Common car troubles- causes and solutions

The problem: Air conditioner not working. Recognise it: Your air con will switch on, but you notice it’s just blowing room-temperature air around rather than cold air. Fix it: The most likely cause of this is that there is no refrigerant left in your system. This could be caused by a leak in your system somewhere, which will have to be fixed before refilling the refrigerant. If you’re car-savvy and you own a set of air conditioning gauges, refilling the refrigerant is usually easy to do yourself. However, if you’re not so confident, enlist the help of a knowledgeable friend or take a quick trip to the mechanic. The problem: Engine overheating. Recognise it: You may notice steam or smoke coming from your bonnet, or the needle on your engine temperature gauge may be through the roof. Fix it: Overheating can be caused by a few different factors. The simplest cause may be that your car needs more coolant. Yet depleted coolant can be caused by bigger problem, like leaks or faulty hoses, so always check for the underlying cause before simply filling it up with more. Another common reason for overheating may be that the radiator fan which keeps your engine cool is faulty, so check your fan motor connection and fan thermostat. The problem: Noisy brakes. Recognise it: You’ll know it when you hear it! Fix it: There could be a number of reasons for noisy brakes. It could be that your brake pads are loose, worn out, or you may have brake dust inside the drum. If you can’t see anything wrong with your brake pads, and you suspect it may be brake dust, it may be best to leave this to a professional – brake dust can be extremely dangerous if accidentally inhaled. Always remember, if you don’t feel confident tackling your car troubles on your own, taking your car in for a quick service and tune up to get you back on the road in no time. Also, don’t forget to take care of the outside appearance of your car as well as the inside Source: John Hughes