Engine hesitates
Description of problem: Whenever you push on the accelerator (gas pedal), the car doesn't seem to move like it should or like it did before. You sense a general lack of power and know something is not right. This problem may appear suddenly or get worse over time. You may notice the problem when the engine is hot or cold or when you are low on fuel. A description of when the problem occurs will help to identify the exact cause of the problem.
Probable Causes:
1. You may have a dirty air filter.
2. The spark plugs may be dirty or worn.
3. The spark wires may be bad.
4. There may be some other type of ignition problem.
5. The fuel filter may be clogged.
6. You may have water in the gasoline.
7. If you have a carburetor, you may have a bad accelerator pump or power circuit.
8. Your catalytic converter may be clogged.
The engine surges or misfires while moving
Description of problem: The engine seems to start fine and will normally accelerate fine. However, once you try to keep a steady speed, the engine sputters and runs rough. You may notice that the engine runs differently when it is cold or warm. This type of problem normally is slow to develop but gets worse the longer you drive the car.
Probable Causes:
1. If you have a carburetor, the choke may not be set properly, or the choke may not be working correctly.
2. The engine may be running too hot.
3. The fuel pressure regulator may be operating at too low of a pressure.
4. The ignition timing may be set wrong.
5. There may be some type of ignition problem.
6. There may be a fault in the computerized engine control system.
7. The fuel filter may be partially clogged.
8. The torque converter in the transmission may not be locking at the right time, or it may be slipping.
9. There may be a vacuum leak.
10. The engine may have mechanical problems.
11. The EGR valve may be stuck open.
12. The drive axles may be loose or worn.
13. The fuel injectors may be dirty.
A hissing sound is heard from the engine
Description of problem: The engine may or may not seem to run fine. Normally, the hissing noise becomes apparent soon after the driver notices that the engine is not running properly. This problem can occur suddenly.
Probable Causes:
1. The engine is overheating.
2. The exhaust system and/or catalytic converter is plugged.
3. A vacuum line is disconnected.
4. A vacuum device is leaking
Whirring from the engine that gets worse as engine speed increases
Description of problem: Although the whirring noise is evident at all engine speeds, it is the change in volume as engine speed increases that makes the noise most noticeable. This type of problem can be caused by many things. Some causes gradually develop, while others occur suddenly.
Probable Causes:
1. Low power steering fluid
2. The alternator bearings are bad.
3. A bad water pump.
4. A bad power steering pump.
5. A bad air conditioning compressor.
Smoke is coming from under the hood
Description of problem: Sometimes you will only see the smoke when you start your car or when you stop at a traffic light or stop sign. The smoke may be accompanied by engine idling problems. This is a problem that should not be ignored as it may be an indication of a serious and dangerous condition. The cause of the problem is best identified by the color, smell, and amount of smoke. Pay close attention to this. This problem may develop over time and the amount of smoke indicates the seriousness of the problem.
Probable Causes:
1. If the smoke has an oily smell, there is an oil leak.
2. If the smoke is white, there is probably an anti-freeze (engine coolant) leak.
3. If the smoke is blue or black and has a strong acrid smell, there is probably an electrical problem, and wires are burning.
Engine backfires when you press on the gas pedal
Description of problem: Basically, your engine is a mess. Every time you press on the gas pedal, the engine pops back at you. Sometimes the noise is loud, other times it is rather soft. This noise may result in an under hood fire, so don't ignore it.
Probable Causes:
1. Your camshaft timing belt or chain may have slipped
2. Your ignition timing needs adjusting.
3. There is a serious engine problem.
4. Your spark plug wires are placed on the wrong spark plugs.
Engine hesitates, and a popping is heard from the engine
Description of problem: Whenever you push on the accelerator (gas pedal), the car doesn't seem to move like it should or like it did before. You sense a general lack of power and know something is not right. The popping noise convinces you that something really isn't right. The noise only happens when you press on the gas pedal. This problem may appear suddenly or get worse over time. You may notice the problem when the engine is hot or cold or when you are low on fuel. A description of when the problem occurs will help to identify the exact cause of the problem.
