My Car’s Engine Is Picking Up Speed By Itself

If your car’s engine is picking up speed by itself, the fuel pump may be malfunctioning and sending too much gasoline or diesel fuel into the engine. Advantage Auto Service advises that this is just one sign that the fuel pump needs to be replaced. We are going to list the other signs below.

Engine Power Problems

If your engine is having problems producing power, the fuel pump may be failing to supply the engine with the fuel that it needs. Specifically, you may notice that your engine lags severely when it is under stress or when you are trying to drive faster. These are indications that there is a lack of fuel supply to the engine.

Decreased Gas Mileage

Whether the engine is surging or lagging, you will notice a decrease in your automobile’s gas mileage. This is because the engine is not running efficiently. Any time the engine struggles to perform, it burns through more gasoline. Consequently, you will need to fill the tank more often.

Strange Whining Noises

Speaking of the fuel tank, if you hear strange whining or humming noises coming from it, the fuel pump is letting you know that it is going bad. You may also hear squealing sounds coming from the tank, although this is rare. Have your vehicle inspected any time you hear something strange.

Overheating Engine

The fuel pump can cause the engine to overheat if the fuel pump motor is overheating. This happens when the fuel pump is unable to draw fuel over the motor to cool it down. Consequently, this heat is transferred into the engine and your car, truck, or utility vehicle will overheat every time you drive it.

Reduced Fuel Pressure

Testing the fuel pressure can give you an indication of the fuel pump’s health. You can purchase a fuel pressure gauge at the auto parts store. Follow the instructions to test the fuel pressure to make sure it is within the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended range. If it isn’t, the fuel pump is going bad.

Hard Starts/Dead Engine

Finally, this sign of a dying fuel pump is an obvious one. If the fuel pump cannot draw fuel into the engine, your engine will be difficult if not impossible to start. Obviously, the engine needs fuel to fire up and run. A dead fuel pump cannot provide the fuel that the engine needs.

Advantage Auto Service in Marietta, GA, would be happy to test your fuel pump if you suspect it is going bad. If it is, we will replace it.

I Just Started My Car and the Engine Is Roaring Like Crazy

Advantage Auto Service advises that if you started your car in the engine is excessively loud and roaring, it’s probable that someone has taken the catalytic converter from underneath the vehicle. Unfortunately, this type of auto theft is common because the metal out of which the converters are made is considered precious. Aside from the roaring engine, you will also notice the following problems.

Check Engine Warning

The check engine light is going to turn on and remain on because the exhaust system sensors have no choice but to report errors to the engine control module because the converter is missing. The catalytic converter treats your vehicle’s exhaust so it is safer to be released out of the tailpipe. Unfortunately, the exhaust system sensors will detect problems because the system itself is not complete.

Jerking Acceleration

If you try to drive your vehicle, which we strongly discourage, you will notice that the acceleration jerks. The reason why this happens and why the engine is so loud is that the catalytic converter is not there to absorb the force and muffle the noise of the exhaust being pushed out of the exhaust manifold. Consequently, every time you press down on the accelerator, your vehicle will lurch forward.

Slow-Speed Sluggishness

You will also notice that your automobile has difficulty running at slow speeds. The engine produces two types of torque or power, low-end torque and high-end torque. For some reason, when the catalytic converter has been taken from the automobile, the engine struggles to produce the torque on the low end and, as such, your engine will have a difficult time operating when you are driving slowly.

Noticeable Exhaust Odors

Another sign that the catalytic converter is gone is noticeable exhaust odors. This is why we recommend that you do not drive your vehicle if you are the victim of catalytic converter theft. The exhaust is forced out of the manifold and into the open air because the converter is no longer there. Consequently, you will end up with your vehicle’s exhaust inside the passenger cabin.

Feeling Ill When Driving

Naturally, if you are inhaling the exhaust, it is going to make you sick. In fact, it can be fatal. The exhaust is filled with carbon monoxide because the catalytic converter is no longer there to treat it and convert it into carbon dioxide. Consequently, driving your vehicle has just become very dangerous.

Call Advantage Auto Service in Marietta, GA, today if you need us to install a new catalytic converter in your vehicle’s exhaust system.

An Overheating Engine Is a Damaged Engine

We don’t mean to sound an alarm, but if your vehicle’s engine is overheating constantly yet you keep driving it, you’re damaging your engine. Many things can cause your engine to overheat, including cooling system leaks, coolant problems, or malfunctioning cooling system parts. Advantage Auto Service explains further below what can happen to your car, truck, utility vehicle, or van’s engine if you keep driving it while it’s running too hot.

