{"id":5625,"date":"2019-07-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-07-30T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.emanuals.com\/blog\/post\/how-to-diagnose-car-problems\/"},"modified":"2026-02-28T03:39:45","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T03:39:45","slug":"how-to-diagnose-car-problems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.emanuals.com\/blog\/how-to-diagnose-car-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Diagnose Car Problems"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the past, most drivers knew a thing or two about cars. And they had to \u2013 car service shops were few and far between. On top of that, the vehicles of the time were easier to maintain \u2013 no electronics to care about. Today, the opposite is true \u2013 car service shops are everywhere, and the vehicles are full of technology. But, should that detract you from learning how to diagnose car problems?<\/em> Of course not! Diagnosing your car yourself is cheaper and more convenient, especially when you\u2019re on the road.<\/p>\n

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The thing is, you can\u2019t just stop your vehicle, check the engine bay and boom, you found the problem. Modern vehicles can be very complicated, and some issues won\u2019t show in the driving experience. Your car will drive just fine, yet there can still be a faulty unit somewhere. Usually, modern cars will signal the error via a light on the instrument panel (i.e., the \u201ccheck engine\u201d light). Then, where to go from there?<\/em><\/p>\n

In this article, I will show you how to diagnose car problems. I\u2019ll start with the usual mechanical issues, and then I will cover the electronic stuff, like sensors, for example.<\/p>\n

Use Your Senses for Mechanical Issues<\/h2>\n

Unlike errors with the electronics, most mechanical issues can be felt by your senses. The most obvious one is looking for them. For example, if there\u2019s an oil leak, you can see a puddle below the engine when the car is stationary. You can use this for other fluids, like brake fluid (translucent and oily) or engine coolant (green or orange). Either way, when you see that something\u2019s dripping below your car, you should immediately react. You certainly don\u2019t want your brakes to stop working while driving, do you?<\/p>\n

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Then, you can also use your ears for strange noises. Most of the time, you can locate where the sounds come from, like the engine bay or the suspension.<\/p>\n

Here are the most common mechanical problems you can hear while driving:<\/p>\n