Probable Causes:
1. You may have a dirty air filter.
2. The spark wires may be bad.
3. There may be some other type of ignition problem.
4. There may be a mechanical problem in the engine.
Engine makes a clicking noise when idling
Description of problem: As the engine is idling, you hear a clicking noise coming from the engine. You don't notice the click when you are moving or when you increase the speed of the engine. The problem seems to get worse (noisier) when the engine is warm. The clicking is also getting more noticeable every day.
Probable Causes:
1. Your valves need adjusting.
2. The engine is low on oil.
3. The engine's oil pressure is low.
Engine makes a ticking noise
Description of problem: As soon as you start the engine, you hear a ticking noise from the engine. It sounds like a loud clock. The speed of the noise increases with an increase in engine speed. In fact, when you reach a particular speed, the noise is occurring so fast it seems that it is gone.
Probable Causes:
1. The valves in your engine need to be adjusted.
2. There is a lot of sludge in your engine which is stopping oil from circulating properly.
3. The engine's valve lifters are collapsed.
4. One or more of the engine's valves are stuck.
There is a rattling noise from the engine when you accelerate
Description of problem: Your car seems to run fine at all times. You notice nothing unusual except when you press on the gas pedal to accelerate or to go up a hill. Then the engine rattles like something is loose inside of it. Normally, this problem begins slowly and gets worse.
Probable Causes:
1. Your ignition timing needs adjusting.
2. The engine is overheating.
3. You have a loose vacuum hose on the engine.
4. You bought low-octane fuel even though your owner's manual says to only use high-octane fuel.
5. There is an excessive amount of carbon built up in your engine.
6. You have a problem with the electronic engine control system.
The engine surges or misfires while moving
Description of problem: The engine seems to start fine and will normally accelerate fine. However, once you try to keep a steady speed, the engine sputters and runs rough. You may notice that the engine runs differently when it is cold or warm. This type of problem normally is slow to develop but gets worse the longer you drive the car.
Probable Causes:
1. If you have a carburetor, the choke may not be set properly, or the choke may not be working correctly.
2. The engine may be running too hot.
3. The fuel pressure regulator may be operating at too low of a pressure.
4. The ignition timing may be set wrong.
5. There may be some type of ignition problem.
6. There may be a fault in the computerized engine control system.
7. The fuel filter may be partially clogged.
8. The torque converter in the transmission may not be locking at the right time, or it may be slipping.
9. There may be a vacuum leak.
10. The engine may have mechanical problems.
11. The EGR valve may be stuck open.
12. The drive axles may be loose or worn.
13. The fuel injectors may be dirty.
Clunking from the engine that worsens when engine speed increases
Description of problem: When you press on the gas pedal, the engine makes a clunking noise. The noise increases as you press harder on the gas pedal. The noise is there whether you are in gear or in neutral. Sometimes the noise is not noticeable when you are letting the engine idle but occurs as soon as you press on the gas pedal. Normally, the problem begins gradually, but the noise may go unnoticed. As the problem worsens, the noise gets louder.
Probable Causes:
1. Worn engine bearings.
2. Broken engine parts.
3. Loose or missing flywheel mounting bolts.
The car uses more oil than normal, and there are oil puddles under the car after it has been parked
Description of problem: You notice that the oil level is low between oil changes. You also notice puddles of oil under the car. It seems obvious that the loss of oil is due to oil leaks. Sometimes when you stop at a light or stop sign, smoke comes from under the hood. To identify the exact cause of the problem, it is best to look at the source of the oil leak. In addition to having the oil leaks repaired, you should make sure the engine always has the proper oil level. You may have also noticed that the car doesn't have the same amount of power as it once did. This type of problem seems to get worse once it develops.
