Diagnosing Car Engine Problems

Posted on the 13 October 2019 by A2v

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On this page of The Truth About Cars, you will find a troubleshooting guide for car engines common problem. The engine problem on this page is based on the technician experience, this will only serve as a guide and will not guarantee to solve your engine problem, please feel free to read out the article below.


What causes a car to sputter and idle rough?
There are many possible reasons that cause the engine to run rough and may result in engine misfiring but the most common.Continue reading ...
What causes a car to sputter and idle rough?
Why does my car make a high pitched noise?
The drive belt is the one that drives power to the engine accessories, when the belt is worn out or damage high pitched engine noise is easily be heard especially the driver.Continue reading...
Why does my car make a high pitched noise?
What does it mean when your car cranks but won't start?
There is a simple test which can be done to determine if this is a battery-related problem or not.
Continue reading...
Why does it mean when your car cranks but won't start?


Why does my car make a ticking sound?
If the car makes ticking sound it means the engine is not fully lubricated. It either the engine lacks oil or low oil pressure.Continue reading...
Why does my car make a ticking sound?
Why does my car make a ticking sound?
If the car makes ticking sound it means the engine is not fully lubricated. It either the engine lacks oil or low oil pressure.Continue reading...
Why does my car make a ticking sound?
Why does blue smoke coming out the exhaust?
Blue smoke that coming out the exhaust means only one thing, the engine is burning oil inside the chamber. Now, why is the engine burning oil?Continue reading...Why does blue smoke coming out of the exhaust?
Car Shakes When Idle
If the car shakes when idle the reasons are that one of the cylinders is misfiring. For the normal engine to run smoothly the engine cylinder must fire properly, the firing of each cylinder must be in the correct sequence.
Engine Misfiring Effect on Car
When there is engine misfiring on one or more cylinders the engine balance will be thrown off. When this happens each cylinder inside the engine is not firing correctly and this can cause the engine not to run smoothly.
Black Exhaust Smoke from Exhaust of Car
Black smoke from the exhaust of car comes out while you are driving indicates that the car air fuel/ratio is too rich when a car air/fuel ratio is too rich, more gas is being burned from a car's engine combustion chambers.
Engine Ticking Sound
Check the engine oil level to determine if the engine has lacking oil. If the engine oil is low then this causes the ticking sound. Just add enough amount of oil to correct the problem.
Car Stalls When Engine is Hot
When the car stall if the engine is abnormally hot, this often cause by a vapor lock occurred on the engine. Vapor lock happens when a gas going to the engine starts to boil before it reaches the combustion chambers.
Car Jerks When Accelerating
When the car jerks during acceleration occur when the temperature is cold or the engine is cold, this only indicates a problem on the distributor cap. Moisture is formed inside the distributor cap during the night when the weather is cold or when it’s raining.
Oldsmobile Cutlass Stalls While Idling
For Oldsmobile Cutlass stalling during idle with fuel injection engine is either caused by a bad idle air bypass valve, a bad cold start valve or a bad fuel pressure regulator. To establish which one is the possibilities try to do the following car diagnostics.
Engine Suddenly Losses Power
For the carburetor engine, this problem occurs when there is a failure on one of the component of the ignition system or sudden failure of the carburetor.
Engine Runs Rough at Idle
The real problem here is that, why the car engine misfire? Engine misfiring can cause by a lot of factors and it is very difficult to test. However, there are only two common reasons that usually causing the problem, first is a vacuum leak and the second is a bad spark plug or spark plug wires.
Troubleshoot Car Exhaust Smoke
Different smoke comes out from the tailpipe. However, you can tell if there is a problem with your car by noticing what smoke comes out the exhaust.
Why does blue smoke come out of the exhaust? 
When there is blue smoke coming out the exhaust it means that the engine is burning oil. Now, what causes the engine to burn oil? Rings on the engine prevents the oil from entering into the engine combustion chamber when the rings are bad oil starts to enter the combustion chamber and burns that is why there is blue smoke that comes out the exhaust.Continue reading Why does blue smoke come out of the exhaust?
White Smoke from Exhaust of Car
When you notice a white smoke comes out the exhaust of your car even when the engine temperature is cold, warm or hot, this can be an indication of a damaged head gasket.
Car Engine Backfire When Decelerating
When a car backfires during deceleration it only indicates that there is a possible problem on the emission control device which is known as the air injection system.
Too Much Car Engine Idle Vibration
A car engine vibrates excessively while idle it indicates the problem that is related to engine firing. Car engine cylinders need to fire in the correct order so that the car engine will run smoothly.
What Does It Mean When Your Car Jerks
Constantly jerking of the car during acceleration is a cause of a bad throttle position sensor, as you can see fuel-injected engines have throttle position sensor.
Engine Pinging Sounds on High Altitude Roads
When a car engine is pinging this indicates that there is a pre-ignition inside your car combustion chamber
Car Losses Power Going Uphill
When a car engine is weak in power this only means the engine is low in compression, this is noticeable, especially when driving uphill because the engine is under a lot more stress on this condition.
Temperature Gauge Reads Hot After Engine Starts Temperature gauge that reads high has four reasons why it happens, the lack of engine coolant, collapse radiator hose, faulty water pump or thermostat.
Car Engine Runs Rough on Idling
When your car engine runs rough while on idle it means that there is a misfiring of one or more cylinders. As you can see when a cylinder misfires it will disrupt the engines natural balance.


Car Stalls When Accelerating
Car stalls when accelerating is caused by the following reasons, when car stalls during cold rainy mornings with a cold engine, the problem is moisture on a distributor cap.
How to Check Oil in the Car
New car owners often ask how to check the engine oil level in their car? Well, to check the oil in the car just follow what is indicated on the car user manual. It is a must to regularly check the oil level in the car especially every time before the car is used. 
What Does Engine Power Reduced Mean
What does engine power reduced mean? If your car with high mileage gradually reduced engine power while driving on any road conditions, but the car top speed remains the same as it was, then there is a problem.
Car Turns Over But won't Start
The car turns over but won't start. The car is cranking slowly however, it will not start. If the car is turning over slowly and will not start the possible reason is the battery.
Car Start but Engine Initially Backfire
The car starts but initially backfires after starting. When a car backfires shortly after starting and usually occurs on the wet condition, then this is a sign of the problem of moisture inside the distributor cap.