SOURCE: http://nolongtalk.com/5-frustrating-car-faults/

Every car owner is bound to experience one form of car fault or the other. The magnitude of these car faults vary; it can be mild faults, low cost faults, easily traced faults, catastrophic faults, frustrating faults etc.

In this post, we centered on "frustrating car faults". Some of these frustrating faults can cause great pains and embarrassment as the case may be. Imagine after a very stressful hour in your work place and you’re heading home under the hot sun and your car stalls and refuses to move again because of one fault or the other.

Some of these problems are not only frustrating; they can be dangerous on highways and on lonely roads at night if they should occur. In fact, they can stop you at the middle of nowhere. Some of these faults can be a huge struggle for some people in their finance since it will cost a huge sum of money to get fixed.

Below are the 5 frustrating car fault one can face (in no particular order)

#1. Cutting of timing belt:
This particular problem does not announce its impending arrival just like some other car faults would do. It just happens. This might occur at night in a place which might keep you stranded and/or get your car packed in an unsafe place.

The timing belt is not in a very accessible position in your car and may take a quite long time to loose and then replaced.

There are two types of engine timing configurations. The configuration used by a car determines if there would be negative after-effect when the timing belt gets cut. There are two valve configuration – Interference and non-interference configuration.

In an interference engine, the valve and piston share the same airspace and they never touch. They touch only when the timing belt cuts or skips. This is a catastrophic failure which requires removing the head and replacing belt valves.

Non-interference engine has no risk of contact of valve and piston even when the timing belt cuts or skips.

Be it as it may, either configuration can leave you stranded, so regular timing belt replacement is very important. Your timing belt should be replaced every 50,000-70,000 miles (refer to your owner’s manual and look up the maintenance schedule).

It is important you note that not all mechanics are good at changing timing belt. Proper changing and setting of timing belt needs professionals. So, be mindful of who carries this out for you.

#2. Ball joint and upper arm problem:
Ball joints are the spherical bearings that connects the control arm the steering knuckles. The problem arises when the ball joint of your vehicle pulls out. It stalls your car immediately they occur.

Here in Nigeria, this particular fault is very prominent in Honda especially Accord (End of discussion) and CR-V.

For those who are always faced with ball joint problem, it is advisable you change the ball joint once every two (2) years even when they give signs of such problems or not. Nigeria bad roads weaken the ball joint over time. I also advice you change the ball joint before rainy season and after rainy season if you ply flooded areas.

#3. Fuel pump problem:
Any car that runs on fuel will definitely stop whenever the fuel pump stops working. The function of the fuel pump is to take fuel from the fuel tank to the engine with the correct pressure.

When faced with fuel pump problem in your car, it cannot be easily replaced because it is always located inside the fuel tank, hence, cannot be easily accessed. This might require the towing of your car to mechanic workshop for repairs.

Fuel pumps might give some signs when faulty before the stop working totally. One of the best ways to know a failing fuel pump is when the car is moving at an accelerated speed, perhaps above 50 mph. The car starts jerking and after some times will go back to its normal regular performance. Fuel pump problem can also be noticed by extended cranking time of the engine. A failing or already dead fuel pump may cause you car engine not to start or accelerate.

Failed fuel pumps can be as a result of clogged fuel filter, driving on low fuel, broken wires etc.

#4. Overheating of the engine:
Overheating of a car engine can arise due to multiple causes. When a car starts to overheat, you have to pull over and allow the car to cool to an extent before you can continue your journey; else, it may cause damage to your engine.

Overheating might arise when there is leak in the cooling system of your car; leakage is regarded to be the most common cause of engine overheating. Another cause of this overheating is dirty, clogged or rusty radiator.

#5. Brake failure:
This car fault is very risky and it puts one in a situation when you have little or no control on how to get the car to halt. The story of the adrenaline rush you might get down your spine might not be finished in a day.

Brake failure can be a very frustrating experience for anybody especially inexperienced drivers or those who are new to the road.

There are several causes of brake failure. It includes: leakage in the brake system, overheated brake pads, moisture etc. In one of my post, I wrote on "What Should I Do when My Car brakes Fail?", you can read it here.



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Interesting.....

Bookmarked

G-Wagon facing problem of likes and dreams.

Nice info

it seems the guy below me has something to say....

