Diagnosing Car Problems

Explore the reasons behind white smoke from exhaust. Learn about issues, fixes, and expert insights for vehicle health.

By HowStuffWorks

Learn about coolant leak causes and solutions. Expert insights for identifying, diagnosing, and fixing coolant leaks.

By HowStuffWorks & Talon Homer

Explore power steering fluid leak causes and solutions. Expert insights on detecting, diagnosing, and repairing leaks.

By Sascha Bos

Picture this: you’re heading out for an important meeting, and you’re left wondering, “why won’t my car start?” Frustrating, isn’t it? Before you call the mechanic or tow truck, let’s explore some common causes of this problem and how to resolve them. In this blog post, we’ll discuss everything from dead batteries to faulty ignition switches and even unique challenges faced by modern vehicles, all related to the question, “why won’t my car start?”

By HowStuffWorks

Discover bad fuel pump symptoms and expert insights. Learn to identify, diagnose, and address issues for optimal performance.

By HowStuffWorks

Explore transmission fluid leak causes and solutions. Expert insights on identifying, diagnosing, and fixing leaks.

By HowStuffWorks

Explore radiator leak causes and solutions. Expert insights on identifying, diagnosing, and fixing radiator leaks.

By HowStuffWorks

Discover brake fluid leak causes and solutions. Expert insights on identifying, diagnosing, and fixing brake fluid leaks.

By HowStuffWorks

Explore the contrasts between bad alternator and bad battery. Learn to identify, diagnose, and address issues for optimal performance.

By HowStuffWorks

Identify and tackle bad oxygen sensor symptoms for optimal vehicle performance. Expert insights on diagnosis and solutions.

By HowStuffWorks

If your car persistently pulls you to the side of the road, it may be trying to tell you something. Relax. This simple service shouldn't cost you that much.

By Jacob Silverman

Fighting the funk brought on by an animal decomposing inside your car engine can be hard, but not impossible. Here's how to do it.

By Dave Roos

Cars made today are pretty quiet. A car that is working well and firing on all cylinders, so to speak, barely makes a whisper. This can make it particularly jarring when you hear your car making some unexpected sound—either under the hood or in the rear of the vehicle. It helps to know what the […] The post The Most Common Noises Your Car Makes (And What They Mean) appeared first on Goliath.

By Jack Sackman

Have the horses under your hood turned into mere ponies? If so, you and your four-banger may have a power problem on your hands. Here's how you can tell.

By Nicholas Gerbis

Your car has been acting up lately and you're wondering if you have a blown head gasket on your engine. Learn how to tell if you have a blown head gasket from this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

Hanging onto your older car for as long as you can makes solid economic sense. As long as your ride isn't costing more than your car is worth and is relatively reliable, you're in good shape. But if your car just won't cooperate, it may be time to upgrade.

By Sara Elliott

Tire rotation isn't hard: It won't take you long and it's cheap to have done professionally. Still, it's something we often neglect to do. How often should you rotate your tires?

By Ed Grabianowski

Bald heads are OK. Bald tires are not. How can you tell when your car's rubber road-huggers need to be retired?

By Jonathan Atteberry

Most people take pretty good care of their cars' insides, but they may neglect the outside. Why is it important to wax your car and how often should you do it?

By Charles W. Bryant

Wouldn't it be awesome if your car wore some kind of protective armor that warded off scuffs and dings? Well, maybe it can.

By Charles W. Bryant

Your car's transmission is very complex and can be more expensive to repair than your engine. That means you better pay attention if any of these 10 transmission problems appear.

By Akweli Parker, Christopher Neiger & Sascha Bos

It's rare that a car's engine suddenly stops working altogether. Usually there are warning signs to indicate engine trouble is on its way. But what are the signs?

By Akweli Parker & Kristen Hall-Geisler

When your car's alternator begins to fail — or has already failed — there are certain warning signs that you can expect to see along the way. But do you know what they are?

By Eric Baxter & Cherise Threewitt

Most everyone sees that small, menacing glare appear on their car's dash from time to time: the check engine light. What does it mean, and what should you do when it comes on?

By Jessika Toothman

You can apply the Kaizen philosophy to the maintenance you perform your own car; however, some auto manufacturers make Kaizen a crucial part of the assembly process, too. But does it really work?

By Jamie Page Deaton