchplateorthefrictionplateiscontaminated.Driveverygently,changinggearwiththeleastamountofaccelerationpossible,liftingtheclutchbackupslowly.Trytokeeptheenginerevsaslowaspossiblewhenchanginggear.Trytominimisethenumberofgearchangesyouaremaking,aseachgearchangewillcausefurtherwear.
Typicalclutchplate,showingfrictionmaterialaroundoutside.
CarjumpsoutofgearIfthecarisregularlyjumpingoutofgear,thereisafaultthatneedslookinginto.Thissymptomoccursmostcommonlyinhighergears,andusuallywhendeceleratingtheenginewiththeclutchengaged.Oftenthegearboxcanthrowitselfoutofgearwhenthegearhasnot
beenselectedproperly,duetoawornorbadlyadjustedgearselectorlinkage.Youcanreadmoreonthisintheprevioussection‘Cannotgetgearboxintogear.’Apoorlyengagedgearcanbepronetopoppingoutofengagementasitsloadchangesunderdeceleration.Rectificationwillrequireadjustmentorchangingofgearlinkage(ifapplicable)parts.Amoreseriouscommoncauseofthecarjumpingoutofgeariswear
withinthegearbox.Ifyoudriveanoldercar,oracarthathasdonealotofmiles,thisproblemcanoccurduetowearongearboxinternalparts,mostlikelysyncrohubsandgearselectorforks.Ifthisisthecauseoftheproblem,theonlysolutionistohavethegearboxstrippedandoverhauled,orareplacementgearbox(new,reconditionedorsecondhand).Ifyoudoopttohaveasecondhandgearboxfittedinordertokeeprepaircostsdown,makesureyoupurchaseitfromasupplierthatwillgiveagoodguaranteeincaseofanyproblems.
11.2Automaticgearbox/clutchfaultsAnautomaticgearboxisaverycomplexcomponentofyourvehicle,andusuallyrequiresagearboxexperttodiagnoseandrepairanyproblems.Thekeytokeepingthecostsdownonacarwithautomatic
transmissionisensuringitalwayshassufficientgoodqualityfluidinit,andinvestigatingeventheslightestfaultorsymptomassoonaspossible.Keepingupwithregularserviceintervalsspecificallyrelatedtothe
automaticgearboxcansaveyoualotofmoneyovertime,andalsohelpsmaintainthevalueofthevehicle.Onmodernvehicleswithautomatictransmission,therearesomany
electronicscontrolsandsensorsthatfaultscanrarelybeidentifiedwithoutaprofessionaldiagnosticscheck.Itreallyisveryimportanttohaveanygearboxproblems,suchasharsh
orroughgearchanging,ordifficultychangingdownthroughthegears,
lookedintoassoonaspossible.Ifyouignorethesesymptoms,moreproblemscanbecausedsuchasgearboxoverheating,whichcanresultinevenmorerepairwork.
AutomaticgearboxfluidIfyouexperienceanykindofproblemwithanautomaticgearbox,firstcheckthegearboxoil(automatictransmissionfluid:ATF)level.Alowleveloftransmissionfluidcancausemanyproblemsinautomaticgearboxes,anditshouldalwaysbethefirstthingtocheck.Iftheautomaticgearboxhasatransmissionfluiddipstick,checkandtopuptheATFlevelviathetubeitislocatedin.Someautomaticgearboxesdonothavedipsticks,andyouwillneedaworkshopmanualtofindouthowtocheckthelevel,ortakethecartoagaragetohaveitdone.Automatictransmissionfluidlevelsareusuallycheckedwhenthe
engineishotand,often,thedipstickwillindicatebothhotandcoldlevels.Whennew,automatictransmissionfluidisred,soifitisgoingabrown
colour,checkwhetherit’sdueachangeorservice.Theautomatictransmissionshouldalsohaveafilterinsideitthatshouldalwaysbechangedatthecorrectintervals.Also,ifthetransmissionfluidisbrownorsmellsburntitisdefinitely
timetogetthegearboxservicedbyhavingthefluidandfilterchanged.Overheatingofautomatictransmissioncancausebigproblems,andtheburningsmellisasignofthis.Havethislookedintoassoonaspossible.Itmayjustbeacaseofthegearboxneedingaservice,oritcouldbeabiggerproblemthatneedstoberectifiedbeforethetransmissionfailscompletely.
AutomaticgearboxstuckinparkMostautomaticgearboxselectorscannotbetakenoutofthe‘P’(park)positionuntilthedriverdepressesthebrakepedal,pressestheshiftleverbutton,andturnstheignitionkeytothe‘on’position.Behindthefootpedalwillbearelay/switchwhichtellsthegearboxthatthebrakepedalisdepressedandthattheshiftcanbemoved.Ifthereisafaultwiththerelayoranyoftheassociatedwiring,theselectorcannotbemovedoutof‘P.’Checkthatalloftherelatedfusesandwiringareinworkingorderandnotdamaged.Aflatbatterymaycausethegearboxtobelockedintheparkposition.
Inthisinstance,youwillneedtochargeorchangethecar’sbatteryand,unlessthereisanotherfault,shouldthenbeabletomovetheselectoroutoftheparkposition.
ShiftlockreleaseIfthecarisfittedwitha‘shiftlockrelease’mechanism(alsoreferredtoasshiftlockoverride),youcanoperatethistoallowyoutomovethegearselectoroutofthe‘P’position.Youwillneedtolocatethepositionoftheshiftlockreleasemechanism
(itmaybeoutlinedinthecar’susermanual,oryoucansearchforinformationonline).Oftenitislocatedincloseproximitytothegearselector,andoperationusuallyjustinvolvesinsertionofascrewdriverorcarkeytomovetheselectorto‘N’(neutral).Sometimesitwillhaveasmallcoverthatyouneedtofirstremovebeforeitcanbeoperated.Theshiftlockreleaseshouldnotbeusedconstantly.Anyunderlying
faultwiththegearshiftshouldbelookedinto,andtherelevantpartsrepairedorreplaced.
