Can You Solve These Auto Problems?

Estimated Completion Time
6 min
Can You Solve These Auto Problems?
Image: Photo by Fancycrave.com from Pexels

About This Quiz

You can credit Bertha Benz, the wife of inventor Karl Benz, as the first to take a "horseless carriage" on a road trip at the end of the 19th century -- but it was in 1903 when H. Nelson Jackson and Sewall K. Crocker, accompanied by a pit bull named Bud, took the first cross country road trip in a Winton Touring Car dubbed, "Vermont." And in true form, they were also the first to perform road repairs.

So when your Dodge Charger or Ford Fiesta -- two cars voted most likely to be unreliable by Consumer Reports -- breaks down in rural Pennsylvania during a blizzard, it helps to have a little understanding of how your vehicle works -- and maybe why it's currently not. Or maybe you just like to do your own oil changes or do your own brake job to save big bucks.

Either way, whether it's a new fender and some door repairs or a problem under the hood, diagnosing and fixing the problem yourself can save you repair costs -- paying back your friend to wire you money to get home not included. See how well you can solve these car trouble spots.

What's your car trying to tell you when one of its turn signal indicators blinks fast?
The alternator is failing.
There's a blown fuse.
There's a faulty bulb.
There's a faulty exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Have you ever noticed the indicator in your dashboard blink faster than normal? It's trying to tell you that it's time to change a light bulb.

Advertisement

It's finally hot enough to turn on your car's AC, but it smells moldy -- and it's not even cold. What's going on?
It's clogged vents.
It's a failing AC accumulator.
It's because of a faulty oxygen sensor.
It needs a windshield replacement.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The AC accumulator filters moisture from the AC system, so when it's falling down on the job there may be -- stinky -- mold and mildew buildup. When diagnosing a bad AC accumulator, you may also find coolant leaks underneath the car or that there's a rattling sound when the system is turned on.

Advertisement

In addition to possibly burning transmission fluid, what's another reason your car might have white smoke coming from its exhaust?
A crack in the cylinder head
A crack in the engine block
A damaged head gasket
All of these may cause the problem.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When everything is running properly, you'll see a light or a thin white exhaust vapor emitting from your vehicle. But if your car's exhaust is a different color, it may be time for a checkup. White or light gray exhaust smoke in particular may mean that the engine is burning transmission fluid -- and it will smell like burning oil. Alternatively, a leaky head gasket or a crack in the cylinder head can cause coolant to burn in the engine's combustion chamber, causing thick white exhaust smoke that smells slightly sweet.

Advertisement

These are all common causes of a dead or dying battery, except which one?
Corrosion around the posts
Excessive heat
Faulty electrical components or wiring
Squealing belts
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Batteries typically last about three years. You can tell if yours is drained or dead by looking for corrosion around the posts, a bloated battery case caused by excessive heat, or faulty electrical components or wiring. Don't fret: You can jump start a vehicle if the battery dies. But if it continues to die it means there is a larger problem -- at that point, you'll need to figure out what's draining it so quickly, or you may need to replace the battery.

Advertisement

Why is it a bad idea to keep driving on a flat tire?
It could result in poor handling and control.
It could cause vehicle damage.
It could cause wheel damage.
It could cause any or all of these things.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In addition to being hard to control behind the wheel, driving on a flat tire can cause damage to the tire, and it may also cause damage to the wheel and even to your vehicle, depending on the conditions. Always choose to put on your spare tire and leave the tire patching to the professionals.

Advertisement

Your car is shaking and the Check Engine Light (CEL) is blinking. What is the onboard diagnostics system trying to warn you about?
The front airbags have been manually switched off.
A severe engine misfire has happened.
You need to schedule an appointment for regular maintenance.
You're not wearing your seatbelt.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The CEL is part of your car's onboard diagnostics system, the computer that monitors your car's performance including everything from regulating its engine speed to emissions monitoring. When the CEL is blinking, it usually indicates that your car's engine is misfiring, allowing unburned fuel to go straight into the exhaust system -- and that's a catalytic converter-damaging condition. This is one fix for the mechanic.

Advertisement

What damage happens when you put a lower-octane fuel in a car that requires high-octane fuel?
Driveshaft leaks
Engine "knocks"
Powertrain control module failure
Worn gear synchronizers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While a knock sensor is going to help minimize the damage in the short-term, long-term damage -- from poor fuel economy to severe engine damage -- can happen if you make a habit out of using the regular rather than premium octane fuel. Putting higher-octane fuel in a car that only requires regular, however, is just a waste of money.

