Can you self-diagnose your car? Yes, yes you can

Every car runs the risk of malfunctioning. And it usually happens at the worst possible time, are we right? Honestly, that’s why things like car insurance and car warranties are such a win. So, you don’t have to pay for what’s gone wrong out of your pocket.

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to spot something funky with your car before that little puff of smoke turns into something seriously wrong… And more expensive to fix. The thing is, you don’t need to be a mechanic to spot something amiss with your car. Quite a lot of issues can be detected just by listening, feeling, and being alert while you’re behind the wheel.

Here are the common symptoms you could spot on your own:

Your engine is overheating

An overheating engine usually happens because there’s not enough coolant or you’ve got a leak in the hoses. If you notice any of the signs below, then make sure you turn off the aircon, turn on the heater (to draw heat away from the engine), open the windows, pull over and turn off the engine as soon as possible. Your engine is overheating when:

The bonnet is super hot to the touch.
It smells like burning oil or rubber.
You can see a plume of steam escaping the hood.
There’s a thumping sound coming from the engine, which happens when coolant meets heated coolant.
You can feel your engine losing power.

There are bad smells

Picking up on a bad smell is a classic way to diagnose that something is going wrong with your car. To help you smell what’s what, here’s a breakdown of funky smells. What bad smells mean:

Rotten eggs = Your engine may not be burning the fuel properly, allowing sulphur into your fuel, which is released as hydrogen sulphide. Hence the eggy smell.
Burning smell number 1 = You could be braking too hard and need to lay off the high speeds.
Burning smell number 2 = You could be ‘riding’ your clutch (or your clutch might need to be replaced).
Burning smell number 3 = It’s the same smell, but the cause could be an electrical short or oil burning in the engine.
Burning smell number 4 = This smell could also indicate that 1 of your timing belts is slipping or has worn out.

The steering wheel pulls to 1 side

Have you noticed your steering wheel pulling to 1 side? You’re probably picking up on incorrect alignment, unbalanced tyre pressures and worn joints or bearings. Rather than running the risk of a blowout later, get your tyre alignment and pressure checked out.

There’s less oomph

A loss of power isn’t something to ignore. In fact, this loss of power could be signalling that your engine is running hot, your spark plugs are old, or you’ve got a blocked air filter. Look, losing power could be easily solved by getting your car serviced, but if you leave it too long, you’re looking at replacing multiple parts and fixing other issues to the tune of a much heftier price tag.

You’ve got a smokin’ butt

Have you noticed that there’s smoke coming from your car’s rear? Don’t ignore it. Pay attention to the colour and how thick it is before calling in a mechanic and impressing them with your wisdom. Here are the smoke signals to look out for:

The smoke is blueish = Your engine could be burning oil.
Grey smoke = Your engine could be burning transmission fluid, or you could have a faulty turbocharger or a stuck PCV valve.
A little white smoke = Could be nothing more than vapour collected in the exhaust.
A lot of white smoke = Burning coolant, which is usually the result of a blown head gasket or damaged cylinder head.
Black smoke = You’re burning excess fuel, so you should probably check your air filter, fuel injectors or fuel pressure regulator.

The king has your back

There are quite a few issues that can have an impact on your car’s performance, but if you can spot and diagnose these problems, not only will you impress your mechanic, but you’ll prevent a dangerous accident or breakdown from happening.

At least if something does happen, the king will have your back with comprehensive car insurance and our royal car warranties that’ll have you back on the road in a car that’s undergone excellent repairs.

Don’t have our royal touch? Click here or call or WhatsApp us on 0860 50 50 50 and we’ll give you a commitment-free quote for your boat, your bakkie, or your business.

Psst… This blog provides general info only, and doesn’t count as financial or product advice from King Price or our legal and compliance experts. Remember, all our premiums are risk-profile-dependent, and T’s and C’s apply. Our most up-to-date KPPD (policy wording) can always be found here.

Our website T’s and C’s can be found here.

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Can you self-diagnose your car? Yes, yes you can

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Impress your mechanic and your wallet by diagnosing issues with your car early and preventing expensive repair jobs later.

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The king

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King Price Insurance

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