Kanata - Ottawa West
Bell's Corners - Ottawa West
Merivale - Ottawa Centre
Bank - Ottawa South
Orleans - Ottawa East
Send us a comment

Chances are you'll notice something wrong with the way your vehicle is performing long before any mechanic would.

To help you decipher those odd car noises or car performance changes, we created a list of symptoms and the possible car problems associated with them. Bear in mind Car Maintenance is typically significantly less expense then Car Repair.

Category

Symptoms

Possible Problems

handling

Handling

Car pulls (when braking)

  • Brake caliper malfunction
  • Wheel cylinder malfunction
  • Improper adjustments

Car pulls (when driving)

  • Wheel alignment
  • Tire wear

Car wanders

  • Improper tire inflation
  • Worn front end parts
  • Worn tires/Steering Box

Car is noisy on turns (clunking)

  • Suspension struts with mounts and bearings/Control arm bushings
  • Loose front end parts/CV Joints

Car shakes (highway) speeds

  • Wheel balance
  • Tire failure
  • Bent wheel
  • Snow/Ice build up inside wheel

starting

Starting

Car stalls

  • Tune up
  • Fuel filter/Air filter

Car is hard to start

  • Spark plugs/Ignition wire
  • Fuel and air filters

Car surges at idle (rough)

  • Air idle control motor
  • Throttle position sensor
  • Throttle body and injection clean
  • Tune up/Spark plugs/Ignition wires

general

General

Car has no power

  • Fuel filter/Air filter
  • Tune up

Car has no heat

  • Plugged cooling system/Heater core
  • Antifreeze strength and/or level
  • Thermostat/Heater control unit

Car smells (exhaust) rotten eggs

  • Exhaust leaking/Catalytic converter
  • Plugged/Fuel air ratio

Gary's Automotive

Gary's Automotive
| Discount Auto Parts