Probable Causes:
1. The PCV system is not working properly.
2. The engine may have mechanical problems.
3. The engine's seals may be damaged.
4. The oil filter may not be tightened properly.
The engine quickly overheats
Description of problem: The engine seems to run fine but gets very hot shortly after you start it. This problem normally occurs after only five minutes of running or after traveling about a mile. You may also notice steam coming from the hood or smell something hot. This type of problem is slow to develop but gets worse the longer you drive. Once the engine begins to get too hot, turn it off or further damage will occur.
Probable Causes:
1. The engine's coolant level may be too low.
2. The engine's drive belts may be broken or slipping.
3. The electric cooling fan may not be coming on.
4. The ignition timing may be set wrong.
5. There may be a vacuum leak.
6. The engine may have mechanical problems.
7. The engine's thermostat may be stuck closed.
8. There may be a leak in the cooling system.
9. The engine's head gasket may be leaking.
The engine overheats
Description of problem: The engine seems to run fine but gets very hot after it has been driven. This problem normally occurs after driving some distance or while pulling a heavy load. You may also notice steam coming from the hood or smell something hot. This type of problem is slow to develop but gets worse the longer you drive it. Once the engine begins to get too hot, turn it off or further damage will occur.
Probable Causes:
1. The engine's coolant level may be too low.
2. The engine's drive belts may be broken or slipping.
3. The electric cooling fan may not be coming on.
4. The ignition timing may be set wrong.
5. There may be a vacuum leak.
6. The engine may have mechanical problems.
7. You have been pushing the car too hard and making it work too hard.
8. There may be a leak in the cooling system.
9. The engine's head gasket may be leaking.
10. The radiator may be clogged.
Your engine or oil light comes on while driving
Description of problem: The oil light may be marked engine. If this is the case, this light and warning system monitors the water temperature of the engine in addition to the oil. If this light stays on regardless of how fast you run the engine, there is a serious problem. Sometimes the light will come on when the engine is idling and go out when the engine's speed is increased. In most cases, this problem becomes more evident as the problem gets worse.
Probable Causes:
1. The engine has lost oil pressure or has low oil pressure (this is a serious problem that should be repaired at once).
2. The oil pressure sending unit is bad.
3. The engine is extremely low on oil.
4. The engine is overheating.
Your check engine or service engine light comes on or stays on
Description of problem: This is an area of much confusion since most manufacturers, until recently, have called this light by different names. This light also adds to confusion because the manufacturers have different systems that are monitored by this light circuit. In most cases, this warning light is part of the electronic engine control circuit. When the light comes on, it means that the car's computer has detected something wrong in the control system. The lamp remains lit until the problem is corrected. However on some systems, this light simply means there is a problem. The check engine or service engine light may suddenly come on and remain on, or it may come on and go out after a period of time.
Probable Causes:
1. The engine's computer has detected a problem in the system.
2. The engine has a serious problem that should be repaired at once.
3. The engine's oil pressure is exteremely low.
4. The engine is overheating.
Engine doesn't want to increase its speed
Description of problem: Whenever you push on the accelerator (gas pedal), the engine seems to slow down and sometimes it stalls. In order to increase the speed of the engine, you must very slowly press down on the gas pedal. Even then, the car doesn't seem to move like it should, and you sense a general lack of power. This problem may appear suddenly or get worse over time. You may notice the problem when the engine is hot or cold or when you are low on fuel. A description of when the problem occurs will help to identify the exact cause of the problem.
Probable Causes:
1. You may have a dirty air filter.
2. The fuel filter may be clogged with dirt.
3. The fuel pump may be worn.
4. The ignition timing may be wrong.
5. You may have water in the gasoline.
6. Your catalytic converter may be plugged.
Engine doesn't have its normal amount of power
Description of problem: Whenever you push on the accelerator (gas pedal), the car doesn't seem to move like it should or like it did before. You sense a general lack of power and know something is not right. There are no unusual noises or vibrations, but the engine just isn't performing well. The problem seems to be getting increasingly worse over time, although you did not notice when it first started.
