Introduction

Whether it's the faint smell of burning, a strange noise or an unfamiliar warning light showing up on your dashboard, there are many signs that can suggest something is wrong with your vehicle. While spotting these signs may be relatively easy, knowing what to do when they appear is another matter entirely.

To help, we look at a few common car complaints and how to solve them - covering everything from identifying a car leak to spotting a damaged tyre.

Leaks

Noticed a strange puddle under your car or watching white smoke rise from the exhaust pipe? If so, then you may have a leak in the system. Thankfully, leaks can be relatively easy to fix depending on which part of the car they are generated from.

White smoke from the exhaust suggests a head gasket failure while a water puddle under the car suggests a leak in the radiator or its connecting pipes. While leaks of any kind will need to be addressed by a qualified mechanic, there are quick fixes you can use to get yourself out of trouble.

For example, products like K-Seal can be added to the cooling system to address radiator leaks or condensation within the system while specialist tape such as Kalimex QuikTape can form an emergency hose pipe repair.

Damaged tyres

If your car seems to be handling awkwardly or pulling to one side then you may have something amiss with your tyres or tracking. You'll need a qualified mechanic to sort out the tracking or wheel alignment, but can look at the tyres yourself.

Pull over or park somewhere safe and inspect the tyres. Check the pressures to make sure they're set at the recommended level and be on the lookout for any bulges, bumps or damage to the tyre wall. If one of you tyres is under- or overinflated then this could be the source of the issue. Similarly, damage to the tyre that is resulting in a slow puncture could be to blame.

For a quick fix, change your wheel using the spare kept in the boot. You'll need to loosen the wheel nuts before using a jack to bring the wheel off the ground. Then remove the nuts and wheel fully before fitting the replacement wheel and tightening the nuts while the wheel is still off the ground. Lower the car back to the ground and tighten the nuts the rest of the way. If you have a torque wrench to hand then you can use this to ensure the nuts are done up to the correct tightness.

Flat battery

There are many signs that your car may have a flat or faulty battery - such as problems getting the car to start, laboured engine running or problems with the electrics.

The most common causes of problems with the battery include poor connections and a loss of voltage or charge caused by constant use of the battery without regular recharging. Your car battery charges itself on longer journeys so if you routinely take small trips then you could be slowly depleting the charge. Similarly, leaving lights on overnight or for long periods of time when the car is not running can also drain the battery.

If you're having difficulty with your car and suspect the battery is at fault then there is not much you can do at the side of the road. Check the connections and clamps to ensure there is a strong connection and jump-start it from another car or from a slave battery if possible.

You should then have the battery tested and recharged or replaced as necessary. For those who seldom use their cars, an overnight battery charge completed every fortnight or so can prevent these types of problem.