The Necessity Of Troubleshooting
An engine consists of many subsystems located close to each other, and they all function with an ultimate aim of moving an automobile. Thus, an engine can be termed as the heart of a vehicle, and it is essential for the owner to be familiar with common engine problems and their possible remedies. A driver well conversant with the engine problems will feel much more comfortable in driving his vehicle than one who is ignorant about these details. Sometimes troubleshooting common engine problems boils down to simply understanding your vehicle and the interactive relationship between movable parts and their function. Now we will study the common engine problems that a driver may experience on the road, and also the likely corrective actions he may take to resolve the issue.
Engine Overheating
Internal combustion engines function by utilizing heat energy obtained from the combustion of fuel. All types of combustion are associated with some waste heat, and the function of the cooling system is to manage its efficient disposal. When the ability of the cooling system to collect, carry, and dissipate heat is reduced, overheating of an engine may occur.
Thus, it is essential to know under what circumstances the cooling system may not function properly. Major causes for malfunctioning of the cooling system are a decrease in the coolant fluid or antifreeze level due to leakage or evaporation, low conductivity of heat because of deposits in the water jackets in the engine or water tubes in the radiator, malfunctioning of the thermostat, insufficient airflow through the radiator, a nonfunctioning of cooling fan, or a worn or loosened water pump impeller. Some problems with engine starts from russian – газ авто, tht hard affect your engine.
Engine Backfiring

In automotive circles, the term “backfire” is commonly interchanged for the “after-firing” of the engine. Although the terminology may be commonly misunderstood, it pays to know that they are two clearly different events. During the engine cycle, there are a number of various independent yet related events that take place. Backfiring occurs only during the time the intake valve is open during the combustion cycle.
An after-fire is a minor explosion out of the exhaust pipe at the rear or in the exhaust manifold. An engine after-fire normally occurs when the air to fuel ratio is not proper, due to which the engine is not functioning properly. An after-fire may occur out of the exhaust system when the fuel mixture is too lean, thus slowing the combustion process. Engine after-fires can be repaired by correcting the imbalance of the fuel in the mixture.
Backfiring and after-firing may also occur when wires of the spark plugs are not properly fitted, carbon is sticking within the distributor cap, or the ignition timing is not properly adjusted.
The term backfire is also commonly used for the dark water/fuel emission mixture that burns when your car starts up or when you floor it on the highway. A common cause of this is from condensation that forms at the top half of a half-filled fuel tank. This water then filters down to the bottom of the tank and eventually mixes with the actual fuel. A fairly regular change of your fuel filter will prevent this from happening more regularly than what your budget or time constraints will allow.
Engine Cranks but Does Not Start
One of the first things to check if the engine cranks but does not start is thespark from sparking plug and the engine compression. Check for any slack hoses from which vacuum might be leaking. If compression and ignition are satisfactory, then the next likely problem could be in the fuel system. The main probable causes are a low fuel pump pressure due to a faulty pump, restricted fuel lines, or a blocked fuel filter. If there is no noise from the fuel pump when the engine is cranking, it indicates that the pump is not spinning. Problems related to electrical circuits could be a low voltage in the power supply circuit, or a high resistance in the ground connection of the pump.
Engine Noises
Engine noises are extremely useful in the diagnosis of different engine problems, provided these are recognized intelligently. Normally an unusual noise will prematurely identify the occurrence of a particular problem in the engine, and if immediate remedial measures are taken, a considerable amount required on the major repairs may be avoided. With a little experience, it will not be difficult to interpret the different engine noises, and differentiate them from one another. A mechanic’s stethoscope may be utilized to locate the source of sound where its intensity is more. Once the source has been identified, accurate diagnosis will become easier.