TipToavoidputtingunnecessarystrainonthegearboxandcausingproblemsinthefuture,followthesestepswhenparkingthecar.Notdoingsocancausedifficultieswiththeselectorrefusingtomoveoutoftheparkposition:1)Stopthecarfullyusingthefootbrake.2)Applythehandbrakefully.3)Puttheselectorintoneutral.4)Releasethefootbrake.5)Puttheselectorintoparkposition.
twelveSteering12.1Steeringpullstotheleft/rightwhilstdriving
Themostcommoncausesofacarpullingtoonesideduringnormaldrivingareunequaltyrepressures,wheelalignmentorwornsuspensionparts.Ensurethatyouhavethecorrectpressureinallofthetyres,andthat
nonehassufferedapuncture.Ifyouhaveanysuspicionthatthepullingisrelatedtotyres,consider
switchingwheelstodifferentsides,ormovingthemfromfronttorear,toseeifthiseliminatestheproblem.Alsocheckthetyresforuneventyrewear,asthiscanindicatewheretheproblemlies.Atyrethatisover-inflatedwillexperiencemoretreadwearatthecentreofthetread.Atyrethatisunder-inflatedwillexperiencemorewearattheedgesofthetread.Ifyouareexperiencingheaviertreadwearononeedge(inneror
outer),thisisanindicationthatthecarhasawheelalignmentproblem,and/orpossiblywornsuspensioncomponents.Youwillneedtotakeyourcartoawheelalignmentspecialist(usuallyfoundattyreandexhaustcentres)whichwillcheckandadjustthealignmentofthewheels.Thespecialistwillalsoadviseyouaboutanywornpartsthatarecausingthemisalignment.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Yes,youshouldbeokaytodrivethecarbutyoushouldhavethefaultprofessionallyinvestigatedassoonaspossible.Understandthat,althoughyoucancontrolthepullingofthesteeringby
turningthesteeringwheelslightlyintheoppositedirection,doingsoputsexcessivestrainonthetyresandsuspensionparts.Itismorecosteffectivetodiagnoseandrepairthefaultearlyandsaveonthecostofnewtyres,andpossiblyevensuspensionparts,too.12.2SquealingnoisewhenturningsteeringwheelIfyouhearascreechingorwhiningnoisewhenyouturnthesteeringwheel,thereismostlikelyafaultwithyourpowersteeringhydraulicpumporpowersteeringpumpdrivebelt.Thenoisewillbemostapparent
whenthevehicleisstationaryandyouturnthesteeringwheel,atslowspeeds,oronfulllock.Youshouldnotexperiencethistypeofnoiseifthevehicleisfittedwithelectronicpowersteering(EPS).
Squealingwhenonfulllockcanbecausedbyaslippingpowersteeringbelt.
Thenoiseisusuallygeneratedbythepowersteeringbeltasitslipswhenputunderload.Thismostcommonlyhappenswithage,asthebeltstretchesovertime.Aworn/stretchedbeltshouldbechangedassoonaspossible.
Checkingforaloosepowersteeringbelt.
Theotherpossiblecauseofthisnoiseisthatthepowersteeringsystemislowonfluid,orthatthepumpitselfisatfault.Firstcheckthepowersteeringfluidlevelandtopupifnecessary.Ifyoudonothavemuchmechanicalexperience,youmaywanttohavethetopupcarriedoutbyyourlocalgarage,astheprocedureisnotoftencoveredinthecarhandbook.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Thecarcanstillbedriven,butifthebeltcomesofforsnaps,youwillsuddenlybeleftwithoutanypowersteering,andifthishappenswhilst
youaredrivingitcouldresultinanaccident.Ifthecauseofthenoiseislowpowersteeringfluidlevel,drivingthe
vehiclelikethiscouldcausedamagetothepowersteeringpump,resultinginitneedingtobereplaced.Thefaultwillcontinuetogetworseuntilthenecessarypartshavebeen
repairedorreplaced,andyoumustbecautiousofthepotentialforabruptchangesinthesteeringfeelwhilstdriving.
TipIfthepowersteeringsystemneedstobetoppedwithfluid,findoutwhy,astheremaybealeak.12.3SteeringhasbecomeveryheavyHerearesomepossiblecausesofthesteeringbecomingheavy:•Flattyre.Theveryfirstthingthatyoushoulddoischeckthatthefronttyresarefullyinflatedtothecorrectpressures.Atyrewithlowpressuremaycausethesteeringtobecomeheavier.Iflowpressureiscausedbyapunctureyoutogetthetyrerepairedorreplacedimmediately.
Checkthatheavysteeringisnotcausedbyaflattyreorlowtyrepressure.
•Powersteeringfluidlevellow.Thismaybeaccompaniedbyagroaningnoisefromthepowersteeringpump.Topupthepowersteeringfluidtoseeifthissolvestheproblem.You’llneedtoinvestigatethereasonforthelossoffluid,maybebealeakfromthepowersteeringpumporassociatedpipework.
Heavysteeringcarbecausedbylowpowersteeringfluid.Checklevel.
Thepowersteeringreservoirwillbelocatedintheenginebay.Checkandtopupifneeded.
•Powersteeringpumpfailure;ascreechingnoiseonfulllockoratstart-upcanbeanindicationofafailingpowersteeringpump.Drivingwithafailingpowersteeringpumpcanberiskybecause,ifitisseizes,thereisachancethatitwillsnapthedrivebeltandcauseotherproblems.Youwillhavetoinvestigatethisfurther.•Powersteeringdrivebeltfailure.Ifthebelthascompletelysnappedandcomeoff,thesteeringwillbeveryheavy,buttherewillbenoscreechingorgroaningnoises.Notethatthepowersteeringdrivebeltmayalsodriveothercomponentssuchasthewaterpumpandair-conditioningcompressor.
Caution!Correctoperationofthewaterpumpisparticularlyimportantastheenginewilloverheatwithoutit.
