Car Trouble? Start Here
Something is wrong with the car right now. Start with safety, try the checks you can do without tools, then see whether a mobile mechanic can fix it where it sits.
Won't start, stalls or electrical
Car won't start: what the sound is telling you
Clicking, silence, or cranking without firing each point to different causes. Here is how to tell them apart, what you can check safely, and when a mobile mechanic can fix it where the car sits.
Read the guide →Help right nowDead car battery: jump it safely and find out why
A dead car battery is usually quick to fix, but the order you connect jumper cables matters. Here is how to jump safely, why batteries die, and when replacing beats recharging.
Read the guide →Engine problemCar starts then dies: why it happens and what to do
Don't drive it until it stays runningIf your engine fires up and then quits within seconds or minutes, something it needs to keep running is dropping out. Here is how to narrow it down safely and when a mobile mechanic can fix it on the spot.
Read the guide →Help right nowCar stalling while driving: what to do and what causes it
Avoid driving until it is checkedAn engine that dies in traffic is unsettling. Here is how to get safely off the road, the usual fuel, charging and sensor causes, and when a mobile mechanic can fix it where the car is parked.
Read the guide →Electrical helpHeadlights flickering or dimming: what it usually means
Get it checked soon; stop if lights fadeLights that flicker, pulse or dim can be a simple bad bulb or connection, or an early sign that the battery or alternator is failing. Here is how to tell which, and what a mobile mechanic can fix on the spot.
Read the guide →Warning lights
Check engine light on: solid vs flashing and what to do
A flashing light means stop driving soon. A solid light means get the code read soon. Here is what to check yourself, what the codes mean, and how it affects an emissions test.
Read the guide →Help right nowFlashing check engine light: slow down and get it checked
Limit driving and get it checked nowA blinking check engine light is more urgent than a steady one. It usually means the engine is misfiring badly enough to damage expensive emissions parts. Here is what to do, what to check, and what a mobile mechanic can fix.
Read the guide →Help right nowBattery light on: what it means and how far you can drive
Short distance only, get it checked todayThe battery warning light usually means the charging system has stopped charging, and the car is running on stored power. Here is what to do right away, the common causes, and what a mobile mechanic can fix on the spot.
Read the guide →Help right nowOil pressure light on: pull over and shut the engine off
Stop driving and turn the engine offThe red oil can light is one of the few warnings that means stop now. Driving without enough oil pressure can wreck an engine quickly. Here is what to do, how to check the oil, and what happens next.
Read the guide →Warning light helpRed brake warning light on: what it means and what to do
Stop driving if it stays onA red BRAKE light usually means the parking brake is set, the brake fluid is low, or the brake system has a fault. Here is how to tell which, and when not to drive.
Read the guide →Warning light helpABS light on: what it means for your brakes
Usually drivable with care; get it checkedThe amber ABS light means the car has found a fault in its anti-lock braking system. Your normal brakes usually still work, but the anti-skid help may be off. Here is what that means and what to do.
Read the guide →Tire helpTire pressure light on: solid vs flashing, and what to do
Check and fill tires before driving farA solid tire pressure light means at least one tire is significantly low; a light that flashes first and then stays on means the monitoring system has a fault. Here is how to check safely and who fixes what.
Read the guide →Brakes
Brakes grinding: what it means and when to stop driving
Grinding, squealing, pulling and a soft pedal point to different problems with different levels of urgency. Here is how to tell them apart and when a mobile mechanic can fix it in your driveway.
Read the guide →Brake helpBrakes squealing: worn pads or something harmless?
Usually OK short term, get it checkedA squeal from the brakes is often the first sign your pads are wearing out, but not always. Here is how to tell the common causes apart, what to check yourself, and when a mobile mechanic can fix it in your driveway.
Read the guide →Brake helpCar shakes when braking: what the vibration usually means
Drive gently, get it checked soonA pulse in the pedal or a shaking steering wheel when you slow down usually points to the rotors, but calipers, tires and suspension can do it too. Here is how to narrow it down and what it costs to fix.
