5 Common Car Problems All Car Owners Should Know About

1. Car Maintenance Hotspots:
5 Common Car Problems All Car Owners Should Know About

2. Misfiring Spark Plugs
What these small car parts lack in
size, they more than make up for in
importance.
It’s the job of spark plugs to ignite the
engine’s compressed fuel, so if they
misfire, it damages the engine’s fuel
economy, limits its power and can Symptoms of misfiring sparkplugs:
harm the catalytic converter.
• Feeling a jolt in the vehicle’s
acceleration
• A choppy/uneven Idle
• ‘Check Engine’ light turns on
• Decreased miles to the gallon
• Increase in vehicle pollution

3. Windshield
Cracks and Chips
Though a windshield is part of a vehicle’s
structural body and contributes to its overall
aesthetic, it actually plays a very practical role as
well.
A windshield helps protect the driver and the
vehicle’s interior from the elements (wind, rain,
snow, etc.) as well as from insects and road debris.
A windshield chip can quickly become a much
larger issue. Cracks form, causing reduced visibility
and the potential for further damage.
Repairing a damaged windshield:
Home repair kits do exist, although their success varies.
It’s perhaps best to consult a windshield repair expert,
who can determine whether full scale windshield
replacement is needed.

4. Flat/Faulty Battery
Yes, your car runs on fuel- but it also requires an electric energy source to power its
ignition system, headlights, the starter motor and, of course, your car radio. That energy
source is its battery.
The lifespan of an automotive battery will vary depending on how it was initially
construction, the climate it’s used in, the amount the vehicle is used and how well it’s been
retained.
Symptoms of a dead battery:
This one’s simple. The symptom of a dead
battery is a car that won’t start. To be more
specific:
• The engine doesn’t not crank at all (or
cranks very slowly) when you turn your
key in the ignition
• The headlights, interior lights, radio and
other battery-powered features won’t
turn on (or appear dim)

5. Cracked Distributor Cap
The job of a vehicle’s distributor is to ensure that high voltage from the ignition coil reaches
the spark plugs so that the engine can fire properly. A distributor cap covers and insulates
the distributor in order to contain the high voltage.
A cracked distributor crack is one of the most common causes of a breakdown. When
moisture and dirt damage the distributor crack, the high ignition voltage is no longer
properly insulated. As a result, it’s difficult or impossible for the ignition to spark.
Symptoms of a damaged distributor cap:
• A visible crack or burns on the
distributor cap (although sometimes
the damage is very small/hidden and
it’s difficult to see it)
• Vehicle won’t start/engine won’t turn
over
Image via Rayray via Pinterest

6. Image via Bethanie Minor via Pinterest
Alternator Faults
A vehicle’s alternator has the important
job of charging the battery so that it
can keep the vehicle’s electrical system
up and running
Symptoms of a faulty alternator:
An alternator works by alternating
• Reoccurring battery issues
electric currents using a rotating
magnet (thus the name, ‘alternator).
• Rise in engine temperature (sign
of a broken alternator belt)
• ‘Check Engine’ light turns on

7. On the road
again…