•Electronicpowersteering(EPS)failure.Youwillprobablyseeawarninglightilluminateonthedashboard,indicatingcompletepowersteeringfailureorintermittentlossofpowersteering.CommonEPSfailuresaretheelectronictorquesensorandelectroniccontrolunit.Youcanstilldrivethecar,butthesteeringwillbeveryheavy.Thesteeringwheelisstillsafelylinkeddirectlytothewheels,buttherewillbenopowerassistancewhensteering.Tryturningofftheignitionforafewminutes,thenrestartingtheengine
andtestingthesteeringagain.Iftheproblemgoesaway,thisisonlyatemporaryfixandthefaultstillneedstobeinvestigatedasitmaysuddenlyreturn.IftheEPShasacityorparkingmodethatmakessteeringlighterwhilst
towndrivingintrafficorparking,makesureyouturnitofffornormaldriving.Thesesettingsmakethesteeringmotorworkhardertomakethesteeringlighter,andusingthemcontinuouslycancauseproblems.Youwillneedtotakethecartoaqualifiedgaragetoinvestigateand
repairthefault.
TipIfthecarhasEPSfittedandyoukeepgettinganintermittentpowersteeringfault,makesurethatthebatteryandchargingsystemareworkingproperly.Ensuretherearenolooseconnectionsatthebattery.
thirteen4x4problems
Becausetherearesomanydifferent4x4and4WDsystemsfittedtovehicles,thisbookcannotbespecificaboutanyparticularone.Thissectionwilltrytocoverthemostcommon4x4problemsandprovidegeneralsolutionsandrecommendationsformaintainingthehealthofyour4x4system.Forthepurposesofthischapter,4x4willalsoreferto4WDandAWD(AllWheelDrive)systems.13.14x4oilandoilleaksMaintainingthehealthofyour4x4systemisessential,andneglectingregularservicingcancostalotofmoneyinrepairs.Neglectingtoactquicklytocorrectaleakcanresultincatastrophicdamagetotransferboxes,differentials,etc.Also,donotignoreany4x4warninglightsthatappearonthe
dashboard,eveniftheyflashonforabriefperiodandthengooutagain.Ifyouareexperiencinganoilleakfroma4x4,orsuspectthatanoil
levelislow,topuptheleakingunitwiththecorrectoilassoonaspossible.Itisunlikelythatthetransferboxordifferentialswillhaveanymethodofinspectingoillevelinsidethem.Inmostcasestheseunitsare‘filltooverflow,’meaningitisacaseofremovingthefillerplugandtoppingupwithoiluntilitbeginstoflowbackoutofthefillerhole,thenrefittingtheplug.
Maintainingthehealthofyour4x4systemiscrucialforkeepingcontrolofrunningcosts.
Keepthesystemtoppedupwithoiluntil,asquicklyaspossible,itcanbeinspectedandrepairedbyaprofessional.Youshouldconsiderpurchasingaworkshopmanualforthevehicle,as
itmayhelpyoutodiagnosethecauseoftheleak,andwillalsohelpkeepyourrunningandrepaircostsdown.13.24x4noisesIfthe4x4systemismakinggroaningorgrindingnoisesthatyouhavenotexperiencedbefore,theseshouldbeinvestigatedassoonaspossible.Thenoisesmaybemoreevidentduringcornering,asmoreloadisappliedtothetransferboxordifferential(s).Ignoringthesenoisescanresultinatransferboxordifferentialfailure
thatcouldbeverycostly.It’srecommendedthatyouhavethevehiclecheckedbya4x4specialistassoonaspossible.Ifyouhaverecentlyhadtyreschangedandthenoisehasbecome
louder,thereisachancethatthiscouldbewhy,assometyresarenoisierthanothers.13.3Changingtyreson4x4vehiclesCertaintransferboxesanddifferentialson4x4systemsareverypronetoexcessivewearcausedbydifferenttyrediameters.Thisismorecommononvehiclesfittedwithconstantfour-wheeldrive(4WD)orall-wheeldrive(AWD).Lettingthefronttyresonthecarwearmorethantherearscancause
excessivewearonthe4WDcomponents,andcanresultinaverycostlyfailure.Thiscanalsooccurifyoureplacejustoneworntyrewithabrandnewone.Carsfittedwithacentraldifferentialareverypronetothistypeofproblem,whichiswhythemanufacturersofthesevehiclesstatethatallfourtyresshouldbechangedatthesametime.Failuretodosowilleventuallycausethe4WDsystemtofail,meaningthatavoidableexpensiverepairorreplacementwillbenecessary.
TipKeepacloseeyeonthetyrewearinordertoavoidtransferboxanddifferentialproblems.Regularlyswappingthetyresaround(fronttoback)willensurethatallfourtyresreceiveamoreevenamountofwear,minimisingthepotentialfordamagetothe4WDsystem.
TipDonotdrivearoundconstantlywiththevehiclein4WDifyouhavetheoptiontoswitchto2WD.Youwillnotbehelpingtokeepthetyreweareven,andwillbeprematurelywearingoutthe4x4system’scomponents.Onlyuse4x4modewhentheweatherorthedrivingsurfacerequiresit.Thiswillhelpthesystemlastlonger.13.4Cannotengagefour-wheeldriveIfthisisyourfirst4x4orthefirsttimeyouhavetriedusingyour4x4,makesureyouaretryingtoengagethe4x4systeminthecorrectmanner.Forexample,certainvehiclescanonlybeputinto4x4whenstationary,wheninneutral,orwhenbelowacertainspeed(say25mph).Theprocedureforengaging4x4shouldbeoutlinedintheuserhandbook.Ifyouhavebeenlookingafterthe4x4system,withregularinspections
andoilchanges,theproblemisnotlikelytobeaninternalissue.Itismorelikelythattheproblemstemsfromthecomponentsthatcontroltheengagingofthe4x4,suchasthevacuumsolenoid/system,electricactuator,ECU,fuses,andwiring.
