Match These Car Symptoms With Solutions and We’ll Guess When Your Car Will Die

By: Dave Davis
Estimated Completion Time
7 min
Match These Car Symptoms With Solutions and We’ll Guess When Your Car Will Die
Image: Pixabay by Rudy and Peter Skitterians

About This Quiz

Your car is made up of a multitude of parts, all working in perfect harmony — most of the time. Like any mechanical device, however, your car needs regular servicing and occasional repairs as time goes on. 

Sometimes it will tell you what it needs via computer display or specific dashboard light. There are times, however, when you as the driver need to pay attention to what your vehicle is telling you by the way it handles, the sounds that it makes and the way it performs. If you're attentive, you can catch a lot of problems early, get them taken care of and be on your way. If you are the type to ignore a problem until it gets too big to be ignored, however, you're setting yourself up for some major pain down the road. 

How long your car will last is directly dependent on how well you pay attention and how you can interpret what it's trying to tell you. For this quiz, we'll ask you 30 questions about common symptoms your car may display over time. Through your answers, we'll be able to tell you, with a high degree of certainty, if you and your car will have a long, fruitful relationship. 

We'll also be able to tell if you're the kind of driver who treats cars as disposable objects. 

So, hop in and give us your best answers for these questions, and you'll know if you'll be good to go, need to go car shopping this weekend or should be on a first-name basis with your mechanic!

Check engine
Wikimedia Commons by Wikiuser100000
The "Check Engine" light is on steady. What's the problem?
I can't find a post-it note to cover it!
The problem? The stupid light won't go off!
Unknown, but the mechanic should be able to tell me.
The gas cap could be loose or broken.

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Bounce
Pixabay by pen_ash
You notice that your car's ride is bouncier than it has been in the past. What's your first thought?
They really need to repair some of these potholes!
There's an issue with my suspension.
It's time to replace the shocks.
Whee!

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egg
Pexels by Pixabay
Your car has the distinct smell of rotten eggs. What could be the problem?
It's a problem with the catalytic converter.
It's probably a bad fuel filter?
I got some bad gas!
That old egg salad sandwich I misplaced a few days ago?

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Black smoke
Wikimedia Commons by Daniel Case
Black smoke is coming out of the tailpipe — how can you fix it?
Fix it? It looks awesome — like I'm a big rig!
It's a fuel issue. Could be a lot of things.
Bad gas? Maybe it'll go away next time I fill up.
It's burning rich. I'll check the air filter first.

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Brakes
Pixabay by Gerald Oswald
When you hear a clunking sound when braking, which part should you examine?
Could be a loose hubcap?
Nothing. Sometimes a car's gonna clunk.
I'll take a look at the brake rotors.
I'll check out the brake caliper. It could be damaged.

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Air conditioner
Pixabay by NoobInNature NIN
The A/C isn't as cool as it used to be. What's could be causing it?
Who knows? Guess I have to roll the darned windows down.
It could just be too hot for it to keep up today.
Something about the condenser, maybe?
It could be a leak in an A/C system line or a clogged line.

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Smell
Unsplash by Jeff Nissen
There's a smell of burning rubber when you drive. What could be the cause?
It's my wicked driving, yo!
It seems to be something under the hood ...
It's probably a failing belt.
Who knows? If it's still happening after a few weeks, I'll get it checked out.

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oil change
Pixabay by Skica911
To keep the engine happy, it needs regular oil changes. When is the last time you changed your oil?
I change as often as the owner's manual says to.
Six months? I'm not sure.
Sometime last year, I'm pretty sure.
Cars need oil?

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Steering wheel
Unsplash by Markus Spiske
What could be the cause of the steering wheel starting to vibrate around 55 mph?
The steering is out of alignment.
The tires are probably out of balance.
I'm not driving fast enough, obviously.
One of the tires could be low on air.

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White smoke
Unsplash by Clément Falize
What could cause thick, white smoke to come out of your car's tailpipe?
I'm not sure, but I think it's serious.
It's probably just too cold this morning.
It's burning too rich or lean or something.
That's burning coolant and could be caused by a failed head gasket.

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ear
Unsplash by Freshh Connection
You're hearing a loud knocking coming from the engine of your classic car. What should you do?
I'm not sure, but I know that's not good. Better see a professional.
A rod bearing could be worn. Better tear down the engine.
Turn up the radio to drown it out.
Drive faster and see if it goes away.

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Lion
Pixabay by Ajay Lalu
Your engine suddenly starts roaring when running. What should you do?
See if it gets louder when I go faster.
Nothing! It sounds boss!
Check the exhaust system,
Replace the muffler,

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Rattle
Unsplash by Dan LeFebvre
There's a rattling coming from underneath the car. What could be causing it?
Could be something with the muffler.
Something has come loose in the exhaust system.
Who knows? There's too much junk in the back seat to narrow it down.
If something falls off, I'll worry about it then.