Advertisement

All of these are signs of transmission trouble, except which one?
There's a delay when you shift gears.
There's a loss of engine coolant.
Transmission slips or grinds when the car is shifting gears.
Vehicle shakes at any speed.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Gears slipping or grinding during shifting as well as a delay can both spell transmission trouble -- as can a car that shakes at any speed you drive it. In addition, you may also hear clunking or whistling sounds in neutral or smell a burnt odor from under the vehicle's hood.

Advertisement

What's happening when your car's engine continues to run, sputters, then gradually stops after you've already turned the engine off?
Carburetor icing
Engine run-on
Flooded engine
Vapor lock
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Running-on" or "dieseling" is when an engine keeps running for a short period after being turned off. The problem happens in spark-plug-ignited, gasoline-powered internal combustion engines (not diesel engines), when fuel ignites without a spark in the combustion chamber. While it's rarely a problem in fuel-injected engines, it can be a common problem if your car has a carburetor.

Advertisement

What type of leak is happening if you find red fluid underneath your car?
A brake fluid leak
An engine oil leak
A transmission fluid leak
A washer fluid leak
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Automatic transmission fluid is oil, but you can tell it's not engine oil or gear oil because it's a different viscosity -- and it's tinted red. Finding this reddish-brown fluid under your car is a sign of a possible transmission fluid leak.

Advertisement

Which is a common cause of high-pitched, squealing noises when you brake?
A failing power-steering pump
A worn fan belt
A worn serpentine belt
Worn brake pads or rotors
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Squealing and squeaking brakes isn't just loud and maybe slightly embarrassing, it could also be putting you and your passengers at risk. It's common, though, because of wear and tear, and usually caused by the aging of some of the components of your car's braking system: worn pads, "glazed" pads and rotors, broken anti-rattle clips, lack of pad insulation or insulation shims, or an incorrect rotor surface cut.

Advertisement

What might cause a thick, black exhaust smoke that smells like it's burning?
A bad turbocharger
The blower motor resistor is bad.
The engine is flooded with gasoline.
A faulty muffler
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Black exhaust smoke suggests that the engine is being flooded with gasoline, and that black smoke is a result of unburnt fuel being forced out of the exhaust. It could be caused by a clogged air filter, a clogged fuel return line, a malfunctioning fuel injection system or a blocked manifold, among a few other potential issues.

Advertisement

Flickering or dim headlights are typically a strong indicator that what part is failing?
The alternator
The chassis
The ignition
The transmission
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The alternator is what keeps your car's battery charged while it's running. It allows the car's battery to supply power to all the electrical components -- such as the headlights -- seemingly endlessly. In addition to dim headlights, there may be other electrical issues, such as with power windows and seats.

Advertisement

What's the primary culprit if your car is hard to start and idles rough?
Fake-wood fascia
Pistons
Shock absorbers
Spark plugs
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A car that is hard to start and idles rough may need new spark plugs. Symptoms may also include a misfiring or surging engine, high fuel consumption and a general lack of acceleration.

Advertisement

You've discovered a coolant leak under your car -- where should you look for the source?
A bad radiator
A bad radiator hose
A bad radiator clamp
Any or all of these could cause leaks
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Finding green or orange fluid (it depends on the type you use) underneath your car is a good indication you've got an engine coolant leak on your hands -- and narrowing it down can be tedious since it could occur anywhere in the cooling system. Common culprits of an external leak? Besides overfilling the tank, coolant leaks often are a result of bad radiator hoses or clamps, a faulty intake manifold gasket or a faulty radiator itself.

Advertisement

All of these are common signs that your car's tires are out of balance, except for which one?
Poor fuel economy
Uneven tread wear
Vibration in the steering wheel
All of these are signs a car's tires are out of balance.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The most common symptoms of unbalanced or out-of-balance tires are uneven -- and quicker -- tread wear and poor fuel economy. But the one you'll probably notice first is the vibration, which can be in the steering wheel, the floorboard or even the seats -- it'll worsen the faster you drive.