Ifyouengagethe4x4systembypressingaswitchorturningadialonthedashboard,checkthatalloftherelevantcontrolsareworkingok.Thefirstthingtocheckisthatnoneoftherelevantfusesareblown(consultyourhandbookforfuseidentityandlocation).Ifthevehiclehasanelectronicactuatortoengagefour-wheeldrive,ensurethatthereispowergoingtoit,socheckthatallofthefusesandassociatedwiringisworking.Makesureyoucheckthewiringthatgoestotheswitchonthedashboard,aswellasattheactuatorend,onthetransferbox/caseunderneaththecar.Ifyouhaveafusethatkeepsblowing,thereispossiblyafaultwiththeactuator,anditmayneedtobereplaced.Onoldervehicles,4x4maybeengagedusingavacuumsystem.First
checkthatallofthepipeworktothevacuumactuatorisinplaceandfunctioningcorrectly.Anyloosepipeworkorlackofvacuumpressurewillpreventtheactuatorfromengagingfour-wheeldrive.Ifyoucannoteasilyidentifythereasonwhythe4x4isnotengaging,
thevehiclemayneedaprofessionaldiagnosticchecktoidentifythefaultcodesbeinggeneratedbythevehicle’selectroniccontrolunits.
fourteenSuspension,wheels&tyres
14.1LoudbangingnoisefromfrontonroughgroundThiskindofnoisewillberelatedtoawornorbrokensuspensioncomponentthatwillneedtobereplaced.Themostlikelycauseiswornanti-rollbardroplinks.Thesearethe
barsthatconnecttheanti-rollbartothesuspensionarmtoreducebodyroll.Whenthebushesateachendwearout,theywillmakeabangingsound,especiallywhenyouaretravellingoverspeedbumpsorhitapothole.Thesebushesarerelativelycheapandeasytochangeandshouldbeavailablefromyourlocalcarpartsshop.
Atypicalsuspensiondroplink.Whenwornthiscancausebangingoverbumps.
Changethesepartsfirst,andalsohavetherestofthesuspensioncomponentsinspectedforwear.Ifyouaregoingtoletagaragedothework,thenperhapsyoucouldhavethemechanicconfirmexactlywhat
thefaultisfirst.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Yes,ifananti-rollbardroplinkbushhasfailed,itwillstillbeinpositionbutwillnotbeworkingcorrectlyduetowear.Notethehandlingwillnotbeatitsbestuntiltheparthasbeenreplaced,andthatothersuspensionpartsandtyreswillbeexposedtohigherforces,causingexcessivewear(especiallyonthetyres).
14.2Steeringpullingtotheleftorright(notunderbraking)If,whendriving,younoticethatthecarispullingtoonesideinsteadofstraightahead,thereareanumberofpossiblecauses:•Poorlymatchedtyrepressures.Evenasmallamountofdifferencebetweentyrepressuresofthefronttwowheelscancausethecartopulltooneside.Checkthatallofthetyreshavethecorrectamountofpressureinthemasperthemanufacturer’srecommendations.•Poorwheelalignment.Ifthewheelsarenotcorrectlyalignedinrelationtoeachotherandthecar,pullingandexcessivetyrewearcanresult.Possiblecausesarehittingakerbresultinginsuspensiondamage,abadlyrepairedvehicleorwornoutsuspension/steeringcomponents.Takethecartoawheelalignmentspecialist(usuallyfoundintyreandexhaustcentres)whichwillcheckandadjustalignmentofthewheels.Youmayalsoreceiveadviceaboutanywornpartsthatarecausingthemisalignment.•Brakebinding.Abrakecaliperthatisnotreleasingcorrectlywillcausethebrakepadsononesidetoalwaysbeincontactwiththebrakedisc.Thiswillresultinslightpullingtothesideofthebindingbrake.Aquickcheckforthis,afteradrive,istocomparethetemperatureofeachwheeltoseeiftheoneyoufeelisdraggingisgettinghotterthanitsoppositenumber.Havethisprobleminvestigatedbeforeitgetsworseandcausesawarpedbrakedisc.Themechanicmayrepairorreplacethefaultycaliper.
14.3Nail/debrisstuckintyreIfyouknowthatyouhaveanailorsomethingelserelativelysmallstuckinatyre,youwillneedtogetthepuncturefixedorthetyrereplaced.If
youdohavetodrivethevehicletoagaragewiththattyreonit,donottaketheobjectoutofthetyreasitwillprobablybepluggingthepunctureoratleastslowingdowntheleak.
Nailstuckintyre.Canbeleftinplaceuntiltyreisrepairedorreplaced.
Caution!Drivecarefullyincasethetyresuddenlydeflates.
TipYoucanuseemergencypuncturerepairfoamasatemporaryfixtoinflatethetyreuntilyoucangetthepuncturerepairedorthetyre
replaced.Theseproductsarereadilyavailablefrommostcarpartsshopsandmanyfuelfillingstations:ausefulitemtocarryinthecarincaseofapuncture.Notethattheseproductsworkbestwhereastraightforwardpuncturehasoccurred,eganailinthetread.Ifyouhavedrivenontheflattyreforanydistanceorthereisdamagetothesidewalls,theproductcannotbeused.
Considerusinganemergencypuncturerepairproductuntilthetyreisrepaired/replaced.
14.4UneventyrewearThetyretreadsshouldwearatanevenrateacrosstheirwidth,soifyounoticemorewearindifferentplaces,lookintothisfurther.
Howdeepisthiscutacrossthetyretread?Haveitcheckedatatyrefittingcentre.
Thefirstthingtocheckisthatthetyreisinflatedsufficiently.Anover-inflatedtyrewillexperiencemoretreadwearinthecentreofitstread.Anunder-inflatedtyrewillexperiencemoretreadattheoutsideedges.
Tyrewornmoreonouteredgeisareliableindicatorofsuspensionproblems.
Ifyouseehightreadwearononeedge,thisisanindicationthatthereisawheelalignmentproblem,and,possibly,wornsuspensioncomponents.Youwillneedtotakethecartoawheelalignmentspecialist(attyreandexhaustcentres)whichwillcheckandadjustthealignmentofthewheels.Youwillalsoreceiveadviceaboutanywornpartsthatarecausingthemisalignment.
Thistyreissplitting,likelycausedbyageorpoorsuspensiongeometry:itneedsurgentreplacement.