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Steering Wheel 2
Unsplash by Marvin Meyer
Your steering wheel is shaking when you're braking! How can you fix this?
The brake rotors are warped — I need to get them back in "round."
I need to push the pedal down harder!
First, I'll see if it gets better over time.
I need to get the tires rotated

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Brakes 2
Unsplash by David Latorre Romero
When there's a grinding sound when you brake, which part needs replacing?
The brake pads — they're worn out.
It's something behind the wheel, probably.
Nothing. If you can't find 'em, grind 'em or something like that.
The brake rotor? Better get it checked out.

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Headlight
Unsplash by Baher Khairy
The car cranks slow on start and the headlights are dim. Which of these parts are you about to replace?
The headlights
The key
The battery
The alternator

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Burning oil
Unsplash by Daniel Olah
After you run your car for a few miles, you start to catch the whiff of burning motor oil. What could be the culprit?
The car definitely needs an oil change.
Could be a leaky crankshaft dropping oil on the exhaust manifold.
Probably an oil leak of some definition?
I have no idea what burning motor oil smells like.

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Accelerate
Pixabay by PublicDomainPictures
When there's a squealing sound when you accelerate, which worn part could be causing it?
If it sounds cool, who cares? Watch me accelerate!
Probably the humidity. It'll probably stop on its own.
Squealing is usually a slipping belt, right?
It's the serpentine belt. I'd better get to work on it.

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Blue smoke
Pixabay by Hanjörg Scherzer
You notice that blue smoke is coming from the tailpipe. What's happening here?
It's burning oil — could be a leak in the combustion chamber.
I don't know, but the mechanic will.
I'll wait and see if it changes to another color.
Who cares? It's the problem of the guy behind me!

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Rattle copy
Lucky Penny Shop via YouTube
There's a rattling sound when your car idles. What's the first thing you should check?
My hearing. Am I imagining it?
I should make sure I didn't blow a speaker.
I should see if the rattling is coming from the engine.
The engine's oil level

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Highway
Pixabay by John Howard
You notice that your car speed surges on the highway. What should you do?
Looks like the fuel pump is going bad.
Take it to the garage. There's something wrong with the fuel system.
Enjoy it.
See if it still does it with the cruise control on.

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Alternator
proclaimliberty2000 via YouTube
Which of these could cause a whining sound when your car is running?
Might be a belt?
The transmission needs a check.
My ungrateful children in the back seat
The brakes, probably?

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Temperature
Wikicommons Media by Santeri Viinamäki
The car's engine temperature is changing erratically. What's the first thing you should do when this happens?
Curse loudly.
See if it's affecting the gas mileage.
Check the weather and see if the outside temp is erratic.
Check the thermostat. Looks like it's going bad.

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Gas
Pixabay by IADE-Michoko
You notice the smell of gasoline in the car. What could it be?
It's nothing. I usually spill gas all over when I fill up.
Hmmm. Better light up a cigarette and take a look under the hood.
It could be a leak in the fuel injection line.
Probably call the mechanic. That doesn't sound, or smell, good.

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Tachometer
Pixabay by Pexels
You notice that you're having to fill up more and the engine seems to have lost some pep. What should you check?
The air filter
Run an ODBII diagnostic
Dealership websites to see if you can find a better car
Your driving habits

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Start
Wikimedia Commons by Piviso
There's a grinding sound when you start the car. What could be the issue?
It's probably the brakes. Grinding is always the brakes.
It sounds like a bad starter drive gear.
Something's wrong with the starter.
It's my teeth because I hate my broken-down car.

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Pedals
Wikimedia Commons by Tckma
The tank is full, but the car sputters and hesitates when you accelerate. Which of these could be the problem?
The car is a piece of junk.
I've got too much literal junk in the trunk.
There's water in the gas tank.
There's a problem with the fuel line.

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Engine
Pixabay by andreas160578
Misfires, lack of acceleration and rough idle could all be signs that ...
... there's an electrical issue.
... the car gods hate me.
... I have worn spark plugs.
... my paycheck about to be going to my mechanic.

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Acceleration
Pixabay by tookapic
The faster you go, the worse a grinding sound gets. What could be causing it?
It's probably the brakes again.
It's a faulty wheel bearing — I need to fix that right away.
I don't know. Let's see if it goes away at even higher speeds!
It's a problem with a wheel. I'd better get it checked.

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Shifter
Unsplash by Alok Sharma
You're having trouble shifting gears and you hear a rhythmic pounding. What's the most likely cause?
Bad karma
I'm driving a stick instead of an automatic.
There's a problem with the drive train.
Low transmission fluid

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