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Avoiding A Car Breakdown – Here Are The Top Breakdown Causes
Car troubles are common and they happen at any time. Sometimes it is just one thing that causes them to break down. Other times, it could be many things that cause a car to break down. This article gives you ten reasons why cars break down. You may not think about these things when you drive, but if you do, then you should be able to avoid problems before they occur.
1. The Inevitable Flat Or Damaged Battery
Battery problems are one of the most common causes of breakdowns. If your vehicle struggles to turn the engine over, takes longer than normal to start, doesn’t start when you turn it over, displays the red battery warning light, or gives off no power whatsoever, there could be several possible reasons behind the problem.
The first thing to check is whether the battery itself is faulty. This might be the case if the cells inside the battery block aren’t working properly; they’ll discharge too quickly, causing the voltage to drop across the pack. Alternatively, the connections between the cells within the pack may be loose or corroded.
If neither of those things applies, it’s likely that something else is wrong with your battery system. For example, the alternator may be failing to charge the battery adequately. Or, the charging circuit may be damaged, preventing the battery from being charged at all.
To find out what’s causing your issue, we recommend taking your vehicle to a garage. They’ll be able to carry out tests to determine exactly where the fault lies. Keep your car battery in good order to avoid being stranded.
2. The Famous Alternator Problem
Your car’s alternator does a lot more than just charge your battery. In fact, it’s one of the most important parts of your vehicle’s electrical system. Without it, your battery won’t be able to hold a charge, and your car’s electrics will start to die down. Your battery stores energy produced by your engine, and it’s used to help power everything else in your car. If your battery starts to lose its ability to store electricity, you’ll see problems like dimming headlights, slow windshield wiper blades, and flickering dashboard lights. And if your battery goes completely dead, your car’s ignition warning light will come on.
If you’re driving around with a low battery, your car might sound like it needs to be jump started. But there’s another reason why your car might feel sluggish or even stall out. An alternator problem could cause your battery to drain too quickly, making your car run out of gas. When this happens, your car will probably sound like it’s missing some power – and if you don’t fill up soon, you’ll end up stranded somewhere.
3. It Always Happens – Damaged Tyres Or Wheels
A flat tyre caused by a broken bead or damaged rim is often the most common reason why cars break down. It’s important to note that some vehicles have a spare tire mounted under the front passenger seat, while others don’t. In either case, you’ll need to change the tyre yourself.
If you see a crack or puncture hole in a sidewall, then the wheel will need to be removed and the tyre condition checked. A call to the local mechanic could be in order.
If your tyre isn’t flat, however, you won’t be able to see what’s wrong. This usually happens because something hit the tyre or the rim, causing a small dent.
In such cases, you’ll need to use a jack to lift up the car slightly and get a better view of what’s happening. Look for signs of damage like scratches, cracks, bulges, and dents. Once you’ve found the source of the issue, make sure you fix it immediately.
You can also try to inflate manually. But keep in mind that the air pressure must be correct – too high and the tyre will blow out; too low and it won’t hold enough traction.
4. Common Electrical System Problems
Your car’s electrical system includes many different circuits that control things such as lights, wipers, radio and even the heating/cooling systems.
If something goes wrong with one of those circuits, it could cause problems with another part of the vehicle. For example, if there is a short circuit in the ignition coil, the starter motor won’t turn over, meaning the engine won’t start. This could lead to overheating, battery drain and eventually a complete failure of the entire electrical system.
If you suspect that something is amiss with your car’s electrical system, it’s best to take it to a qualified technician rather than trying to diagnose it yourself. They’ll be able to locate the source of the fault quickly and efficiently, saving you both money and hassle.
5. Keys and Alarm Challenges
The most common way of securing a car is via an alarm system. This usually includes a key fob that you use to unlock the doors and start the engine. But what happens if you lose your set of keys? Or worse still, if someone else finds them? You’re left without access to your vehicle and potentially stranded somewhere remote. If you’ve lost your keys, there are ways around this problem.
If you do find yourself locked out of your car, don’t panic. There are plenty of things you can do to prevent your car from being taken away from you.
First off, make sure you know where your keys are. They could be stuck in the ignition, under the mat, or even buried in the garden.