Atyrethatdoesnotmakecorrectcontactwiththegroundcannotprovideitsfulllevelofgrip.Itisimportanttohavethenecessaryalignmentadjustmentsmadeandtochangeanywornsuspension/steeringparts.14.5TyrewillnotinflateIfyoucannotgetanyairintothetyrewhenyouaretryingtoinflateit,thetyrevalveisfaultyandwillneedtobereplaced.Youwillneedtotakethecartoyourlocaltyreandexhaustcentreandaskthemtochangethevalveforyou.Thiswillinvolvetakingthetyreoffthewheel,sotherewillbealabourchargeontopofthecostofthenewvalve.
Ifthetyrewillnotinflate,itmayhaveafaultyvalvethatwillneedtobereplaced.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Thiswilldependonhowflatthetyreis.Ifthereisverylittleairinit,youwillbecommittingadrivingoffenceaswellascausingfurtherdamagetothetyre,whichmayresultinitneedingtobechanged.Bettertofityourcar’ssparewheel(ifithasone)andthenhavethefaultyvalvereplaced.Ifthetyreseemstobeokay,andjustneedstoppingupwithair,it
shouldbeokaytodrivetothetyreandexhaustcentretohaveanewvalvefitted.
14.6BulgingorunevenshapingofthetyretreadsorwallsMis-shapingofthetyrewall,likeabubbleforming,istellingyouthatthetyrehasaseriousdefectandatriskofsufferingablowout.Fityoursparewheelassoonaspossibleandhavethetyrechanged.Thetyrecanno
longerbeusedandmustbescrapped.
Asoftspotinthetyrewallmeansthetyreisdamagedinternally.Itcanbegintobulgeoutwards.Newtyreneeded.
Thiskindoffaultisusuallycausedbyexcessiveforcebeingappliedtothetyre,suchashittingakerbordrivingoverabrick.Thesidewallofthetyreisdamagedandweakenedduetotheimpact,andwillstarttobulgeatthisweakspot.
CanIstilldrivethecar?No,youmustnotdrivethecarwiththistyreonit,asthereisriskofablowoutthatcouldresultinaveryseriousaccident.Fitthesparewheelstraightaway,andgetthedefectivetyrereplacedatatyreandexhaustcentre.14.7WheelboltseizedIfyouneedtoremoveawheelbutoneoftheboltswillnotloosen,trya
differentwheelbracefromtheoneoriginallysuppliedwiththecar,astheycanbeverysmall.Usingalargerwheelbrace,orsocketandtommybarwillallowmoreforcetobeappliedtothewheelboltandmayloosenit.Itwillalsomakelooseningtheotherwheelboltsmucheasier.Longerwheelbracescanbepurchasedfrommostcarpartsshops.
Wheelboltscanbecomeseizedovertimeduetoage,excessiveheat,corrosion,etc.
Tryusingalongertooltounfastenatightorseizedwheelbolt.
Iftheboltisstillstuck,considerusingaspraypenetrantsuchasWD40.Youmayneedtoapplyitafewtimesandletitworkitswayin.Takecarenottogetanyofthelubricantontothebrakepadsorbrakediscs.
TryspraypenetrantlikeWD40ontoughbolts,butdon’tgetanyonthebrakes.
Hittingtheboltafewtimeswithaheavyhammercanhelptoloosenatoughwheelbolt.Theairgunsusedatgaragesarealsoreferredtoasimpactguns,becausetheyhavebothahammeringandrotatingaction.
Tapthewheelboltwithaheavyhammertohelploosenit.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
Takeyourcartoagarageortyrerepaircentreandaskthestaffiftheywillloosenaseizedbolt.Thepowerfulequipmenttheyhavemayworkitloose.Also,theymaybeabletoapplysomeheattoareallystubbornwheelbolt(notalwayspossiblewithalloywheels).Ifyouhavebreakdowncoverandthewheelneedstocomeoff
becauseyouhaveapuncture,giveyourserviceprovideracall,asthissituationshouldbecoveredbyyourpolicy.Takecarenottoapplytoomuchforcewhenremovingawheelbolt.
Theycanonlytakesomuchforceand,ifyouareusingthingslikescaffoldpolestoapplymoreforce,youareatseriousriskofthewheelboltsnapping,whichwillbearepairjobforagarage.Ifyoudomanagetogetthewheelboltremoved,considerreplacingit
withanewonesothattheproblemdoesnothappenagain.
Caution!Don’tapplygreasetothewheelbolts.14.8WheelboltbrokenBrokenwheelboltsoftenoccurasaresultofthembeingovertightenedwhenthewheelsarerefitted.Wheelboltsaredesignedtoshearoffbelowthetaperedpart,just
leavingthestraightthreadedsectioninthewheelhub.Thismeansthatremovingtheotherwheelboltswillstillallowyoutotakethewheeloffthecar,toseeifyoucanremovetheremainderofthebolt.Youmaybeabletograbtheremainingthreadtoremoveit.Ifitistoo
tightorthereisnotenoughtograbonto,youmayneedtouseastudextractor.Thisinvolvesdrillingasmallholeintotheendofthebrokenboltandscrewinginasuitablysizedextractor.Thesearethreadedanti-clockwise,soasyouturnitandittightensintothedrilledhole,itshouldallowyoutounscrewthebolt.Ifyouareunabletoremovetheremainingthread,youwillneedtohaveitremovedatagarage.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Thecarhasbeendesignedwithaspecificnumberofwheelbolts,usuallyfourorfive.Drivingwithfewerwillputmorestrainontotheremainingbolts.However,ifyoureallydoneedtodrivethecartothegaragetobe
repaired,andyouaremissingjustonebolt,youshouldonlytravelashortdistance.
Caution!Driveslowly(avoidfastroads),especiallyaroundcorners,applythebrakesgently,andaccelerateslowly.Ifyouexperienceawheelwobbleorchangeindrivingfeel,stopthecarimmediatelyanddonotproceedanyfurther.
