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 Lesson Six: Broken
Temperature Gauges Sometimes, watching the temperature gauge
won't help. Especially when the temperature gauge is broken. In this
case, you will THINK that your engine isn't too hot, when in reality
the gauge is simply not working. One way to make sure you always
have a properly functioning temperature gauge is to watch it while
driving normally, so that you can see the normal range of
temperature for your engine. When you notice that your engine seems
to not get as hot anymore, your temperature gauge may be
malfunctioning. Fortunately, temperature gauges are fairly cheap.
Sometimes, a problem you blame on a broken fan may be a
malfunctioning temperature gauge. To test this theory, try
disconnecting the fan from the temperature gauge, since the gauge
tells the fan when to run. If the fan begins to run, you have a
deficient gauge. Replacing the gauge may solve your overheating
problem. However the deceleration has other causes
Lesson Seven: Cars Which Die in the Night You thought
you solved your problems, because you aren't having coolant
fountains anymore. Yet as you go driving down your road, your car
decides to decelerate once again. You pull over, but there is no
coolant fountain. "Good," you think, "It's not malfunctioning"
Lesson Eight: Flashlights Always keep a functioning
flashlight in your car, because in this sort of situation, it comes
in handy. You can't see under the hood in the dark, even if your
headlights are on. Someone should invent a light on the underside of
the hood
Lesson Nine: More "Ka-thoonk" You try to
continue, thinking to yourself, "it's a lousy car, but it can get me
there," wherever "there" may be, but your car has decided to
decelerate as soon as you can start it, and the little oil light
comes on, and the check engine light. Clearly, something bad is
going on under the hood. Then, you hear that mysterious "ka-thoonk,"
just as your car stalls and locks up. Now is a good time to get as
far off the road as possible and put on your hazards, usually
located on the steering column.
Lesson Ten: Starting Your
Car In your panic, do not forget that the car will only start in
"P" (park) and "N" (neutral). Sometimes, it also refuses to start in
neutral. If it does refuse to start at all, no matter what gear, try
shifting into neutral and rolling off of the road.
Chapter Five: Starting Troubles
Lesson
One: Shaky Starting In colder weather, cars tend to rebel more
with regards to starting. One way in which my car does this is by
shaking... the shaking started as a gentle pulse, but now it's like
riding a galloping horse. Of course, it goes away once I go faster
than ten mph...
Lesson Two: Starting in Cold Weather
My father does not agree with this method of starting, but I
found it works for me and my little car. I recommend you read your
driver's manual before attempting this, but mine recommends that you
push the gas pedal, then turn the key to start the engine. Do this
ONLY AFTER ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE NORMALLY for 10 to 15
seconds.
Lesson Three: Beatings If you wish, you may
beat your car, but it won't help it start...
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