Rather face these problems that have solutions than RECESSION and importing fuel from Ghana.

Facts

I experienced the Timing belt cut just once, fortunately it happen near my mechanic shop and I av not experience any other common Probs stated in your article.
Aside from that,the car kept me going.
#TOYOTA CAMRY#

Good topic

The most annoying one is the cutting of timing belt. It does not give sign all of a sudden engine stop running. So annoying, but I have agreement with my car; NEVER SPOIL ON THE ROAD AT NIGHT.TAKE ME HOME. YOU CAN TELL ME YOUR PROBLEM IN THE MORNING. I think she understands.But I also believe that with proper care your car will never keep you on the road

TIMING BELT

Nice info,I feel like a mechanic now *dancing to Cassper Nyovest's Doc Shebeleza*

INTROVERT:
TIMING BELT

I dey suspect u o.

The other day my steering pulled off from its rack while doin 120km/h

wokomabest:
The most annoying one is the cutting of timing belt. It does not give sign all of a sudden engine stop running. So annoying, but I have agreement with my car; NEVER SPOIL ON THE ROAD AT NIGHT.TAKE ME HOME. YOU CAN TELL ME YOUR PROBLEM IN THE MORNING. I think she understands.But I also believe that with proper care your car will never keep you on the road

smh vehemently @ NEVER SPOIL ON THE ROAD AT NIGHT!!!!

kudos to the OP

But it would be more informative with pictures of each devices.

Thank you OP

3 & 4 can be very annoying!!

Timing Belt: no warning, no signs.

The most feared evil

Multiple cyclinder misfire with bad gas mileage and poor acceleration is worse even my mechanics are confused after changing fuel pump and spark plugs

goldman777:
Multiple cyclinder misfire with bad gas mileage and poor acceleration is worse even my mechanics are confused after changing fuel pump and spark plugs

Service/replace your nozzle
Also, replace fuel filter

grayht:
smh vehemently @ NEVER SPOIL ON THE ROAD AT NIGHT!!!!

yea and it works for me

Nice writeup mile****kudos

femi4:
Service/replace your nozzle
Also, replace fuel filter

Tanks ur u a mechanic

Am a victim of that first one, Timing belt cut as we speak. It happened on Saturday evening and my vehicle slept the place till Monday morning. Even the mechanic was unprofessional and at the end the timing belt was not properly set. So a result the car can't run because the engine refused to raise well. Am looking for another Mechanic to reset the belt me now.
Thanks for the info
TOYOTA SIENNA

These are problems faced by persons who dont carry out preventative maintenance on their vehicles.

timing belt.

Peugeot 307, on my way home from work, no sign, no signal, no dashboard warning, my engine went off and steering instantaneously became stiff. i managed to maneuver to roadside so as not to obstruct traffic.
according to mechanic that was when i would have called him, but how could i have known it was timing belt.
I made several attempt to start the car, according to mechanic also i should have never done that because the more i attempt to kick-start the more the valves are bending.
before my mechanic arrived i have bent all my valves , car was tolled a long distance to my mechanic's workshop, spent 2 days in mechanic workshop.
unexpected huge expenses just like that.

kaeforum:
These are problems faced by persons who dont carry out preventative maintenance on their vehicles.

very true bro, and those little problems accumulate to larger ones! The upper & lower arms is a Nigerian road factor (our roads are sooo fvcked up!!) I drive a C240 W203 & change my upper & lower arms plus joints every year!
Same goes for FUEL!! The fuel sold to us in naija is soo dirty!! I cange my fuel pump every 1.5 years

Good to hear

SultanOfBrunei:
timing belt.
Peugeot 307, on my way home from work, no sign, no signal, no dashboard warning, my engine went off and steering instantaneously became stiff. i managed to maneuver to roadside so as not to obstruct traffic.
according to mechanic that was when i would have called him, but how could i have known it was timing belt.
I made several attempt to start the car, according to mechanic also i should have never done that because the more i attempt to kick-start the more the valves are bending.
before my mechanic arrived i have bent all my valves , car was tolled a long distance to my mechanic's workshop, spent 2 days in mechanic workshop.
unexpected huge expenses just like that.

Same story. Same Peugeot. Ended up spoiling 6 valves and so much money spent on repairs. As i type now i'm yet to collect the car, hopefully this evening. This happened 2 days ago.