14.9Lockingwheelnuts/boltsIfyouvehicleisfittedwithalloywheels,thereisapossibilitytheywillbefittedwithlockingwheelsnutstopreventthembeingstolen.Lockingwheelnutsorboltsneedaspecialfitting(key)toallowthemto
beremovedfromthecar,andifthisislostorbrokenthenyouwillnotbeabletoremovethewheels.Alwayskeepthekeysomewheresafeinsidethecar,incaseofa
puncture.However,ifyourkeygetslostordamaged,thereareanumberofoptionsavailabletoyou:
Typicallockingwheelnuts.
•Buyreplacementkey–ifyouhaveanydetailsaboutthelockingwheelnuts,suchaswhomanufacturedit,originalpackaging,partnumbersetc,youmaybeabletosourceareplacement.•Lockingwheelnutremovers–thesecanbepurchasedfrommotorfactorsandonline,andaredesignedwithadeepreversethreadthatshouldgriptheoutsideofthenutandunfastenit.Notethatthesedonotalwaysworksuccessfully,andwillalsorenderthewheelboltunusableonceithasbeenremoved,meaningthatyouwillhavetosourceareplacement.•Localtyrefitters–yourlocaltyrefittermaybeabletohelpyouremovethelockingnut,asitisprobablyaproblemtheyexperienceonaregularbasis.Somecarrygenerickeysthatcanbeusedtoremovemanylockingwheelnuts,soonemayfityours.•Breakdownservice–intheeventofapuncturewherethelockingwheel
nutpreventsyoufromfittingareplacement,yourbreakdownservicemaybeabletoattendandremovethelockingwheelnut.
fifteenEnginecoolant
15.1VerylittlecoolantintheengineCaution!Iftheengineishotbecarefulnottoburnyourselfbytouchingcomponents.Theremaybeasprayofscaldingsteamwhenthesystemfillercapisremoved:coveritwithaheavyclothasyouremoveit,orwaituntileverythingcoolsdown.Howevermuchwaterisneededtorefillthesystemtothecorrectlevel
willindicatehowmuchcoolanthasbeenlost.
Topupthecoolingsystemwiththecorrectamountofanti-freeze/summercoolant.
Onceyouhavefilledupthecoolantsystem,checkforleaksbeforeyou
starttheengine.Ifnoleaksareapparent,startthecarandcheckforleaksagain.Keeptheenginerunningandtakeafewminutestolookallaroundtheenginebayandunderneaththecar.Ifcoolantispouringoutquicklyfromanywhere,itisimportanttostopthecarstraightaway.Ifthecarhasaslowcoolantleakandyouhaveajourneytocontinue,
youmustproceedwithcaution.Keepacloseeyeonthetemperaturegaugeandalsothecar’sinteriorheatingsystem(seetips).Youwillprobablyhavetostopregularlytotopupthecoolantuntilyoureachyourdestinationoragarage.
TipKeepacloseeyeontheenginetemperaturegauge.Asthewaterinthecoolantsystemgetslower,theremainingwaterwillgethotterquicker,soassoonasthegaugeneedlenearsthedangerzoneyoumuststopthecarstraightaway.
TipOnlyinanemergency!Turnontheinteriorheaterandhaveitblowinghotair;usethisasanindicator,aswhilstitisblowinghot,itshowsthatthereisstillwaterinthecoolingsystem.Assoonasitblowscooleryoumuststopthecarimmediately.
Seethenextsectionforadviceonhowtoperformaleakrepair.Ifyouknowthatyourcarhassufferedalossofenginecoolant,and
knowthattheenginehasrecentlyoverheated,considerthelikelihoodthattheenginewillbedamaged.Mostcommonlythiswillbeintheformofablowncylinderheadgasketorawarpedcylinderhead.Seesections5.3and6.1forfurtherinformation.15.2CoolantleakingThefirstthingyoushoulddoisstopthecarandturnofftheengine.Checkthecoolantlevelbyobservingtheexpansiontank–thelevelshouldbebetweenthe‘min’and‘max’markings.Itisimportanttoturntheengineoffassoonaspossibletoavoidpotentialseriousdamage.Seethecautionnotein15.1.Topupthecoolantifnecessary,then
restarttheengine.Lookforsteamorwatercomingfromanyhosesorfromtheradiator.Also,checkthegroundundertheenginetoseeifthereisanythingdrippingfromabove.
Checkunderthecarforsignsofcoolantleaks.(CourtesyCarBasics.co.uk)
Thetypeofrepairneededwilldependonwheretheleakiscomingfrom:•Leakcomingfromtheradiator.Youcanusestop-leaktreatmenttoplugit.Manystop-leaktreatmentsaresoldas‘permanent,’andthereforetheradiatorshouldnotneedreplacing/repair.However,afteranytypeofcoolantsystemrepairalwayskeepacloseeyeonthecoolantlevels.•Leakcomingfromhose.Youcaneasilyuserepairtapetofixittemporarily.Theserepairtapescanbepurchasedfrommostcarpartsshopsandsomefillingstations.Theseself-amalgamatingtapesshouldonlybetreatedasatemporaryrepair,andyoushouldgetthefaultyhosereplacedassoonaspossible.NotethatHoltsRadWelddoesstatethatitcanrepairhoseleaksaswellasradiatorleaks.Bothoftheseleakrepairproductsarerelativelycheapandeasytouse.
