The Most Common Engine Repair Problems

Your car is a complex machine and there are a lot of things that can wrong with your engine over time but the top three problems that most drivers encounter include the dreaded engine warning light, a car that won't start or a car that overheats. Any and all of these three main problems will usually result in a needed engine repair in order to get your car back on the road in good running order again.

The check engine light can come on in your car for a lot of reasons and root cause of why- can be hard to diagnose on your own without the proper diagnostic tools and training that a mechanic has. If the engine light comes on and your car is not driving any differently or making any new noises it may just be a faulty sensor light. Regardless you should take your car in for an engine repair or check and avoid driving around with the light on in case the problem is more serious than just a sensor.

Another common problem many driver's experience is a car that won't start. The root cause of a dead car can be something simple and cheap to fix like a dead battery or defective battery cables or it can be something more extensive that will require an engine repair such as a blown starter or alternator. A dead car can even be caused by a defective or clogged fuel pump which again would require a mechanic to diagnose and repair.

Finally cars can overheat and this is not just a seasonal problem in the hot days of summer when it's warm outside. Your car's core temperature is not based on the external environment so a hot day or a cold day should not affect the temperature of your car's engine. What can affect the temperature of your car's engine however is a faulty thermostat, low radiator fluid, a dirty air filter or even a kinked or broken radiator hose. An engine repair job would probably be in order to correctly diagnose your car's overheating problem and solve it.

When you do end up needing a mechanic for your engine repair needs choose wisely to avoid paying for car repairs that you don't need and not getting car repairs that you do need because your mechanic did not diagnose the engine problem correctly.

Choose a mechanic that has been in business for a while and operates out of a brick and mortar shop and not just his home or his car. It may be outwardly cheaper to have the lowest bidder repair your car but you may end up getting what you pay for and having to have the repair job done again down the road.

Car repairs are not always expected but the older your car is and the more you drive it, the more likely you will at some point encounter a needed repair, so be as prepared as possible by knowing what to expect.