5 Causes of Car Strikes Suddenly and How to Overcome It
Have you ever experienced a car breaking down suddenly on a road or highway? Of course the first thing you feel is panic because you don't know what causes and triggers the car you are driving suddenly breaks down on the road, especially if you don't understand the vehicle engine. A car that breaks down or has a dead engine is the most common disturbance experienced by car drivers. So you should at least understand what is the cause of the car breaking down and can't be started again. In the following, automotive tips will discuss the things that cause the car to break down and what to do to overcome if the car is in a complete breakdown state.
Causes of Car Strikes Suddenly
The reason why the car died suddenly is not just a matter of running out of fuel as many people think. Finally the question arises, why the car can break down? Well, actually, the car broke down due to anything, huh? Cars can break down suddenly for various reasons, and each cause or problem that arises can also occur due to various factors. So that you no longer consider this a nightmare, first identify some of the causes of the car breaking down.
1. Troubled Car Battery
What causes a broken car that won't start? The battery acts as an energy center that will determine the ignition or life of the car, so its function is very important. Therefore, the battery is one of the first parts to be checked when the car suddenly dies apart from the fuel indicator. Because, there is a possibility that a problem occurs in the car battery so that it interferes with engine performance. Most likely the battery has a problem with a loose cable at the plus or minus terminal, then the battery life has expired. Therefore, it is also important for you to choose a qualified car battery, just like in other vehicles, for example the best motorcycle battery.
A battery that has worn out or is not suitable for use because of its expired service life and continues to be used will trigger problems in other components that make the car unable to run normally. Make sure first whether your car broke down because it was caused by a problem with the battery, by checking the dashboard of the car and then checking the battery terminal. So you can find out if you need to tighten the cables on the battery terminals or need to replace with a new battery. You can also visit an official repair shop as a solution for how to install the correct and proper car battery.
2. Broken Starter Dynamo Can Be the Cause of Car Strike
An automatic car engine that suddenly turns off and cannot be turned back on could be due to damage or wear on the starter switch or starter button. This section is often overlooked because it is only used when you are turning on or off the car. But of course, as one of the important components this button can affect whether or not your car turns on or not.
Switch or starter dynamo can experience problems caused by age or unfriendly usage. Then the cables are stretched due to shocks while driving or wear on the metal contractor plus minus which makes the electric current not connected properly.
Although it is rarely damaged, you should still be thorough and thorough in caring for the car, don't ignore or miss small but vital parts such as the starter switch. So even though your car is quite old, if it is cared for properly, it is less likely that you will experience problems such as a car breaking down.
3. the Cause of the Car Strikes Because the Alternator Has Problems
A car that suddenly starts suddenly can also be caused by a problem with the alternator. The alternator is the part of the car that supplies or delivers electricity to the battery. So if this part is damaged, it is certain that the battery will not be able to function normally and the car will not start.
Some of the problems that may occur in the alternator that cause the car to break down include broken copper wire coils, broken diodes or corroded cables, age of the alternator that is old or more than five years, as well as modifications made to the car and quite burdensome on electricity, for example, installing lights. and audio overload.
So, how to detect a problem with the alternator? You can attach the distributor cable to the car body while trying to start the car. If there is no spark, it means that there is a problem with the alternator. Electricity that does not function optimally can be a serious problem in the car if it is not noticed, don't forget to pay attention to the condition of the car's alternator.
4. Car Strikes Due to Overheating
What and why are other causes of sudden car breakdowns? Well, an engine that is too hot or overheating can also be the cause of the car breaking down, usually you will experience a condition where the car can turn on for a while and then die again. Overheat conditions that cause a car to break down are generally caused by a lack of radiator water or even running out which can be caused by a leak or forgetting to fill it. While the water in the radiator functions as a coolant which is useful in maintaining the engine temperature so that it does not overheat. Overheating in a car engine can be fatal, such as a piston that can melt and cause its function to decrease or stop.
If your car is experiencing this condition, you should wait until the engine cools down first before dealing with it. If after you solve it, it turns out that there are still problems, you should take it to the nearest authorized car repair shop so that it can be handled properly. Because, who knows, it turns out that the problem is in another part of the radiator, such as the hose or cooling system.
5. Car Carburetor Has Problems
The last cause of the car breaking down is a problem that occurs in the carburetor of the car. If you experience problems when starting the car, it could be that the fuel line has a problem so that the amount that enters is too little. This can result in the combustion process will not run perfectly and the engine will be difficult to start. This is the reason why you need to regularly check whether the carburetor or injection is in good condition.
Solution or How to Fix a Car Breakdown on the Road
What to do if your car suddenly breaks down? Of course, the first thing you must do is not panic, especially if the car suddenly breaks down in the middle of a toll road that is not too crowded or has minimal access to assistance. You can try some pictures of the following ways to be able to repair a broken car.
1. Immediately Push the Car to the Side
The very first step when the car breaks down is to immediately push the car to the side or the side of the road, especially if it stops in the middle of the road. This is important so that it does not interfere with the smooth flow of traffic, maintain the safety of both you and other motorists, and you can freely find out the cause and overcome the car that has broken down.
Then, if the car suddenly breaks down at night, you should turn on the hazard lights or other lighting. The goal is to give a signal that a vehicle is having problems so that other drivers will be more careful when crossing. If the car lights don't come on at all, you can install a safety triangle as an emergency sign at the front and/or rear of the car at a distance of about 3-10 meters or before a corner if it breaks down on a winding road.
