10 common car problems: how to spot and fix them

This handy guide covers the 10 most common car problems, how to spot them, and how to fix them.

Car problems don’t always mean an expensive trip to the garage. Some issues can be spotted early – and a surprising number can be fixed yourself with a few basic tools and little knowledge.

Here are 10 common car problems, the warning signs to look for, what you can safely try yourself, and when it’s time to call a professional.

1. Flat or weak car battery
2. Infotainment glitches
3. Tyre problems and the tyre pressure warning light
4. Issues with the brakes
5. Engine overheating
6. Low engine oil
7. Dim or faulty lights
8. Air conditioning not blowing cold air
9. Car won’t start
10. Poor acceleration or power loss

Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.

1. Flat or weak car battery

A battery that’s on its way out can give you several clues:

• The engine turns over slowly when you start the car.
• Headlights or interior lights look unusually dim.
• Electrical equipment behaves strangely.
• The battery warning light appears on the dashboard.
• The car struggles to start more on cold mornings.

What you can do

1. If your battery is otherwise in good condition, a jump start may be all you need to get back on the road. We’d recommend keeping a jump lead kit in your car or at home, in case of emergency.
2. If the battery still won’t respond to a jump start, it may have reached the end of its life and need replacing.
3. If the battery is in good condition but isn’t holding its charge, there could be a problem with the vehicle’s charging system. An expert can diagnose and repair the issue. However, if you know how to use an ammeter, you can check if the car is charging the battery yourself.

2. Infotainment glitches

Modern cars are packed with technology, and sometimes the problem isn’t mechanical at all.

You might find that:

• The touchscreen has frozen.
• The radio won’t respond.
• Bluetooth won’t connect.
• Apple CarPlay or Android Auto has stopped working.
• The sat-nav is behaving strangely.
• The display is stuck on one screen.
• The system is slow or keeps restarting.

These problems can sometimes be caused by a temporary software glitch rather than a failed component.

What you can do

Try a soft reset first. This is essentially restarting the infotainment system.

The exact process varies between manufacturers, but common methods include:

1. Park somewhere safe.
2. Switch the ignition on without driving.
3. Try holding the infotainment power button for around 10-20 seconds.
4. Wait for the screen/system to restart.
5. Reconnect your phone if necessary.

Some vehicles use a combination of buttons instead, so check your owner’s manual before trying a specific reset sequence.

If the system continues to freeze, goes completely blank or repeatedly reboots, it could indicate a software, wiring, battery voltage or hardware problem. That’s when it’s time to get a professional to investigate.

3. Tyre problems and the tyre pressure warning light

Your tyres are your car’s only contact with the road, so they’re worth checking regularly.

Watch out for the following:

• A tyre that looks visibly low.
• Uneven tread wear.
• Cuts, cracks or bulges on the tread or sidewall.
• A vibration through the steering wheel.
• The car pulling to one side as you drive.
• A tyre-pressure warning light on the dashboard.

What you can do

First, check the actual tyre pressures. Don’t simply reset the warning light and assume everything is fine.

Check all four tyres against the pressures specified by your vehicle manufacturer. The recommended figures are usually found on a sticker inside the driver’s door frame, fuel flap, or in the owner’s manual.

Once you’ve corrected the tyre pressures, many cars will reset automatically after you’ve driven for a short distance.

Other vehicles have a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) reset/calibration option in the infotainment or dashboard menu.

A typical process is:

1. Inflate all tyres to the manufacturer’s recommended pressures.
2. Switch on the ignition.
3. Find the Tyre Pressure/TPMS menu.
4. Select the reset or calibration option, if available.
5. Confirm the reset.
6. Drive the car as instructed by the vehicle manufacturer.

The exact procedure varies considerably between makes and models.

If the light comes back after you’ve corrected the pressures, there could be a slow puncture, damaged tyre or faulty TPMS sensor. Don’t keep resetting the light without finding out why it has appeared.

4. Issues with the brakes

Brakes are one area where it’s better to act sooner rather than later.

Watch out for:

• Squealing or screeching.
• Grinding noises.
• A brake pedal that feels unusually soft.
• Vibration when braking.
• The car pulling to one side when braking.
• A brake warning light on the dashboard.
• Longer stopping distances than usual.

What you can do

You can visually inspect the brakes if you know what you’re looking for, but replacing brake pads and discs is a safety-critical job.

If you hear grinding, experience a soft pedal or notice a significant change in your car’s braking performance, get the car checked by a professional promptly.

5. Engine overheating

An engine overheating is definitely one you shouldn’t ignore.

Common warning signs include:

• The temperature gauge moving into red.
• A coolant warning light.
• Steam coming from underneath the bonnet.
• A strong coolant smell.
• Loss of engine performance.