Read the guide →Brake problemSpongy or sinking brake pedal: what it means and what to do
Stop driving until the brakes are checkedA brake pedal that feels soft, mushy or sinks toward the floor is a hydraulic warning sign. Here is what usually causes it, what you can check parked, and why it's worth fixing before you drive.
Read the guide →Noises
Squealing noise from the engine: what it means
Usually OK short term, get it checkedA high-pitched squeal from under the hood, often at start-up or when you turn the wheel, usually points to the serpentine belt system. Here is how to tell what's squealing and when it gets urgent.
Read the guide →Engine noise helpEngine ticking noise: what it can mean and what to check
Check oil now; stop if it knocksA light tick or tap from the engine can be low oil, a valvetrain noise, an exhaust leak or something more serious. Here is how to narrow it down, what to check first, and when it means stop driving.
Read the guide →Noises and soundsClicking noise when turning: what it usually means
Usually OK short term, get it checkedA rhythmic click on sharp turns often points to a worn CV joint, while pops, clunks and hums point elsewhere. Here is how to tell them apart and what can be fixed in your driveway.
Read the guide →Noise helpHumming noise while driving: wheel bearing or tires?
Usually OK short term, get it checkedA hum or growl that rises and falls with your speed usually comes from where the car meets the road: the tires or a wheel bearing. Here is how to tell them apart and which fixes happen in a driveway versus a tire shop.
Read the guide →Heat, leaks, smoke and smells
Car overheating: what to do right now
If the temperature gauge is in the red or steam is coming from the hood, stop driving. Here is how to stay safe, what to check once it cools, and which cooling repairs a mobile mechanic can do.
Read the guide →Leak under the carCoolant leak: how to spot it and what to do
Get it checked soon; stop if overheatingA green, orange, pink or blue puddle with a sweet smell is almost always coolant. Here is where leaks usually start, what you can check once the engine is cool, and when it's not safe to drive.
Read the guide →Leaks and dripsCar leaking oil: how serious it is and what to check
Usually OK short term if level holdsDark, greasy spots under the car usually mean an oil leak. Most are slow and fixable, but a low oil level or an oil pressure light changes the answer. Here is how to tell.
Read the guide →Exhaust smokeSmoke from the exhaust: what white, blue and black mean
Depends on color; thick smoke needs checkingThin white vapor on a cold morning is usually harmless. Thick white, blue-gray or black smoke is not. Here is how to tell the difference, what each color usually points to, and when to stop driving.
Read the guide →Help right nowBurning smell from your car: what it means and when to stop
Pull over if there's smoke or a lightSweet, oily, sharp, rubbery or electrical: each burning smell points somewhere different, and a few mean pull over now. Here is how to tell them apart, what to check safely, and what a mobile mechanic can fix.
Read the guide →Comfort helpCar AC blowing warm air: causes and what to do
Usually safe to drive, fix when you canWarm air from the vents usually means low refrigerant, and low refrigerant usually means a leak. Fuses, the compressor clutch, fans and blend doors can do it too. Here is what to check and when a recharge is the right fix.
Read the guide →How it drives
Car shaking at idle: common causes and what to do
Usually OK short term, get it checkedA rough, shaky idle at a stoplight usually comes from a misfire, worn spark plugs, a vacuum leak or tired engine mounts. Here is how to narrow it down safely and what a mobile mechanic can fix on the spot.
Read the guide →VibrationSteering wheel shaking: what it means and who fixes it
Usually OK short term, get it checkedA steering wheel that shakes at highway speed, when braking or after a pothole points to different causes. Here is how to narrow it down, what's safe, and when a tire shop is the right call.
Read the guide →Steering and handlingCar pulls to one side: tires, brakes or alignment?
Usually drivable, get it checked soonA car that drifts left or right usually has a tire, brake or alignment problem. When it pulls tells you a lot. Here is what to check first and which fixes can happen in your driveway.
Read the guide →Drivetrain helpTransmission slipping: what it means and what to check
Drive little, get it checked soonEngine revs climbing without the car speeding up, late or harsh shifts, and trouble on hills are classic signs. Here is what usually causes slipping, what you can check, and where a mobile mechanic fits.
Read the guide →Tell us what's going on
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