2. Check the Indicator Lights to Know the Condition of the Car
After that, what are the next steps that need to be taken if the car breaks down? The next step for how to deal with a car breaking down is to check the car's indicator light which is integrated with the car's speedometer (odometer). The indicator light contains many symbols, be it a battery symbol, radiator water, oil, brake, fuel, engine, and others. In general, the indicator light can give you information on whether there is damage to the engine, the radiator temperature is too high, the fuel is running out, or a problem with the battery.
If the problem is because the engine is overheating, wait a while for the car to cool down. Then open the radiator cap and add water to it. Do the same thing if it turns out that the problem of the car breaking down is caused by running out of oil.
If the car breaks down because it runs out of fuel, this is usually indicated by the fuel indicator not rising. Check again whether there is a red F or E mark on the car. The function of this indicator is to display the amount of remaining fuel available in a car. In addition to appearing in the form of a needle indicator, on some cars, the gasoline indicator is also present in digital form equipped with the letter F or E.
The letter F signifies Full. Meanwhile, the letter E indicates Empty or the remaining fuel in the car is starting to run low. Usually, the letter E indicator will light up if there is one-eighth of the remaining gas in the tank. Therefore, you need to fill it up by buying gasoline at the retail dealer first, at least enough for your car to go to the nearest gas station and fill it up again. For that, always make sure the fuel indicator in your car, you should fill it first if it is close to the run out sign.
3. Check the Water Level of the Battery and Battery Cables
If the cause of the car stalling is caused by a problem with the battery, after the engine cools down, check the battery water level and battery cables. Battery water that is not high enough or not full can result in the engine not starting properly, so you need to replace or refill it with battery water. Note, never fill the battery with mineral water or tap water because it can damage the battery.
Then, check if the battery cable is loose or dirty. Tighten loose cables and clean them. Loose battery cables can cause the battery to not charge and not function optimally. Another solution if the car engine cannot be started is to charge the battery first, it can be pushed or provoked using a battery from another car.
4. Check the Fuse Associated with the Engine
A car engine that suddenly turns off when you release the gas can be caused by a blown or loose fuse. The fuse connected to the engine if blown cannot start the engine when you turn the ignition key in the on position. Although this problem is more common in older cars, that doesn't mean it can't happen to your car.
Generally, this fuse problem is caused by the voltage of the electric current to the coil experiencing a drastic decrease and resulting in the combustion process not running perfectly. The lighter part is difficult to get electricity so it is not able to make the car work. Tighten a loose fuse or replace it with a new fuse to fix it.
5. Check Gas Station and Carburetor
A dead fuel pump will certainly not be able to start the car, generally this will be indicated on the indicator located next to the speedometer with a sound and a flashing light. In addition to the gas pump, the carburetor can also be the cause, usually due to flooding which causes the spark plug to become wet. The carburetor is an important component in a car engine.
To be able to repair the carburetor, you have to disassemble and clean it. Or it could be an alternative way, which is to throw away the gasoline in the carburetor through the exhaust bolt. Not only flooding, lack of fuel can also trigger problems in the carburetor which results in the combustion process cannot run perfectly. A valve that is too dirty can also block the flow of fuel to the carburetor.
6. Clean Spark Plugs and Spark Plug Wires
If dirty spark plugs and loose spark plug wires are the cause of your car breaking down, first you have to open all the spark plugs. Like the cause of black and wet motorcycle spark plugs. you also need to clean the car's spark plugs if they are dirty and check the wires. Tighten the spark plug if it is loose. To clean dirty spark plugs, you can use a spark plug wrench and then flush the spark plug head with a little gasoline. Then, clean the scale or residual carbon from combustion with a brush until clean. Next, flush the spark plug again to remove the remnants of the crust.
Finally, spray the spark plug with a compressor and dry it. When it's dry, try to check whether it can still emit fire or not. If the fire that appears is still good, it means you can use it. Please note, do not soak spark plugs with gasoline because it can erode the electrodes on the spark plug and make it damaged quickly. Then, avoid cleaning the spark plugs by sanding the electrodes or moving the plug head back and forth as this can cause it to die quickly. Do not forget to immediately replace the spark plug if it is dead or can not cause a fire.
7. Check the Condition of the Car Coil
Car coils rarely experience problems, even if problems occur usually only because the cable is broken or loose from the socket. Then the coil can also weaken and result in death or less stun if it is hot and will return to normal after the temperature cools down. The coil is part of the engine ignition system which functions to increase the voltage from the battery and forward it to the spark plug to produce sparks in the combustion chamber. This can also be a sign of a broken car that needs to be repaired immediately.
8. Dynamo Starter to Fix Car Breakdown on the Road
If the cause of your car breaking down is not due to the condition of the battery, coil, or running out of fuel, it means that the problem is most likely with the starter dynamo. You can first check the cable that connects the starter dynamo and check if anything is loose. Then if the battery indicator light is on when the engine is running, it means the dynamo is not charging. Therefore you need to fix it immediately because there will be no battery stun.
9. Contact Tow Truck and Insurance
If you can't handle a car breaking down yourself, you can contact a trusted towing service. Therefore, it is very important if you save the towing service number so that it can help you if at any time you experience a crash. If the car stops suddenly on the toll road, you can use the free tow service from Jasa Marga to the nearest toll road exit. The cost of overhaul or tow cars varies depending on the type and size of the car and the distance between and tow cars.
