PART 1A: What are the top-ten causes of car breakdowns?

19 November 2008 :

by compareandsave.com Editors

Breaking down is not only inconvenient; it can also be very dangerous.

This section of the first part of our Breakdown Cover special will guide you through the ten most common causes of breakdowns

Flat battery and other battery related problems

Possible problems

a. Faults that occur because of terminals and clamp connections

b. Loss of voltage in the battery as a result of constant short journeys but no regular recharging
Lost keys

Possible problems

a. A lot of modern vehicles come with transponder keys (keys with coded chips in them) which help to prevent theft. If this key is lost, the only way you can get the vehicle running again is to have it recovered to an authorised dealer who will issue a new key and programme your car’s engine to recognise the new code (it can take several days for your dealer to obtain the new key).

b. Any loss of keys will prevent you from starting your vehicle
Flat/damaged tyres and wheels

Possible problems

a. If you ‘kerb’ your car, you can damage the sidewalls and even the wheel rims.

b. A punctured tyre but your spare tyre is worn/flat/missing

c. A punctured tyre but no removal tool for locking wheel nuts (theft prevention device on alloy wheels

d. Punctured tyre as a result of uneven tyre wear

e. Punctured tyre but no wheel removal tools in vehicle
Faults with alternators

Possible problems

a. If the alternator is broken or faulty, it will not charge the battery when you are driving. As a result, your battery will go flat and you won’t be able to start your vehicle. A faulty alternator can cause persistent battery faults and dim headlights when the engine is left idling.

b. If the belt that drives the alternator breaks, and is also responsible for operating the radiator fan and water pump, a red ignition warning light will appear and you will notice an very rapid increase on the engine temperature gauge. STOP IMMEDIATELY.
Problems with starter motor

Possible problems

a. Starter motors are normally very robust (it is not unheard of for them to last for well over a decade in older cars), however, they can break after time or if they are faulty to begin with. If your starter motor fails, your vehicle will just click when you turn the key and won’t start.
Distributor cap faults

Possible problems

a. A crack or split in the distributor cap will cause high ignition voltage to leak away which will result in insufficient voltage to cause an ignition spark. This means your vehicle will not start. The majority of problems associated with distributor caps are caused by moisture and dirt.
Problems with fuel

Possible problems

a. The vehicle runs out of fuel during a journey.

b. The wrong type of fuel is put into the vehicle, diesel into petrol engines or vice versa. According to the AA more than 100,000 motorists put the wrong type of fuel into their vehicles each year. If you put the wrong fuel into your vehicle, DO NOT START THE ENGINE as it will pump the fuel round the engine and cause more damage. In the event of misfuelling, the vehicle is recovered to a garage so that the contaminated fuel can be drained and disposed of (a very expensive procedure).
Broken clutch cables

Possible problems

a. Whenever the clutch is used, the clutch cable will be under high stress. Long-term use will result in abrasion which will in turn weaken the wire strands until they break. This will mean that you won’t be able to use the clutch to change gear. If you call for roadside assistance, a temporary repair can often be carried out.
Faulty spark plugs

Possible problems

a. If the spark plugs are faulty or dirty, it will be hard/impossible to start the vehicle. Only petrol engines have spark plugs. According to the AA, “the spark-plug is a much-neglected part of the ignition system”.
Broken HT leads

Possible problems

a. If High-tension (HT) leads and their connections deteriorate, as they often do with age, it can allow water and dirt to enter the cracks in the insulation. This reduces the ignition voltage and can make it harder to start the vehicle.