Engine Troubleshooting Guide

The engine is the heart of the car, and once problems occur, they can affect the driving experience or jeopardize driving safety. Mastering basic troubleshooting methods can not only help you save a lot of maintenance costs, but also let you better understand the health of your car. Here we talk about common engine troubleshooting methods.

1. Engine won't start: from simple to complex troubleshooting

When you turn the key but don't hear the engine roar, don't rush to call a tow truck, try these methods first:

Check the battery: This is the most common cause. Observe if the dashboard lights are dimmed and try to hitch start. If it works, the battery is dead.

Listen to the starter motor: If there's no sound at all, it could be the starter motor or related circuitry; if there's a “clicking” sound but the engine doesn't turn over, the battery may be low.

Check the fuel: It sounds silly, but people do break down without fuel because the gauge isn't accurate. Shake the car to hear if there is fuel in the tank.

Check the anti-theft system: some cars have anti-theft systems that lock up the engine, check if the key is charged (if it's a smart key) and try a spare key.

2. Engine shaking, lack of power: to find out the “cause of the disease”

When the engine is not running smoothly, you can check this way:

Spark plug check: remove the spark plug to see if the electrode erosion, carbon. It is generally recommended that they be replaced every 30,000-50,000 kilometers.

Air filter: a dirty filter will block the intake air, resulting in a loss of power. Remove it for inspection and replace if necessary.

Fuel system: Poor quality gasoline may lead to clogged injectors. Try adding regular fuel additives.

Check fault lights: modern cars will indicate the problem by fault lights, and it is most accurate to read the fault codes with a diagnostic instrument.

3. Engine overheating: danger signals that must be dealt with immediately

Pull over immediately when the water temperature gauge enters the red zone:

Check coolant: Wait for the engine to cool down (at least 30 minutes) and check the reservoir level. If insufficient, replenish special coolant.

Observe the fan: the cooling fan should start when the engine temperature rises. If it doesn't, there may be a blown fuse or a faulty fan motor.

Check the water pump: if there is enough coolant but it continues to overheat, the water pump may not be working and needs to be professionally serviced.

Pay attention to the water temperature sensor: sometimes a faulty sensor causes false alarms, and you can use a diagnostic to confirm the actual water temperature.

Engine troubleshooting is a complex matter that requires consideration of a number of factors, which I will continue to explain to you in the next article.