Theycangetyououtofanemergency,andcanbefoundatyourlocalcarpartsshops.Evengaragesandsupermarketscarrytheminstock.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Withaslowleakandaconstanteyeonenginetemperatureandwaterlevels,youshouldbeabletodriveuntiltheleakhasbeenfixed.Carryalargebottleofwaterincaseyouneedtotopup.Readthetipsinsection15.1tohelpkeeptheenginetemperature
down.Remember,ifyou’vetemporarilytoppedupthesystemwitha
substantialamountofwater,itwillhavetobedrainedandthedilutedcoolantreplacedwiththecorrectwater/anti-freeze-inhibitormixtureassoonaspossible,especiallyinwinter.
sixteenFuel
16.1RunningoutoffuelWehavealltriedtogetmoremilesoutofourcarthanthefuelinourtanksmayallow,whichiswhyitisalwaysimportanttocarryasparefuelcan,soyouhaveanemergencysupplyshouldyourunout.Ifyoudon’townasparecananddorunout,thenearestgarageshouldbeabletosellyouonethatyoucanthenfillup.Takeitbacktothecarandrefuel,and,hopefully,thecarshouldstart.Runningoutoffuelonmoderncarscanbeveryproblematic,andissomethingthatshouldalwaysbeavoided.Theprocessofgettingfuelfromthetankandintothefuellingsystem
onceairhasenteredthesystemiscalledpurging.Mostmoderncarsshouldbeself-purging,andabletorestartafterrunningoutoffuel.Butpleasenotethatitmaytakesometimetorestartthecarasittriestopumpthefuelfromthetankintotheengine.Itisimportantheretohaveafullychargedandhealthybattery.Oldervehiclesmayhavetobemanuallypurged,andyouwillneedto
checktheuserorworkshopmanualforinstructions.Thisnormallyinvolvesoperatingaplungerintheenginebaytodrawthefuelthroughfromthetank.Ifyouhaveanoldorpartiallychargedbattery,thereisastrongchance
thatthebatterywillrunflatbeforeenoughfuelispumpedthroughtotheengine.Ifthecarfeelshesitantorspluttersafterrunningoutoffuel,consider
changingthefuelfiltersorhavingthefuel-injectorscleaned.Thefaultmaybeduetothesepartsgettingcloggedupbecauseyouranthecarsolowonfuelthatdebrisfromthebottomofthetankhasbeenintroducedtothefuellingsystem.16.2FillingupwiththewrongfuelThishappenstoover150,000UKdriverseachyear,soyou’renotalone.
Caution!Themostimportantthingis:donottoturnontheignitionanddonottostartthecar.Thisiscritical,becauseassoonasyoustartthe
car,youwilltransferfuelintotheengine.Wearenottalkingaboutabitofdamage–itcouldbecatastrophic!
TheRAChasaspecialservicecalledRACFuelPatrol,whichwilldrainthefueltankattheroadside,flushoutthefuelsystem,andprovideyouwithenoughfueltogetyouonyourway.Youdonotneedtobeamembertousethisservice.
WhattodoifIdidstartmycar?Thecarprobablystoppedofitsownaccordandthenyourealisedwhatyouhaddone.Donottrytorestartthecar,asyouwilljustbepumpingmoreofthewrongfuelintotheengineandcausingmoredamagetoit.Whatyoumustnowdoisarrangewithabreakdownserviceorgarage
tocomeandcollectthecarsoitcanbeassessedfordamageandrepaired.
Important!Checkyourvehicleinsurance–thereisasmallpossibilitythatdamagecausedbymisfuelingmaybecovered.Yourinsurancepolicymayexcludedamagecausedbymisfuelingespeciallywiththird-partyonlycover,butitisdefinitelyworthcheckingout.16.3StrongsmelloffuelOnmodernvehicleswithfuel-injectedenginesyoushouldneverbeabletosmellpetrolordieselunlessthereisafault.Ifyoudriveanoldervehiclethathascarburettorsoramanualchoke,petrolsmellsareprobablyquitecommonandnotnecessarilyanindicatorofasignificantproblem.Thefuelsystemsonmodernvehiclesaresealedandthereshouldbe
nosmellofthefuelinsidethem.
Inspectingfuellinesandfuel-injectorconnectionsforfuelleaksbecauseofastrongsmell.
Astrongsmellofdieselorpetrolcanbecausedbysuchthingsasleakingfuellines,hoseconnectors,fuel-injectorleaksorpressureproblemsorevenpoorignitiontiming.Whateverthecause,chancesarethatitisprettyseriousandrequires
theattentionofanexpertmechanic.Itisnotsomethingthatyoushouldhopewillbeokay,andnotsomethingyoushouldjustcleanupandcarryonwithyourjourney.
Caution!Turnthecarengineoff,takethekeysoutoftheignitionanddonotuseanyofthevehicleelectrics.
CanIstilldrivethecar?Untilyouhaveidentifiedwhattheproblemisandfixedit,youshouldn’tdrivethecar.Anyfuelthatisleakinghasthepotentialtocatchfireand
causeapotentiallyfatalincident.
Caution!Neverloosen,unfastenorretightenanycomponentsofyourvehicle’sfuellingsystemyourself.Thiskindofworkmustonlyeverbeundertakenbyaqualifiedmechanic.
16.4Fuelfillerflapwon’topenIfthefuelfillerflapwon’topen,itispossiblybecausethelockhasnotreleased.Iftheflapdoeshaveakey-operatedlockonit,andithasalwaysbeen
unlockedwhenyou’vefilledupinthepast,thenyouclearlyhaveaflapcontrolledbythecentrallockingsystem.Somevehicleshaveaspecificbuttonthathastobepressedtoreleasethefuelfillerflap.Theselockableflapsshouldhaveamethodformanuallyoverriding
andopeningtheflapfrominsidethecar.Youwillneedtorefertothecar’suserhandbooktofindthespecificmethodforyourvehicle.Hereisanon-carspecificmethodthatmayhelpifyoudonothavea
userhandbook.Gainaccesstothefuelfillerflapmechanism,whichislocatedinsidethecar.Removetheinteriortrimpanelthatisbehindthefuelfiller,andyoushouldbeabletoseethefillerflapmechanism.Youshouldseearodorlever,whichwilloperatethelockingpinontheotherside.Usingascrewdriverorlongnosepliers,manuallypull/pushtherodsothatitdisengagesthelockingpin.Whenyouhavedonethis,thefuelflapshouldbereleased.Gettingitopensolvestheimmediateproblemofgettingfuelintothe
tank.However,youwillneedtoascertainthecausetopreventtheproblemfromhappeningagain.Thefaultwillprobablybeablownfuse,faultyswitch,stickinglock,faultysolenoid,orfaultywiring.
TipYoucanalsousethismethodifyourcarhasaflatbatteryorthecentrallockinghasfailed.
