Handling
and ride problems often indicate a problem. Use this
excerpt from the FTC's Taking
the Scare out of Auto Repair to check your symptoms.
Feels
Like Trouble
Difficult handling, a rough ride, vibration and poor
performance are symptoms you can feel. They almost
always indicate a problem.
Steering
- Misaligned
front wheels and/or worn steering components, such
as the idler or ball joint, can cause wandering
or difficulty steering in a straight line.
- Pulling
- the vehicle's tendency to steer to the left or
right - can be caused by something as routine as
under-inflated tires, or as serious as a damaged
or misaligned front end.
Ride
and Handling
- Worn
shock absorbers or other suspension components -
or improper tire inflation - can contribute to poor
cornering.
- While
there is no hard and fast rule about when to replace
shock absorbers or struts, try this test: bounce
the vehicle up and down hard at each wheel and then
let go. See how many times the vehicle bounces.
Weak shocks will allow the vehicle to bounce twice
or more.
- Springs
do not normally wear out and do not need replacement
unless one corner of the vehicle is lower than the
others. Overloading your vehicle can damage the
springs.
- Balance
tires properly. An unbalanced or improperly balanced
tire causes a vehicle to vibrate and may wear steering
and suspension components prematurely.
Brakes
Brake problems have several symptoms. Schedule diagnosis
and repair if:
- The
vehicle pulls to one side when the brakes are applied.
- The
brake pedal sinks to the floor when pressure is
maintained.
- You
hear or feel scraping or grinding during braking.
- The
"brake" light on the instrument panel
is lit.
Engine
The following symptoms indicate engine trouble. Get
a diagnosis and schedule the repair.
- Difficulty
starting the engine.
- The
"check engine" light on the instrument
panel is lit.
- Rough
idling or stalling.
- Poor
acceleration.
- Poor
fuel economy.
- Excessive
oil use (more than one quart between changes).
- Engine
continues running after the key is removed.
Transmission
Poor transmission performance may come from actual
component failure or a simple disconnected hose or
plugged filter. Make sure the technician checks the
simple items first; transmission repairs normally
are expensive. Some of the most common symptoms of
transmission problems are:
