How can I fix my car?

March 26, 12:39 AMTampa Sports Car ExaminerMichael Berenis

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Sports cars break down, that's a fact. "How do I fix my car?" is a common question amongst performance enthusiasts. The more performance you squeeze out of your car, the more likely things are going to break down. Racing for competition or just fun can also create some crazy mechanical issues that ultimately lead to the question, "How to fix my car".

Learning how to fix my car is one of the best skills I've learned. This is a great way to save money while being educated first hand about your vehicle. After working on it for some time, you can diagnose and catch small problems before they turn into disasters. A small noise, different smell, funny vibration, and more can all be warning signs of a much bigger problem. If properly diagnosed and repaired, you can save yourself thousands of dollars and dozens of hours spent repairing.

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Many people work on cars themselves, but I figured out several tricks on how to fix my car. Start fixing things and working on cars yourself as soon as possible. Start with easy stuff like oil changes, diagnosing check engine lights, changing spark plugs & air filters, installing basic bolt on modifications, and more. If you start tinkering under the hood, within a couple of months, mods, and repairs you will know that car like the back of your hand. I learned how to fix my car when I was 14, but it wasn't a car; it was a scooter. Issues arose and I had to fix it or ride the bicycle. Humans adapt, so if another man can fix your car then so can you.

Today, I was out driving my Subaru WRX when it started misfiring. "Oh no, how to fix my car?" Not to worry but I thought to myself, "Dude, your engines blown"; mainly because it misfired right after some good boosting. I got it home, and it turns out I had a loose connection to an ignition coil that resulted in cylinder one not firing. The wire was pulled out of the coil over due to g-forces created during boosting and ripping corners. My engine is fine, it's just not getting spark to cylinder one. No need for complete engine replacement. This is usually the case, it's always less than what you think.

Instead of getting flustered I diagnosed and repaired the problem in an hour or so. Several other occasions have occurred where the issue seems big, but turns out to be something simple like a lose wire or hose. When things go wrong, before calling a mechanic use the following check list.

How to fix my car:

1. Check recent modifications for failure.
2. Check to see if a "Check Engine" light (CEL) is on your dash and diagnose the code.
3. Look for loose hoses and wire connections. Not everything throws a CEL.
4. Reset your cars computer (ECU)
   • Disconnect the negative battery terminal and turn on a dome light, or press the brake pedal. Reconnect the negative battery terminal, most vehicle ECU's reset this way. Activating the dome or brake light drains the electricity out of the system resulting in a reset ECU, clock, radio, etc.
5. Don't over stress about it, it's usually something simple.

   

 If after looking at it yourself, and checking over the routine steps above your problem still persists consider looking into forums and ask questions. Several forums are available to help you figure out how to fix your car, but the best one is TampaRacing.com which covers all makes and models. Go there and ask, "How to fix my car" and you'll see an amazing amount of knowledgeable responses within the hour. Over 63,000 car enthusiasts from Tampa Bay and abroad visit this site to share knowledge, ask questions, and socialize. If there is a problem with your car, check out the forums and ask a question.

For more specific inquiries, such as my Subaru WRX I used DirtyImpreza.com to find the answers I was looking for. Try using a manufacturer specific forum for additional information.

If the forums can't figure it out, try using "Yahoo Answers". This is also another great way to figure out what is wrong with your car, research CEL's, figure out the best modifications, and more. Got a question? First research to see if the question has already been asked before. If not, post your question! Usually within 24 hours there will be a knowledgeable answer waiting for you.

Some issues are better handled by trained mechanics with proper equipment. Front wheel drive, side mounted engines are the hardest to work on due to clearance issues. If you can't fit your hands or tools in the area you need to work on, give it to the professionals that have the appropriate tools and procedures.

If you plan on repairing your vehicle under the shade of a tree, make sure you consider the ease of repair when you buying vehicles. This choice can mean disaster and head aches, or money savings and good feelings; you decide! Look under the hood and make sure you have room to replace the belt, alternator, water pump, power steering pump, spark plugs, air and oil filters, various sensors, and air conditioning compressor yourself. These are the things that typically what go wrong on a modern vehicle.

If you have properly diagnosed the issue, you will need to next find the replacement / repair procedure. Procedures can be found online by searching for your car, and "shop manual". If you cannot located this for free online, go to your nearest auto parts store and ask for a "Haynes Manual". These handy books are usually $20.00 and have complete instructions to repair and diagnose everything on your vehicle. The first thing you do after buying your car should be the purchase of a Haynes repair manual. These are the most handy books ever created for the shade tree mechanic.