Probable Causes:
1. You may have a dirty air filter.
2. The spark plugs and/or wires may be bad.
3. There may be some other type of ignition problem.
4. There may be a mechanical problem in the engine.
5. The catalytic converter may be plugged.
6. The exhaust system may be plugged due to dirt or damage.
7. The fuel filter may be clogged.
The engine will not idle smoothly, or it stalls during idle when the engine is cold.
Description of problem: When the engine is cold and you take your foot off the gas pedal, the engine runs very rough and may even stall. When you run the engine at higher speeds, it seems to run fine. This problem may get worse over time, or it may appear suddenly.
Probable Causes:
1. If you have a carburetor, the choke may not be set properly, or the choke is not working correctly.
2. There may be a vacuum leak in the intake system.
3. The idle speed may be set wrong.
4. There may be some type of ignition problem.
5. The ignition timing may be set wrong.
6. There may be a fault in the computerized engine control system.
7. The EGR valve may be defective.
8. There may be a mechanical problem in the engine.
9. The fuel injectors may be dirty.
The engine will not idle smoothly, or it stalls during idle when the engine is warm
Description of problem: When the engine is warm or hot and you take your foot off the gas pedal, the engine runs very rough and may even stall. When you run the engine at higher speeds, it seems to run fine. This problem may get worse over time or it may suddenly appear.
Probable Causes:
1. If you have a carburetor, the choke may not be set properly, or the choke is not working correctly.
2. There may be a vacuum leak in the intake system.
3. The fuel pressure regulator may be operating at too low of a pressure.
4. The idle speed may be set wrong.
5. There may be some type of ignition problem.
6. There may be a fault in the computerized engine control system.
7. The EGR valve may be defective.
8. There may be a mechanical problem in the engine.
9. The fuel injectors may be dirty.
The engine idles too fast
Description of problem: After you start the engine and it has run long enough to be warm, the engine seems to be racing. You especially notice this when you stop at a light or a stop sign and must push hard on the brake pedal to keep the car from moving. This problem normally happens without warning.
Probable Causes:
1. If you have a carburetor, the choke may not be set properly, or the choke is not working correctly.
2. The engine may be running too hot.
3. The fuel pressure regulator may be operating at too low of a pressure.
4. The ignition timing may be set wrong.
5. There may be some type of ignition problem.
6. There may be a fault in the computerized engine control system.
7. The alternator may not be working properly.
8. There is an air leak in the intake system.
9. You have a bad idle speed control unit.
Car stalls when stopped quickly
Description of problem: You are driving down the road, and everything is fine until you let off the gas pedal and apply the brakes. At this point the engine shakes badly and may even quit running. This is very dangerous as you lose power steering when the engine is not running. This type of problem may occur suddenly.
Probable Causes:
1. An intake system gasket is leaking.
2. The throttle linkage or mechanism needs to be repaired or replaced.
3. There is a problem with the electronic engine control system.
Engine surges while driving at a steady speed.
Description of problem: While driving at a constant speed on a highway, you notice the car seems to buck or jerk. If you press on the gas pedal, the engine smooths out. You only notice this problem when the road is flat and you are trying to keep a steady speed. This problem may occur suddenly and get worse over time.
Probable Causes:
1. Your fuel filter is dirty.
2. Your fuel pump is worn out.
3. The fuel pressure regulator isn't working properly
4. The last tank of fuel you bought was bad gas.
Engine continues to run when you try to turn it off
Description of problem: The car seems to run fine except that it doesn't want to turn right off. After you have driven awhile, you turn the key to stop the engine and it continues to run for a few seconds. At first you notice that this happens once in awhile, and now it happens quite often.
Probable Causes:
1. One or more of your fuel injectors are leaking.
2. The engine's idle is set too high.
3. The ignition timing is set wrong.
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