#car problem

I have exhausted all options at this point and am really at a loss.

As I’ve stated in past comics, I know NOTHING about cars. So I’m at the mercy of trusting service garages and auto technicians. I’m hoping that they DID do a thorough check, diagnosed it correctly and truthfully and that the amount they’re going to charge to replace the catalytic converter is suitable amount.

Drive train is one of the most important part of the vehicles. The drive train operates with power from the engine. The power from engine is supplied to the wheels efficiently by the drive trains. When the drive train gets a problem, then you see some power related problems more in your car, you may also get some warning signs or messages at the dashboard of the car. What to do in such cases

Drive train malfunctions

Drive train malfunction is the error comes up due to hardware malfunctions in the engine or the transmission. A message comes up saying- ’drive train malfunction’ which means that your car is getting some power issues which can be dangerous for the car. When the drive train malfunction occurs, then you may find some shaking and jerking of the car. Your car may run and idle roughly. Your car would unable to get accelerated properly and you would realize that there is no enough power from the drive train.

Drive train malfunction is a warning sign for the car driver to drive moderately and carefully. During the drive train malfunction, the engine control unit gets the error and takes the car to a safety mode where the torque production would be minimized and the power can be saved from engine and the transmission and prevent any further damage to the engine and the transmission. Here are some signs of drive train malfunction.

  Shaking and vibration

  Rough idling

  Limp mode, that is your car stuck in one gear

  Misfiring of engine

  Drive train malfunction message comes up

  Emissions from exhaust increase

What causes drive train to malfunction?

The drive train malfunction is generally caused when car is taken through steep inclined path or accelerated intensively. Overtaking more can also lead to such problem. Here are some major causes of drive train malfunction.

Worn spark plugs

The spark plugs fire in the combustion chamber to burn the fuel and air mixture and produce power to push the piston. The spark plugs that have become very old cannot deliver sparks to the fuel mixture. Spark plugs are present each in every cylinders. Malfunction of one spark plug can affect the health of others. Basically all the spark plugs in the car wear in similar time as they get old. So you have to check all the spark plugs.

Faulty fuel pump

The fuel pump compress the fuel and sends them to the engine. If the fuel is not sent to the engine, then the engine would not run as combustion would not be possible. If the fuel pump is faulty, then it would not be able to supply the fuel consistently. Lack of fuel in the combustion chamber would produce a very low power and the ECU would make the drive train malfunction warning message to come up.

Bad fuel injectors

The fuel injectors send the fuel to the combustion chamber with pressure. A fault in the fuel injectors can make the fuel to leak out and not enter to the combustion chamber in enough quantity.

Bad ignition coils

The ignition coils supply energy to the spark plugs. If the ignition coils fail, then the spark plugs would not work consistently. The ignition system would operate poorly and the fuel mixture would not be burned properly to produce power which would result in misfires and the dashboard will show the warning message.

What to do?

If your car is getting the warning signs then follow the steps to diagnose.

  Turn off your car engine after stopping your car at a safe place and leave it for 10 minutes. Restart the car to see if the message is gone and the car is normal.

  If the car still shows the signs, then check the oil level, fuel level and check if there is any leaks of these fluids. Check the hood and the exhaust to see if there is smoke coming while engine is running.

  Use an OBD2 scanner. Plug In the scanner to the OBD2 port of the car and red the codes from DME and EGS. The ignition should be on but the engine should be off while scanning.

Conclusion

Commonly, the oxygen sensor is used for measuring the oxygen levels in the exhaust gases in your Porsche. Moreover, it assists the emissions control for managing the fuel injection and engine timing efficiently. Thus, the PCM in your car are using the information from the oxygen sensor to determine the right mixture of air or fuel in the combustion chamber. If the oxygen sensor is failed in your Porsche, you will notice the signs define in the following infographics.

There is no doubt that the 2017 Volvo S60 is a reliable luxury car. And, it is known for its comfort and maneuverability. But, this model has imperfections and problems that need to be looked after.

The BMW 3 series is one of the most sought-after luxury cars in the world due to its performance and advanced features. However, like every other luxury car on the road, the BMW 3 series also faces a host of issues that require the immediate attention of a BMW specialist. Most of the time BMW owners are not aware of the issues they are going to face. Go through the infographics to know the most common problems affecting your BMW 3 series.

The car owners need the expertise of a certified mechanic to perform the necessary maintenance and servicing. When the cars are dead in the middle of the road, the first proximity of the driver is to take them to an auto body shop or one of a certified technician who will inspect the car at that location.  

If you are facing a circumstance in which you can't safely drive your car to an auto repair shop or unable to contact with a mechanic, then calling a towing service seems to be the best option. Moreover, the tow trucks are generally built for carrying the inoperable cars of different sizes to the owners' place or directly to an auto repair shop.

Among the several kinds of tow trucks, the flatbed tow trucks are safe and common and generally contain a long flatbed which can be lowered for use in the ramp. But the hook and chain tow trucks are phasing out gradually and may damage the towed cars. Consequently, the wheel lift tow trucks can use similar methods to cause less damage in the car. The following points define the several situations when you call the tow trucks for help.

Sudden accidents

If your car facing severe collision and damage in the middle of the road, then call a tow truck for help. Don't try to drive the crumbling car even if you and your passengers are safe. The reason behind is the collided car have an unfunctional braking system which may cause oil and fuel leaking and the leakage of other potential flammable liquids. The tow truck operator helps you to take your damaged to your mechanic and advise you to take the necessary steps for preventing further issues.

Starting issues

The most irritable circumstances are you find yourself stuck in the middle of the road such as a trip to work, store, and school. If your car won't start at the middle of the road, then it isn't at all an issue of a dead battery. If you are too far from your home when this issue occurs, then you bound a contact a tow truck to take your car directly to an automotive shop or get back to your home for performing the mobile repair.

Engine overheats

The several breakdowns and malfunction of different components within the car can cause engine overheating issues. If you are driving a car with an overheated engine, then you may find that the car is shutting down and coming to a complete stop. When you face these issues while you are far away from your home or an auto repair shop, then calling a tow truck is the safest option for pulling the car to its destination for repair or replacement.

Flat tires

The flat tire issues are generally found in a car due to poor tire maintenance like neglecting the low tire pressure warnings, worn out treads as well as oversight the punctured tires from a sharp object. Many car owners know the proper way to replace the flat tires with a spare one. If you don't know the proper way to change the tires of your car, call a tow truck to bring your car to an auto repair shop for a replacement. Many tow truck drivers also willing to change the tires of your car at a fair price if you have a spare tire on your car.

Insufficient fuel

Every driver always tries to avoid the low fuel issues in their car. But in some circumstances, if you thought that the dashboard light of the fuel indicator is failing or the light is broken, then you may run the car without sufficient fuel. If you are far from the gas station, then leaving the car on the road sideways and going for purchasing the gasoline can be dangerous. So, in this situation, you need to call a tow truck for carrying your car to a gas station is essential. Some of the towing companies also bring fuel for you in free.

Conclusion