While driving an automotive vehicle, one needs to know the full details of the various parts of their vehicle and how they can manage them in case the engine breaks down. In case, the car breaks down at a lonely place and there is no mechanic to help you out, you cannot seriously think of anything other than solving the problem on your own. That is why it is essential to learn about all the minute things of your vehicle.

The latest cars are so advanced that it is possible that even the mechanic would prove futile in repairing the engine. The electronic controls of the cars make it harder for people to understand the real cause behind the breakdown. The following are the 5 top indicators that will point out the fact that the engine is giving trouble to the car.

1. Smoke Signals: One such indicator is smoke signals. When you see lots of or excess of smoke coming out of your car, make sure that you find out the reason behind it. It means that the gasoline has been infiltrated with some components that are making the fuel burn more than it is supposed to. Blue Smoke indicates that the oil is leaking from the wrong sources and therefore, the car is consuming more fuel. White Smoke signals the fact that the antifreeze has gotten mixed with the fuel supply and this calls for an immediate checkup.
2. Unusual Odors: All cars that stop functioning properly start emitting odors that might prove to be hazardous to human health. In case you smell some unusual odors inside the car, you must get it checked out as soon as possible. It might also point to the fact that the oil or coolant might be leaking.
3. Unusual Noises: Irregular noises of pops and grinds coming from your engine indicate signs of detonation happening in the cylinders of the engine. You must try to find out the source of these noises as soon as you can or that might increase the problem further.
4. Unstable Driving: You can very well detect the trouble if you face problems while driving your car. If you feel the jerks, pot holes and similar things out of the ordinary then you should set your mind to get it checked. They point out to fouled spark plugs, jammed fuel lines and much more. So, it is better to take prevention rather than regretting it later.
5. Warning Lights: When you insert the key in your car, 3 indicting icons point out to the check oil, oil pressure low and check engine respectively. In case there is some problem with the engine, a yellow indicator would come up saying check in bold letters. This means that your vehicle calls for an immediate check-up or things will worsen soon.

These will really prove to be of help in ascertaining the real cause of the trouble and it will also help in avoiding any unfortunate incidents in the coming times. Always keep them in mind while driving as they have been compiled for your convenience.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 11:47 am and is filed under Buying a Car, Maintenance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.