Advertisement

What's the No. 1 sign of a burnt clutch?
Its age
Its color
Its smell
Its temperature
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Diagnosing a burnt clutch can be difficult without being able to smell it. Other problems that could cause clutch slippage include a bad flywheel, a misaligned clutch bearing, a blocked cylinder port -- or trouble with the associated cables and pistons that connect the pedal to the clutch itself.

Advertisement

What could be causing your car to shake when you reach speeds of about 50 mph?
A stuck "on" brake caliper
Out of balance tires
"Out of round" brake rotors
All of these can cause a car to shake.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Although the most common reason for a car to shake is related to its tires, it's not the only thing that can cause vibration between 50 and 60 mph. Brake problems, including "out of round" or off balance brake rotors or a brake caliper that's stuck on.

Advertisement

What's your best defense against damage after accidentally putting diesel fuel in a gasoline-powered car?
Flushing the fuel system
Lubricating the fuel-injector pump
Rebuilding the engine
Running the engine rough
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Topped off with diesel instead of gasoline? Your car can only run on the fuel it's intended to use. Gasoline engines, for instance, use spark plugs to ignite fuel rather than the air compression of diesel engines. Because gasoline engines cannot combust diesel fuel, your car won't run on diesel fuel. It usually takes more than just siphoning it out of the tank. It's time to get the fuel system flushed, including the tank, fuel lines, injectors, rail and fuel pump.

Advertisement

What color exhaust smoke can you expect to see if your car's engine is burning oil?
Black
Blue
Light grey
Purple
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The usual suspects when it comes to blue exhaust smoke are worn valves or valve guide seals, damage or wear to piston rings, or worn or damaged cylinders -- and that can allow oil to leak into the engine's combustion chamber where it mixes with fuel. In addition, you may notice the car's engine doesn't have the same power as it used to.

Advertisement

Your car's coolant level normally rises and falls, but which reason could cause a quick drop?
Radiator hose leaks
A leaky CV joint
The ignition system is misfiring
A bad rear differential
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A quick drop in the coolant reservoir level is a good indication that your car has a radiator leak. Check your radiator and its hoses for leaks, swelling, or holes, or if there are any collapsed, cracked or soft hoses.

Advertisement

What's the first thing you should check if your car is backfiring, idling rough or losing power while you're driving?
A bad ignition coil
Dirty transmission fluid
A missing gas cap
An oil pump failure
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are three main problems that could cause stalling while your car's engine is running -- it's a loss of either air, fuel or electricity. Stalling while you're driving -- in particular when you're accelerating, is often due to faulty ignition components such as a bad ignition coil.

Advertisement

Which odor indicates there may be oil leaking onto the engine block or exhaust manifold?
A thick, acrid burning smell
A sweet smell, like maple syrup
A sulfury smell, like rotten eggs
A sharp smell, like burning toast
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

First things first when you're dealing with engine oil -- check the dipstick to see if you're running low on fluid. If that's not the case, engine oil may be leaking into the engine block or into the exhaust manifold, causing that acrid burning oil odor.

Advertisement

What does it mean if your steering wheel has 'excessive play'?
There's free play in the ball joints.
There's free play in the steering box.
There's free play in the tie rods.
All of these are possible reasons.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Excessive play" in your car's steering system means your steering wheel rotates excessively -- more than 1 1/ 2" -- without causing the front wheels to move. What to look for when diagnosing the problem? Ball joints that wiggle in their sockets, loose or worn tie rods, or even a steering rack that's loose on its frame can all cause the problem.

Advertisement

Can you identify the dark, slippery fluid on the ground under the front of your car?
Engine oil
Gasoline
Windshield wiper fluid
Accumulated water
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A dark brown and slippery fluid with a bit of a burned smell about it is almost certainly engine oil. You can easily check if the oil pan plug is properly in place and that the oil filter is secured, but the problem may be due to a cracked oil pan or faulty engine valves.

Advertisement

The most common sign your car is low on gas is an illuminated fuel indicator light. But what's a symptom that you're running low?
Air conditioning won't run.
Car won't start, or stalls often.
Can't shift gears.
There's a dull, grinding noise in the trunk.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The dashboard fuel indicator light will let you know when your car is running on gas reserves -- but that could take you as far as 25 miles depending on your car and how you drive. When gas levels are very low, look for problems like your car not starting, or stalling a lot if it does run.

