Six common causes Of car breakdowns

June 28, 2022

Have you ever wondered why you’ve never seen a Volkswagen in a horror movie? The message of the ad is simple: The quality and reliability of a Volkswagen are known to be extremely high; which is why you will never see a Volkswagen that won’t start in a dangerous horror movie scene. But let’s face it. Regardless of whether you have a new or used car, or even a Volkswagen, car breakdowns will happen at the worst possible time. And everybody knows there’s nothing like having your car break down to ruin a road trip. Although it may not happen everyday, dealing with car troubles is usually a drag for the driver. Most drivers don’t even have the experience or physical strength to deal with common breakdowns, so good luck with that. Even worse is knowing that you could have prevented it from happening altogether if only you did this or did that, that simple thing your dad always nagged you about, or how you wish you even knew how to diagnose the problem. Fortunately for you, Cocogen has compiled six common causes of car trouble:

1. Dead Car Batteries Dead or faulty batteries are usually the result of a bad cell in the battery that wasn’t charged properly, most often causing the car to die or not work unexpectedly. At times, corroded battery terminals may keep it from charging. The fix? Check your battery at least once a month for any buildup or corrosion. But if you’re already on the road, it’s nothing a little push from friends won’t fix. Although, it’d be worth noting that this would only work with manual transmission car. You can also jump start your car using jumper cables. You won’t need a lot of tools for this but you have to find a willing volunteer (with a functioning car, of course) for this to work. When it comes to jumper cables, the shorter, the better. While longer ones are often more convenient, the farther energy has to travel, the more it tends to lose power. It’s also recommended that you get a gauge six jumper cable which is the standard. CAUTION: Jumper cables transmit electrical currents from one car to another. Once it has been connected to a car, DO NOT touch the metal clamps to anything else but the other car’s battery. 2. Overheating Engine Frequent engine overheating can be quite frustrating to deal with, especially during the summer here in the Philippines. There are a lot that can cause this, but the most common is a faulty cooling system or ow levels of cooling fluid. If your thermostat meter is getting stuck, or coolant fluid is leaking, or even the fan isn’t working properly, then you might be looking at an imminent car trouble. Before you set out on a long road trip, make sure your cooling system is all set and fluids are topped off to avoid getting stranded. 3. Flat Tire Tires are the only contact a vehicle makes with the ground so a lot of wear and tear is to be expected. However, regularly monitoring your car’s tire pressure and tread thickness can reduce the chances of this from happening. Should a leak or puncture occur, pull over to a safe area and call for roadside assistance. If you know how to change tires, then it’s time to roll up your sleeves and switch the affected tire with your spare. TIP: You can also purchase a puncture repair kit which you can use to temporarily patch-up affected tires. This should buy you enough time to get yourself to the nearest service station for professional help. 4. Empty Gas Tank Topping up with the wrong type of fuel is not that uncommon, especially when in a hurry. Or when you run out of fuel in the middle of nowhere, or forget to withdraw cash or bring your credit card. Always keep a close eye on your fuel gauge an head to your nearest gas station as soon as it goes down a certain threshold. 5. Electrical Problems Electrical faults account for about 4% of breakdowns. As cars become more and more advanced, electrical faults are becoming, more often, responsible for a lot of breakdowns, especially with automatic transmission cars. There is almost nothing you can do if your car breaks down due to an electrical fault. The best way to fix it is to keep it from happening at all. Get your car checked out when the first signs of a problem start to show up. If starting your car becomes a problem, take it to a mechanic right away. Don’t wait for it to fail completely. 6. Vehicle Accidents As much as we try to avoid roadside accidents, there are some things that are just not within our control. Construction projects, confusing signs, impatient (or undisciplined) drivers, ghost barriers, so-called faulty brakes, and a whole host of other issues puts us more at risk to vehicular accidents than ever before. The key to avoiding a car breakdown altogether is good and regular maintenance, together with an understanding of what’s most likely to go wrong. Many of these common causes of car breakdowns can be fixed at the roadside but most can be avoided with the correct preventive care. Still, knowing the immediate action to take when your car breaks down would surely prove to be helpful in the future. *** The author of this article contributed in their own personal capacity. The views expressed are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cocogen Insurance.

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