What you can do

In the event your engine overheats, do the following:

1. Pull over somewhere safe as soon as possible.
2. Switch the engine off.
3. Allow it to cool down for at least 30 minutes. Do not remove a hot coolant system cap as pressurised coolant can cause serious burns.
4. Once the engine is completely cool, check the coolant level.
5. Look for obvious leaks.
6. If appropriate for your vehicle, top up with the correct coolant as specified in the owner’s manual.

If the temperature rises again or you can see a leak, don’t continue driving. Get professional assistance.

6. Low engine oil

Low or incorrect engine oil can cause serious engine problems so it’s important to check your oil regularly.

Look out for:

• The oil warning light coming on.
• An unusual engine noise
• The engine running differently than normal.
• A low oil level when you check the dipstick.
• The engine temperature rising significantly as you drive.

What you can do

Check the oil level when the engine is switched off and has had time to cool, following your owner’s manual.

If the level is low, top it up with the correct oil for your car.

However, if the oil warning light comes on while driving, stop safely and switch off the engine as soon as possible. If the engine light stays on after checking and correcting the oil level, don’t continue driving until the issue has been investigated.

7. Dim or faulty lights

Driving with a dim headlight shouldn’t be ignored as this can be dangerous.

You may notice:

• One headlight is dimmer than the other.
• A bulb has stopped working.
• Lights flicker.
• Dashboard lighting behaves strangely.
• A warning appears on the dashboard.

What you can do

If a bulb has failed, replacing it may be straightforward – although access varies significantly between vehicles. Check your manufacturer’s manual or take it to a garage.

We’d also recommend inspecting the electrical connector for obvious corrosion or damage if a bulb is unusually dim than completely blown.

If it’s the former, use an electric contact cleaner and small wire brush to clean it. Be sure to clean both the connector and the terminal on the headlight.

8. Air conditioning not blowing cold air

If your air conditioning is switched on but isn’t blowing cold air, there could be a few possible causes such as low refrigerant levels or blocked cabin filters.

Look out for:

• The air isn’t getting cold.
• The system takes too long to cool the car.
• The air-con has stopped working altogether.

What you can do

First, check that the air-con is switched on and the temperature is set to cold.

If it’s still not blowing cold air, the system may need to be checked or re-gassed by a professional.

9. Car won’t start

Few things are more frustrating than turning the key or pressing the start button and getting no response.

We’d recommend listening to what happens, such as:

• Rapid clicking: This often points towards a weak battery or poor battery connection.
• One loud click: Could be a battery, connection or starter-motor issue.
• Engine turns but doesn’t start: This could be related to fuel, ignition, sensors or another engine management system.

What you can do

Here are seven things you can safely check and answer:

1. Are the headlights unusually dim?
2. Are the battery terminals visibility dirty or corroded?
3. Is the vehicle actually in Park/Neutral, if applicable?
4. Does the key fob have a working battery?
5. Is there fuel in the tank/do you have charge?
6. Is your foot on the brake in an automatic?
7. Have you dipped the clutch in a manual car?

If you suspect a flat battery, a jump start may get the car going. But if the problem persists, we’d advise getting a professional to check it.

10. Poor acceleration or loss of power

Does the engine feel sluggish when you press the accelerator? There are many possible causes for this, ranging from simple maintenance issues to more serious engine faults.

Look out for the following signs:

• Slower acceleration than normal.
• The engine feels hesitant when accelerating.
• The car struggles uphill.
• Engine warning lights appear.
• Fuel consumption increases.
• The engine feels uneven during acceleration.

What you can do

Start with the basics:

• Check when the air filter was last replaced.
• Look for any dashboard warning lights.
• Check whether the problem happens all the time or only under certain conditions.

If cleaning or basic maintenance doesn’t resolve the problem, get the vehicle professionally diagnosed.

What you need to do at a glance

Here’s a quick breakdown on common car problems, the first thing to check, and if you can fix it yourself:

Problem	First thing to check	DIY-friendly?
Weak battery	Battery connections and symptoms	Often
Infotainment	Try a soft reset	Yes
Tyre pressure light	Check all tyre pressures	Yes
Brake problems	Listen/feel for changes	Inspection only
Overheating engine	Stop and allow the engine to cool	Check coolant when parked safely
Low engine oil	Check the oil levels	Yes
Dim/faulty lights	Bulb and connections	Often
Air-con not working	Is cold air coming out?	Will need to be re-gassed by a pro
Won’t start	Battery and connections	Basic checks
Poor acceleration/loss of power	Warning lights and maintenance	Depends on cause

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