We can spend hours debating why have a car isn’t up to speed, and sometimes the solution is right in front of us. Maybe you’ve bought a used car, and it needs some additional fine tuning. If you have particular problems, and your car is really struggling, it’s important not to overlook the most simple solutions. Remember, the simplest explanation is usually the correct one. So, if you’ve got issues with your car, and you think you’ve tried everything, could it be one of these problems?
The battery is faulty
Usually, a faulty battery is because of a bad electrical connection. Do you make lots of short journeys? This will wear down your battery, and especially if you make lots of short journeys in the winter, this will cause problems down the line. It’s much better for you to test your battery on occasion, but also make sure that you charge the battery overnight, especially if you don’t make long journeys.
Your tires have uneven tread
It’s important to check the tread on a regular basis. If you notice that the tread is uneven, this could cause misalignment. If you don’t know where to begin, just go to a tire center, and get a specialist to check it for you. And if you drive with a heavy loads a lot of the time, this could be a major contribution to problems with your tire pressure. Make sure that you adjust the tire pressure to cope with the corresponding changes.
When was the last time you changed the oil?
You’ve got to change your oil every few months or 5000 miles. The same applies to the oil filter, and nowadays, there are so many oil change and auto repair services that can do this for you that you don’t really have an excuse.
How are the clutch cables?
Do you even know? If you use a manual car, the clutch is put under a lot of stress at the best of times. As a result, the clutch cable can be prone to breaking. It’s not something that happens often, but if it does, it can be a very big problem for your car. One way you can notice is if the clutch feels a bit different when you press the pedal, and if you use the clutch too much, such as if you drive up hills a lot.
Alternator problems
The one thing you should notice if you are having problems with the alternator is that your battery could be affected, but also your headlights could be very dim. This is especially noticeable when your engine is idle. Of course, the ignition warning light could come on, but if the temperature of the engine rises quickly, this could be because the belt that drives the water pump and the alternator has broken. This is very dangerous, and you need to get it fixed as soon as possible.
If your car is really struggling, you should never overlook the most simple explanations. Nowadays, your car will usually tell you what’s wrong, but for those people who have used cars and older models, it’s much better for you not to pretend to be psychic, and get some proper help.