Advertisement

What kind of noise indicates you may have a timing belt problem?
A clunking noise while braking
A high-pitched sound that continues after the engine's off
A sizzling noise coming from under the hood
A ticking noise coming from the engine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Often it's too late; your timing belt is broken. But if you listen closely, you can identify the problem before that happens. For instance, what may begin with a high-pitched squeal as the belt shows some wear and tear will end with ticking noises coming from inside the engine -- and a car that won't start, if not addressed.

Advertisement

Is it safe to drive if the airbag light comes on?
It's no big deal.
It needs to be checked by a mechanic.
Pull over immediately and call a tow truck.
The light only comes on when the bag deploys.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

From a worn-out airbag clock spring to a corroded control module -- or even a low car battery, there are a lot of different reasons a car's airbag light may illuminate. It could be no big deal, but it may also mean your airbags won't deploy if you have an accident -- get it checked out.

Advertisement

What does it mean if your engine is 'running lean'?
It's using less fuel than it should.
It's using more fuel than it should.
It's using the wrong type of fuel.
It's using the wrong type of engine oil.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A car that's running "lean" is running on less fuel than it should be, primarily because fuel in the ignition chamber is being ignited with either too little fuel or too much air in the mixture. The culprits? It could be a sign of a dirty mass air flow sensor, a damaged fuel injector or a damaged oxygen sensor.

Advertisement

Your car has symptoms of water in the fuel tank. What's the best solution?
Clean the engine.
Replace the spark plugs.
Replace the transmission.
Siphon and replace the entirety of gas in the tank.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

From reduced fuel economy to a rusted fuel system, water in the fuel tank can be costly. The best thing you can do when water has gotten into your car's gas tank is to siphon out the "bad gas" currently in the tank. Depending on just how much water was in the tank, allow the tank to dry out before refilling it with fuel to prevent rusting.

Advertisement

What dashboard symbol might illuminate if your gas cap is loose?
The Check Engine Light (CEL)
The Electric Power Steering (EPS) Warning Light
The Engine Temperature Warning Light
The Fuel Indicator Symbol
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Whether the illuminated CEL blinks or remains constantly lit up, it can tell you a lot about the problem your car is having. While a steady, not blinking, light means you may or may not notice some deterioration in performance, it indicates there's a problem but probably not an emergency -- in fact, it could be anything from tightening your gas cap to avoid setting off a fuel vapor leak sensor to timing or transmission issues.

Advertisement

When you're on the side of the road with steam pouring out from under your car's hood, what could be causing your car's engine to overheat?
A faulty water pump or thermostat
A leaking hose
A broken fan belt
All of these can cause the problem.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are lots of things that can cause an engine to overheat. Everything from leaky hoses to worn belts to a bad water pump or thermostat -- or even an electrical problem -- could be at fault. Typically, you'll need to wait about 30 minutes for your car's engine to cool down enough for safe handling.

Advertisement

What coin denomination can you use to check your tire's tread depth?
Dime
Silver dollar
Nickel
Penny
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The penny test is a way of evaluating tread depth on your car's tires. It works like this: Place a penny with Lincoln’s head upside down into the groove between the tread. If you can't see the top of Lincoln's head, then you're in the clear -- that tread is at least 2/32-inch deep (at least at that location on the tire). You can also use a quarter to do this test, or look at the treadwear indicator bar on each tire.

Advertisement

What's one of the first things to do when you've been in a minor fender bender?
Call a repair shop.
Call a tow truck.
Call your mechanic.
Exchange car insurance information.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As many as 30 percent of all car accidents in the U.S. are rear impact fender benders. If you have one, you'll want to exchange, at the minimum, your full name, address, and phone number, along with your car insurance information -- and that should include your insurance company’s name, phone number and your policy number. Record license plate numbers and the makes and models of the cars involved. Also take down the names and badge numbers of any responding law enforcement, as well as the names of anyone who may have witnessed the accident.

Advertisement

Which could be a cause of your car's recent decrease in gas mileage?
Bad oxygen sensors
Dirty air filters
Incorrect tire pressure
All of these problems can cause it.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Aside from your own bad driving habits, there are several reasons you may find your car isn't as fuel efficient as it used to be, or should be. Look at three simple causes first, including tire pressure, air filters and oxygen sensors -- all of which can cause a drop.

Advertisement

You Got:
/35
Photo by Fancycrave.com from Pexels