Quick Fixes Are Just That

You might think everything is okay because you crank up the heater to bring the temperature gauge down, but this is just a bandage solution to a gaping wound. Your engine is overheating, and the more you drive your automobile in this condition, the more damage you cause. Adding coolant frequently is also a bandage solution to a gaping wound. It’s best to bring your vehicle to us for a cooling system inspection so we can find the problem and fix it.

Otherwise…

Otherwise, you run the risk of causing engine damage that is much more expensive to repair. Your engine parts are made of metal, and the hotter they get the more danger they have of being damaged by the excess heat. Common engine damage from an overheating engine includes

• Damage caused by hot and unstable gasoline that detonates prematurely and too frequently. This will make your engine knock and create combustion-related engine performance problems.
• The premature and frequent detonation also scuffs the pistons. The piston metal will expand due to the hot engine and frequent detonation and scrape against the cylinder walls. This damages the pistons permanently.
• A blown head gasket causes the engine to overheat constantly and leaks or spews (depending on the severity of the crack) hot engine coolant all over the engine.
• A cracked engine block that will require total replacement of your vehicle’s engine.

This engine damage is serious; it’s something not to be messed with. What’s worse? All of it can be caused by an overheating engine if you keep driving your automobile. It isn’t worth causing this damage. It’s better to find out why your engine is overheating and fix the problem

In addition, you do run the risk of blowing off the radiator cap and having scalding hot coolant spewing all over your engine or, even worse, starting an engine fire. Your vehicle should never run hotter than 220 degrees Fahrenheit on average.

Advantage Auto Service in Marietta, GA, would be happy to inspect your engine to find out why it’s overheating all the time. Call us today for an appointment.

Why Does My Check Engine Light Come On?

Don’t make the same mistake many other drivers make and ignore your check engine light. If your vehicle’s onboard computer system issues the warning, there is a good reason why. Thankfully, Advantage Auto Service has the state-of-the-art equipment needed to diagnose and service your engine.

Here are four reasons why you heard the ding and saw the light while driving.

An Oxygen Sensor Issue

Your vehicle’s oxygen sensor is part of the exhaust system and it monitors unburned oxygen in your exhaust. It is mounted to your exhaust manifold and one sure sign of a failing sensor is the CEL warning. Should your vehicle fail a smog test, this, too, could be attributed to a bad oxygen sensor.

The sensor checks how much oxygen is in your fuel mixture. If your vehicle is burning “rich,” it doesn’t have enough oxygen in it. If it’s burning “lean,” the fuel mixture has too much oxygen in it.

Catalytic Converter Failure

Another component of the exhaust system is your catalytic converter and, yes, if it’s failing you will smell rotten eggs. Oftentimes, however, the check engine light will signal a problem long before the rotten-egg smell, and this is why auto technicians recommend bringing a vehicle into the shop the minute the CEL check engine light comes on.

The sooner a catalytic converter problem is isolated the less expensive the repair. Replacing a catalytic converter will set you back $500 to $600 or more.

Mass Airflow Sensor 

The mass airflow sensor has a direct effect on how much fuel your engine uses. A bad mass airflow sensor can cause a reduction in power and fuel economy, as well as damage to your catalytic converter, oxygen sensors, and spark plugs. When the check engine light comes on, swing by the shop and have a mechanic run diagnostics to determine the exact problem and get it corrected.

Spark Plugs or Plug Wires

Your automobile’s check engine light might also come on if your spark plug wires are misfiring or your spark plugs are worn.

You can go much longer between spark plug changes than you use to be able to, but this doesn’t mean the combustion system doesn’t need regular maintenance. The wires create the spark that fires up the plugs and without this combustion, your vehicle won’t start. If you’ve noticed your engine misfiring lately and your check engine light comes on, it could be your plugs or wires.

Loose Gas Cap

Finally, the cause of the check engine light warning could be something as simple as a loose gas cap. Hopefully, you didn’t screw the cap on tightly the last time you fuelled up, but your cap can also lose its seal over time. Check your gas cap to see if that’s the cause of the CEL. If it isn’t, it’s best to have the issue diagnosed properly. As mentioned above, the sooner the problem is found the less expensive the repair, so don’t cause further damage by ignoring your CEL.

Advantage Auto Service offers auto service and repairs in the Marietta, Atlanta, Acworth, Austell, Dallas, Douglasville, Hiram, Kennesaw, Mableton, Powder Springs, Smyrna and Vinings, GA, areas. Call us today at 770-268-2892 if your check engine light has come on.