When you mention engine problems, most drivers get visions of huge repair bills and long downtime without their used SUV. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be the case. Most problems start small, and if identified and repaired quickly, they’re cheap and easy to fix. These are a few of the problems you need to get repaired very quickly.
3 Auto Engine Problems With Your Used SUV You Should Get Fixed ASAP
Dead Battery
If your battery is dead, the only way to start your car is by jump-starting. A jump-start isn’t a convenient or practical long-term solution. A battery can fail for several reasons, including age, damage, or problems with other components. An average battery will last for three to five years before it gradually wears out and needs replacement.
A worn alternator can damage your battery by either under or overcharging it. Overcharging the battery can cause the battery chemicals to boil and produce further damage, like corrosion on the terminals. Worn battery cables and electrical spikes or surges can also lead to a dead battery. We’ll connect your battery to our battery tester to identify the problem then we’ll fix it.
Coolant Leak
Coolant is essential for your engine as it removes heat generated by the engine and takes it to the radiator for cooling. When your engine temperature rises over a preset point, coolant is released and begins to do its work. The cooling system operates under high pressure and at high speed, both of which generate additional heat.
The high pressure and temperature can eventually cause a leak in worn or damaged sections of the cooling system. If your engine is leaking coolant, you’ll see a steady and immediate increase in your engine temperature. If the coolant leak isn’t repaired ASAP, your engine can overheat. Should you see your engine temperature rising for no apparent reason, call us right away so we can investigate.
Stalling Problems
Stalling can happen for a variety of reasons, but it’s a sign that there’s a problem that needs to be fixed. Your engine could stall due to a worn alternator, damaged spark plugs, or a blocked catalytic converter. A worn alternator, for example, may not supply enough power consistently to allow the spark plugs to ignite the compressed fuel-air mix.
Damaged plugs might receive enough power, but they’re too worn to spark correctly, and combustion fails. A blockage in the converter may be forcing exhaust gases back into the engine. These gases will increase the ratio of fuel to air, and this can quickly choke combustion. We’ll examine your engine to find the cause of the problem.
If you’re experiencing any problems with your engine, come in and see us today at Santa Monica SUVs.
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