FAQs

There are a number of reasons why a car may not start, not all of which relate to the battery. These include:

• The car doesn’t make a sound when you turn the key in the ignition. This is usually a flat battery.
• The engine starts, but dies soon after. This is a common problem in old cars and new cars and the problem usually lies with the carburetor or the EFI system.
• The engine cranks over but doesn’t start. It may be the spark plugs or it could be a fuel line.

If you’re not sure what the problem is, don’t hesitate to contact Crust Mechanical Repairs.

If the tread on your tyres is wearing unevenly, it usually means that your tyres have been under or over inflated or that they’re improperly aligned and need a tyre alignment. Other common causes for uneven tread wear include worn shock absorbers and suspension.

If your radiator is leaking, you’ll know by the trail of coolant that it leaves on your driveway. If there’s a leak, it could result in your car overheating, so don’t take any chances, have it inspected by a qualified mechanic immediately. The most common reasons for a radiator leak include corrosion (rust) in the radiator, faulty hoses or connections, and weak coolant.

As the driver of the car, you’re aware of what’s normal and what isn’t. Therefore, if at any time you are driving your car and hear a sound that’s different, it’s a cause for concern.

There are a variety of things that it could be, and all suspicious sounds should be investigated as soon as possible by a qualified mechanic.

It helps your mechanic if you can describe the sound, so is it a “whee” sound or “donk, donk” sound? Also, try to locate where the sound is coming from — is the sound coming from a tyre, wheel, within the engine or under the car?

All of this information helps to diagnose and repair the problem promptly and gets you back on the road quicker.

The check engine light is a small warning light located on the dashboard of your car. It’s symbolised by a picture of an engine or the word “engine” in most models.

It’s usually a red light that indicates there’s a significant issue within your car’s engine. When this light illuminates on your dashboard, you should immediately seek advice from your mechanic. We recommend you don’t drive the car until the problem has been rectified.

Oil lights are usually a symbol such as an oil can with a teardrop or the word “check oil” or just “oil”. When this warning light is flashing or illuminated, it’s a very serious matter as it’s designed to inform you that your car is very low on engine oil. Even if this light is flashing and not continually illuminated, it should still be a cause for concern, so take your car to a mechanic immediately.

Do not drive your vehicle once the oil light is on. Check the engine oil level using the dip stick and top up the engine with the correct oil for your vehicle. This information can be found in your log book.

If you are unsure how to do this, you should have a mechanic attend to your car. Excessive engine oil use could point to a bigger problem with your vehicle, such as an oil leak, and should be checked by your mechanic

Overheating is a serious and potentially very expensive problem that many people will experience with their car at some point in time. If your car has overheated, there’s an underlying problem, as cars don’t overheat for no reason. Generally, it means there’s a water leak somewhere which is preventing your engine from cooling.

In the event of your car overheating, stop driving immediately. Failure to do so may result in your engine failing, costing you thousands of dollars to repair or replace. And don’t remove the radiator cap to check the water or refill until the car has cooled down as it’s extremely hot!

We would recommend waiting at least 30 – 45 minutes before carefully and slowly removing the radiator cap and refilling the radiator with water and engine coolant. If you’re inexperienced with cars, have an experienced person do this or tow the vehicle to your mechanic so they can thoroughly check for any damage and diagnose the reason why the car has overheated. Don’t drive the car until the cause of the overheating has been rectified.

The air conditioning unit is often overlooked as a vehicle component which needs servicing, however, it’s important to have it serviced on an ongoing basis or as soon as you notice a problem, like it not keeping you as cool as before.

When your air conditioning is no longer cooling down the cabin, there’s a fault or failure of some description. To rectify this problem, your car will need an air conditioning service to identify the component that needs to be repaired or replaced.