Once you’ve found them, check that the battery is working properly. If you’ve got no power, your car won’t work either. Next, try calling your local garage. Most garages now offer free mobile phone charging points.
Alternatively, take your car to a nearby petrol station. Many stations now provide a courtesy light that’ll illuminate whenever you press a button on your key ring.
Finally, if none of those options works, you might want to consider buying a replacement set of keys. It’s cheaper than hiring a locksmith and much easier than trying to break into your own car.
6. Using The Wrong Type Of Fuel
If you’ve ever made the (you would imagine, obvious) error of putting petrol into your diesel car (or vice versa) it could cost you thousands. A survey carried out by a UK Automobile service found that one person in 10 makes such mistakes each month. And while most people are able to rectify the situation themselves, some motorists find themselves facing expensive repairs.
In fact, an average of over £3K per vehicle is spent repairing the damage caused by misfuelling. Don’t do it!
7. Clutch cables On Manual Drive Vehicles
If you own a manual gear change car or van then there’s a part of your vehicle that’s always taking the strain – the gears. Every time you shift gear, the gear cable gets pulled tight. over time this can lead to wear and tear.
The problem is, most people don’t know how often they should check the clutch cable. In fact, it’s something many drivers overlook entirely. You will often ‘feel’ a little difference in clutch behaviour and if you do, never ignore it – you could be experiencing a broken cable!
A clutch cable usually snaps when you’re changing gears in a hurry. When you go to shift into reverse, the cable pulls taut and causes friction in the mechanism. This can cause the cable to snap which stops full use of the gearbox.
You can tell if the cable is damaged because it will feel different. For example, if you hear a loud clunking noise on a gear change then you may have this issue. Another sign is if the cable starts pulling away from the flywheel. Take your car to professional help at a garage if you notice either of these two things happening.
8. The Good Old DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter)
A diesel particulate filter (DPF) is located in the combustion chamber of a diesel engine. It filters out soot and other microscopic pollutants emitted into the atmosphere during normal operation. In diesel cars and vans, the DPF can sometimes get a blockage if you regularly use your vehicle for short journeys.
To regenerate it needs a good run every now & again. Alternatively, You could take your vehicle to a garage where they will clean the filter for you.
9. The Starter Motor Problem
Thanks to stop/start technology in modern vehicles, starter motors have to perform even harder than they used to. This is because they are required to do a lot more work. For example, they must engage the crankshaft while the vehicle is stationary. They also have to disengage the crankshaft when the driver pushes the accelerator pedal. In addition, they are needed during gear changes, when the clutch engages and disengages. And finally, they have to operate the transmission oil pump when the car is stopped. These are just some examples; there are many others.
Although robustly made and fairly sturdy, starter motors can fail over time. However, regular servicing and maintenance can prevent this from happening.
So what is the best way to keep your starter motor working well? Regular servicing and maintenance.
10. Overheating Engines Happen!
Overheating is a common issue if you’re sitting in heavy traffic, especially during the summer months. Keeping a regular eye on your cooling system and checking your radiator cap are vital steps to prevent overheating.
If the temperature warning light comes flashing on, you’ve got problems. In modern vehicles, the coolant system doesn’t normally need maintaining at home or topping up – a sealed system. If you notice the coolant level has decreased then there is a risk that you have a leak. |Professional, often dealer, assistance is normally needed in this situation.
Our Top Tips For Avoiding Your Vehicle Breaking Down – Forewarned is Forearmed!
If you are lucky enough to never experience a car breakdown, then you probably don’t know how stressful it can be. If you do ever find yourself in such a situation, there are some things you can do to make sure you don’t end up stranded somewhere far away from home. We asked our experts about what you could do to avoid a breakdown and here are a few simple, sometimes obvious, useful tips:
1. Check your oil level regularly
2. Keep your tyres properly inflated
3. Don’t let your battery run flat
4. Run your air con
5. Be wary of mechanics who offer cheap prices
Concluding Thoughts
In conclusion, I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.” Well, that applies here. If you want to prevent car breakdowns, you must first understand what causes them and establish good driving habits. Once you learn about these issues, you can begin preparing ahead of time.
We hope you found this article helpful. Please share it with others.