For many of us, our cars are the be all end all when it comes to getting to work, school or just going about our day-to-day. 

And when they break down, or there’s an issue that prevents us from driving safely, we’re more or less stuck at home — or on the side of the road. 

When it comes to motor vehicle issues, some are more complicated to fix than others, but there are also a few that are more common than others, too. If you’re not too sure about what’s going on with your car, take a look at our article below. 

You’ll hopefully have a little more understanding about what to do when something goes wrong, to at least know what to tell the mechanic when you give them a call.

Battery Problems

Topping our list, one of the most common motor vehicle issues has to be the auto battery giving out. And although the car might still be running, when the battery goes out, there is a domino effect that can affect a lot of other things. 

How to Tell:

The most significant tell-tale sign your battery is on its way out is a slower start of the car in the morning. If you have to press the Start button a few times or you’re noticing that the engine takes a while to roll over in the morning, you’re in need of a new battery.

In line with this, you’ll notice that your lights might be a little dimmer than usual, which is a safety hazard and a sign your battery needs to be replaced. 

One final thing to note is that if you’ve replaced your battery and the problem remains, you may have an alternator issue — which is the part of your car that charges your battery. 

Alternator

Adding to the battery issues, alternator issues are also extremely common for car owners. 

The alternator, as we mentioned above, is what keeps your battery fully charged by using your engine’s power. When there’s an issue with your alternator, your battery won’t be able to sustain a full charge and slowly but surely give out. 

How to Tell:

You often won’t notice there’s an alternator issue until you’ve experienced the above battery issues, replaced your battery and almost immediately experienced the same problems again. 

If you’re seeing dim lights, a poorly performing internal display system or your dashboard lights are extremely dim — it’s likely your battery. However, if you replace your battery and see the same issues in a week or two, there’s a good chance it’s the alternator. 

Brakes

Another super common vehicle issue is brakes not working as they should. 

Of course, a lot does go on when it comes to cars, so when you hear a noise, it’s pretty hard to figure out what it means and what’s going on. 

However, when it comes to brakes, there are a couple of easy ways to tell they need replacing. 

How to Tell:

You’ll notice the car takes a little longer to come to a full stop, and there might be shuddering or a jolting feeling as you’re slowing down plus you’ll likely hear some noise or squeaking as you come to a full stop. 

These issues come from brake pads that are worn down, too hot or simply damaged. It’s a good idea to have this issue dealt with as soon as possible, so heading over to DingGo for a mechanic might be a good idea. 

Using Too Much Fuel

One thing we all notice is how much fuel our car is using, and this can change based on a few factors. 

A costly issue if left unchecked, are the fuel injector problems. When these problems occur, you’re letting the car burn far too much fuel per kilometre and emptying your tank a lot more frequently than you need to.

How to Tell:

The easiest way to tell if there’s a fuel injector problem or spark plug issue is keeping an eye on how much fuel the car is using, and how fast. If you’re noticing an empty tank a whole lot more frequently, then it’s worth having a mechanic take a look at the spark plug or fuel injector.