TipIfyouhavenoticedthatthefuelflapwon’tunlockwhentheweatherisverycold,itmaybethatthelockisfreezingup.Tohelpstopthis,openthefuelfillerflapandspraysomeWD40orotherspraypenetrant/lubricantintothelock/pinmechanism,thuslubricatingitanddispersinganywaterthatcouldfreezeagain.
seventeenWinter
Asfaraswinterproblemswithcarsareconcerned,preventionisalwaysbetterthancure.Thischapteroutlinesafewtipsthatshouldhelpkeepyoumotoringduringthewintermonths.17.1FrozenlocksIfthetemperaturedropsovernight,youcanfindyourselfinarushtogettoworkonlytofindthatyoucannotgetintoyourcarbecausethedoorlockshavefrozen.Youprobablyalreadyknowthatasprayofde-icerorawarmedupdoor
keywillhelpyoutogetintothecar.Ifyoudonothaveanyde-icertohand,youcanuseahandsanitiserthatcontainsalcohol.Spreadsomeontoyourkeyandtrytogetitintothelock;thealcoholshouldstarttomelttheice.
PreventingfrozendoorlocksOnegoodwayofpreventingfrozendoorlocks,otherthankeepingyourcarinthegarage,istosprayWD40intothelocks.WD40isnotonlyalubricant,butalsoawaterdispersant,whichwillhelptopreventfreezing.ThisiseasierifyouusethespraytubethatcomeswiththeWD40asyoucanpushitpasttheflapthatsealsthekeyhole.
Frozendoorlockscanbearealnuisance.
TipKeepasparecanofde-icerinthehouseaswellasinthecar,incasethelocksfreeze.Youwillalsofindthatthede-icerkeptinthehousewillspraybetterthanonethatisreallycoldfrombeinginthecar.Justmakesurethatyoureturnthecantothehouseafterusingit.
Spraylubricantintothelockstopreventfreezinginwinter.17.2FrozendoorsIfyoumanagetounlockthecarandfindthatyoucannotpullopenthedoor,thisisprobablybecauseithasfrozensolid.Don’tkeeppullingonthedoorhandle,asyoumaycausedamagetoit,thedoorpanelorthedoor’sseals.Frozendoorsareoftencausedbyraingettingintothegapsaroundthe
door,thenfreezingsolid.Trytoavoidchippingawayattheicearoundthedoorwithascraper,
asyoumayscratchthepaintwork.Insteadsprayde-icerontotheareatomeltit.
PreventingfrozendoorsTopreventthedoorsealsfromfreezingtothebody,openthedoorsandspreadalittlepetroleumjellyontotherubbersealsthatrunallaroundthem.Thisshouldpreventanywater/moisturefreezingthesealstogether.Youwillneedtotakealittlecautionwhenenteringthecarsoastonotgetanyjellyonyourclothes,butatleastyoushouldbeabletoactuallygetintoit.
Petroleumjellyondoorsealscanstopdoorsfromfreezingshut.17.3FrozenwindscreenwipersNEVERusethewindscreenwiperstoremoveanythingfromthewindscreenotherthanrainuntilyouhavecheckedthatthewiperbladesarenotstucktothewindow.Eventhen,usingthewiperstoshiftalotofsnowfromthewindscreenisgoingtoputexcessivewearonthewipermotorandmechanism,andyouareatriskofbreakingitorblowingafuse.
Avoiddamagetowiperbladesandmotorsbyremovingalliceandsnowfromaroundthem.
Ifyoucanhearthewindscreenwipermotorsturningbutthewipersarenotmoving,youwillhavedamagedapartofthewindscreenwipermechanism,anditwillmostlikelyneedtobereplaced.Thechancesarethatsomethinghasbentorshearedoff,anditwillnotbejustacaseofboltingitbacktogether.Ifthewipersarenotworkingandyoucan’thearthemotor,you’ve
probablyblownthefuseanditwillneedtobereplaced.Checkthecar’suserhandbookforthefuseposition.
TipBeforeyoutryliftingthewiperbladesfromthewindscreen,givethemaspraywithde-icerincasetheyarefrozeninplace.Thisshouldpreventdamagetothewiperblades.
TipBeforeoperatingthewindscreenwipers,makesurethatallthe
built-upsnowandicearoundthewiperarmsisremoved,especiallywherethearmsmeetthebody.Failuretodosomaycausedamagetothewipermotororwipermechanismunderthebonnet.
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Doyouknowhowyourcarworks?Thisbookdissectsandexplainsoneofthefinestinventionsevermade.Writteninasimple,jargon-freelanguageandpackedwithillustrationsandcutaways,itwillsuiteveryonewishingtoknowmoreaboutwhatmakestheircarwork.
CaringforyourcarHowtomaintain&serviceyourcarTrevorFry
eBookISBN-978-1-84584501-8PrintISBN-978-1-845843-96-0
http://digital.veloce.co.uk/ebooks/eV4501.html
Thisbookisaimedatthedriverwhowantstodohisorherownbasiccarmaintenanceandservicingwithouttheneedforin-depthmechanicalknowledge,oratechnicalmanual.Itcoversareassuchasoil,brakes,tyres,transmission,electrics,etc,allowingtheownertoaddressthemostregularlyserviceditemswithoutforkingoutforadditionalcosts.Illustratedwithfullcolourphotographsthroughout,andfeaturingclear,easy-to-followinstructions,thisbookisamust-haveforalldrivers.
Caringforyourcar’sbodyworkandinteriorSimonNixon
eBookISBN-978-1-84584543-8PrintISBN-9781845843885http://digital.veloce.co.uk/ebooks/eV4543.html
Carscanbeexpensivethings,anddeservetobecaredforproperly.Acleanandwell-tendedcarwilllookbetter,bemorepleasurabletodrive,andhaveasuperiorresalevalue.Thisbookisastep-by-stepguidetothevariouselementsofcarcare,fromwashing,waxingandpolishingtoenginecleaningandleathermaintenance.Featuringillustrationsandproductrecommendations,thisisamust-buyforallcarlovers.
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