Many car owners understand the basics of car repair and how their car operates, so they know a few things that might be wrong when the car doesn't start, when it stalls, when it pulls to one side, and so on. However, there are some car repairs that are easy to misdiagnose, and you may assume that one part is failing when it's something completely different that needs attention. Note a few of those car repairs here, so you know what to look for or what to expect by way of repair bills.
Won't start
If the car won't start, don't assume it's a bad battery. Note if the car engine grinds at all; if so, the battery is providing power to the starter but the engine just isn't turning over. This can be a faulty fuel pump, which is what pulls fuel out of the tank and delivers it to the engine; without any fuel, the engine won't start or run. You might try giving the gas pedal a good push, as this might force fuel into the tank.
Another area to check is the transmission shifter; if the car doesn't sense that it's in park or neutral, it won't start the engine. If the chain under the shifter is out of sync or broken, your car may be stuck in gear; try the shifter and note if you can move it between gears. If not, this may be what's keeping your car from starting.
Pulling
Pulling in one direction may mean that an axle or the rim to one tire is bent, so that the tires are not spinning straight; this then pulls the car in one direction or another as you drive. An oddly sized tire can also pull the car in its direction; if you had just one tire replaced rather than two front or two rear tires, or all four tires together, that one new tire may cause added pull to the vehicle when on the road.
Another problem that causes pulling is when one brake pad is worn down and begins to slip away from the callipers holding it in place. If a tire's rim or an axle got bent or damaged but never repaired, this can put added wear and tear on that one brake pad so it gets thin and then slips around, and the car begins to pull in that direction. Poor-quality brake pads can also mean that one gets thin and worn before its counterpart, and then begins to slip and pull the car in that direction.
Share23 March 2017
I rely a lot of my car as I am a paraplegic. I can only drive a car that has specially modified with wheel controls, so it's very important that I get my car serviced by a company that knows what it is doing. I also need my car to be serviced quickly as I am very limited in how much I can get around without it. This blog has some tips on how to find a car servicing company that will suit you if driving a disability-modified car. I hope it will be useful to other people with disabilities who rely on their cars as much as me.