Special notes for performance modified vehicles:

It is my experience that each modification takes a certain amount of time to settle. During this settlement period, you will experience several minor problems that must be fixed by slight modifications. For example, when installing pressure related lines such as blow off valve controls or intercooler spray kits you will see weak spots pop. The time it takes to make it run perfect is the settlement period. All modifications have a settlement period, some are longer than others. During error ridden settlement periods, try to stay as close to your garage as possible until the kinks get worked out.

How to fix my car- Diagnostic Matrix for General Vehicles

Car won't start:

Check battery voltage and connections.

If voltage is low, charge your battery. If the battery won't take a charge, replace it.

If battery terminals aren't clean this is a problem.

mix one table spoon of  baking soda to a cup of water

Use wire brush or battery terminal cleaner with solution to dissolve corrosion.

Check exhaust for black or thick white smoke

Black smoke means oil is being burnt

Piston rings are usually at fault if your burning oil.

White smoke means antifreeze is being burnt

Cracked block or cylinder wall fracture

Check fuel, spark and air

Gets gas but no spark, check plugs and ignition system

No gas but gets spark, check fuel filter / fuel system

Not enough air, check intake tract and filter for signs of wear and tear, contamination, or other.

Car starts but won't stay running:

Check fuel level.

If fuel level is okay, check your fuel filter.

Check fuel filter by cycling the fuel pump (turn key to ON position but don't start car)

Make sure gas is getting to and past your fuel filter.

Not past but gets to the filter: Replace fuel filter

Not past and doesn't get to the filter: Check fuel pump

Past: Check spark plugs, air filter, and MAF sensor.

Car over heats or runs hot:

Low on coolant

Bad radiator

Leaky coolant lines

Faulty water pump, heater core, or other key coolant component

Tip: cool down engine by turning on heat, it will get you a couple more miles in extreme cases, and in most fix the problem.

Steering shakes, whines, squeaks, shudders, or steering wheel off center:

You have an alignment issue, seek professionals with a laser alignment device.

Alignment ok? Check your tires.

Tires ok? Check your power steering fluid for adequate levels and consistency. Should be like an "oil" not pasty or with chunks floating.

Fluids okay? Check under your car for loose bolts and missing suspension/ steering components. Check rubber for cracks and wear. ID issue and replace / repair.

Various electronic issues:

Bad sensors

Look for "Check engine" light on dash (use diagnostics scanner and find code)

If no code, sensor might just be dirty. Clean with appropriate chemicals.

If in doubt, replace it.

Devices not working

Use voltmeter and check for voltage

No voltage: check related fuses

Voltage: check for appropriate ground

Ground ok? Check for continuity and appropriate OHM resistance.

After replacing device, fails again.

You have a short, trace the wires back to their original power source and look for signs of wear and tear.

Shorts are when electricity arcs from the wire to the another piece of metal

Signs of a short: Blown fuses, smoke, fire, constantly replacing of electronic devices

Leaks, spills, and smells

Oil leak- Check oil drain plug, oil filter, oil pan, and heads.

Oil smell- smells like burnt popcorn

Typically means oil is dripping on the exhaust or headers

Coolant leak: Check water pump, coolant lines, radiator, thermostat and coolant reservoir

Coolant smell: smells like the fishing wharf

Typically means heater coil is going bad, or you have a leaky line near the heater coil.

If accompanied by steam or smoke, a bad radiator or low coolant level is usually the problem.

Transmission leak: Check engine to trans seal, transmission pan & pump seals

Differential leaks: Check CV joints, drive shafts, and electric control device gaskets

Noises during operation:

Banging or clicking from the engine that increases with RPM

Bad valves, piston rods, cams, or crank shaft bearings.

Occasional sputter or belch

Fouled spark plugs, bad or inappropriate gasoline, bad fuel filter, bad fuel pump

 Squeak or groan when turning the steering wheel

Bad power steering fluid, low power steering fluid, leak in the system

Grinding or squealing from brakes

Brake pads need replaced, rotors resurfaced or replaced

Thuds or knocks from bumps, pot holes, hills, changes in road

Check suspension components to be tight and functioning

Bad shocks are typical

Air conditioning squeals when you turn it on

AC pump bearing going bad

Low AC refrigerant

Speeding tickets, accidents, excessive tire & brake pad wear, or repeated blown engines & transmission:

Check the loose nut behind the steering wheel. (joke I couldn't resist)

 For all other inquiries and issues not listed here, check out this site for great diagnostic information.

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