What can be a more frustrating experience than a car that won't start, or an engine that stalls midway leaving you with no clue about what to do. The next time your car refuses to start, or if you sense some trouble with it, follow these simple steps to troubleshooting car problems before calling for your car mechanic or towing service. This article discusses some common car problems, diagnosis and troubleshooting tips...

Engine won't start

1. The engine makes a sound while starting known as cranking. If you don't hear that sound when the ignition key is turned on to start the car, this generally means that there could be something wrong with the starter or the battery (assuming you are not out of gas). A simple way to check if your battery is weak or completely discharged is to test the windscreen wipers, lights, radio or fan. If they do not work then the battery may be completely dead or may have faulty battery connections.
2. Check the battery connectors at the terminals. Make sure that the connections are clean, tight and free from corrosion. Call your garage mechanic or towing service if this does not work.

Starter makes a click sound and won't operate

1. You hear a loud clicking noise while starting your car, but the starter does not operate. Check if the lights, windscreen wiper work. If yes, then maybe there is a problem with the starter. Either it is jammed or there could be a problem with the starter motor.
2. Locate the starter motor and tap it with a spanner or a suitable tool.
3. If you car has manual gearbox, try to push-start or call your car mechanic or towing service.

Engine starts slowly

1. While starting the car, if the engine stops cranking after you release the key or if you hear the engine crank very slowly, you may have a weak or dead battery.
2. Check the connector connections at the battery terminal. Clean and tighten them if necessary. Recharge the battery.
3. You can get your car moving by jump-starting the car (please refer to your car user manual for details) or push-starting a manual gearbox car.

Engine turns on but car won't move

1. If the engine is running and the car does not move after selecting the transmission gear, the first thing that comes to the mind is the car’s transmission or drive (assuming that the parking brake is released).
2. For cars with Automatic transmission, check level of Automatic transmission fluid (ATF). Allowing the engine to continue running, check the level of ATF with the ATF dipstick. Pull the dipstick completely out and wipe it with a rag before inserting it back in the engine and remove it again. If the fluid level is sufficient, then it could be the gearshift that has disconnected. If the fluid level is very low or if you don't see any fluid on the dipstick, call for your car mechanic or towing service.
3. For manual shift transmission, check the condition of the clutch. Most probably, chances are that you may only need a clutch adjustment. Burned clutch facings may result in frequent slipping and need replacement.

Diagnosing and Troubleshooting Common Problems
You can troubleshoot a problem with your car with the diagnosis of the odd smells, odors, fumes, smoke and sounds coming from various compartments of your car. Timely detection and diagnosis may help you take preventive and corrective actions for your car problems.

Smells

Gasoline: If you smell gasoline odor inside or anywhere near the car, probably there is a leakage with the fuel delivery system. Pull the car over, and step out immediately. Inspect the gas tank for any leak underneath. Call the nearby repair facility or towing service.

Burning Plastic: The most common cause is a plastic bag stuck to the exhaust. If you smell of rubber burning, check if the parking brake is accidentally kept engaged. Driving your car with parking brake can cause burning smell due to excessive surface friction of the brake pads. Electrical shorts may result in overheating and burning of the insulation material giving out a strong smell of burning plastic. In this case, disconnect the battery immediately and contact your car mechanic to locate the problem and prevent further damage to the system.

Mildew and mold: It is an unpleasant smell that comes from your car upholstery, carpets or air-conditioner evaporator. An accidental liquid spill, rainwater seeping or car flooding can cause the affected area to accumulate moisture and remain damp overtime, giving a chance for mold formation and strong mildew stink. This can lead to serious problems like rust and weakening of your car metal body. Check for the source of odor. Dry the affected area thoroughly, by blowing hot dry air with a hair dryer to evaporate the moisture. Take care that the dryer does not heat up or held too close to the upholstery fabric. Open the windows and let the air escape out. Keeping a couple of charcoal briquettes underneath your car seat absorbs moisture and odor. If everything fails, get your car cleaned at a professional car cleaning facility.

Exhaust: Fumes of exhaust especially inside the passenger compartment of the car can be very dangerous as it contains traces of carbon monoxide, which is quite harmful. It may be the result of a leak in the exhaust system and needs to be attended immediately.

Hot or Burning Oil: It is generally a result of oil or fluid leaking on a hot surface such as hot exhaust manifold. Call the mechanic to look for the leak and fix the problem.

Burning coolant: The burning of coolant produces a sweet smell, which indicates a faulty intake manifold gasket. Get the car inspected by your mechanic at once.

Smoke
You can diagnose a variety of car problems judging by color of the smoke emitting from the exhaust tailpipe.

Blue smoke: When engine oil enters into the engine combustion chamber and burns along with fuel and air mixture, you can see blue smoke coming out of the exhaust tailpipe. Call your mechanic to check the leak and correct the problem.

Black smoke: Black smoke is a result of an excessively rich mixture of air and fuel entering into the cylinder area. The proportion of fuel is more in the air to fuel ratio. This fuel rich mixture does not burn completely in the combustion chamber and produces black smoke coming out of the tailpipe, thus affecting engine performance and fuel economy. Although rich mixture is necessary for engine start-up, black smoke is indication for a faulty injection system or sensors in the engine computer. Get your car tested for emission and call your mechanic for engine tune-up.

White smoke: The white smoke coming from the exhaust tailpipe is actually the steam, which indicates that water or antifreeze is being burned along with the fuel and air mixture in the engine. You may also judge the problem, if you have to add water and antifreeze more frequently than normal. Water or antifreeze if mixed with the engine oil entering into the engine cylinder can damage the engine seriously. Have your mechanic check for leaks and fix the problem immediately.

Leaks
Always check the pavement or floor for a spot or puddle of fluid beneath your car when parked overnight. If you develop this habit of checking for new leaks under the car, you can stay ahead of many problems before they become severe. You can identify the type of leak by the color of the fluid accumulated on the spot of the leak.

Oily and Black or dark: The leaking fluid is most likely the engine oil. Check for the oil level by removing the dipstick and measuring the fluid level. Refill the oil according to the mark on the dipstick and observe the level for a next few days. If you find the oil level dropped and spot or the puddle again, its time to get the leak inspected by your mechanic.

Oily and Red: Most likely to be the transmission fluid. Check the transmission fluid level, refill it and observe for the next few days. If you find that the level has dropped, get it checked by your mechanic to avoid damage to the transmission.

Green or Yellow: Likely to be the coolant leak. Get the leak identified and fixed by your mechanic.

Clear Fluid: Most likely drain water from the car’s air conditioning unit or windshield washer fluid. You may have to touch and feel the fluid or smell it to determine if it is water.

Clear and oily: It is most likely to be brake fluid, which is a more serious type of leak. Get the leak identified and repaired by your mechanic to avoid brake failure.

The common causes of trouble and troubleshooting techniques contained in this article is only an indication to the possible automotive problems and their probable causes. You can save yourself from costly repairs by taking timely action to fix the problem. You may have to visit a qualified car repair facility or take technician’s advice to examine, diagnose and repair your car.