Noises & symptoms

Sounds, smells, vibrations and leaks, with the likely causes ranked from most to least common.

• Burning smell from car: 7 causes

  What a burning smell from your car means, from oil on the exhaust to a slipping clutch or hot brakes, how to tell them apart by smell, and when to stop at once.

• Car clicks but won't start: what the clicking means

  Rapid clicking and a single click point to different problems. Here is how to tell them apart, what to try at the roadside, and what the fix costs.

• Car leaking water: is it normal?

  Clear water dripping under your car is usually just air conditioning condensation. Here is how to tell it apart from coolant and other fluids, and when a leak needs a garage.

• Car shakes when braking

  A shaking steering wheel or pulsing brake pedal usually points to the brake discs. Here are the causes, how urgent it is and what it costs.

• Car won't start: 9 common causes

  Your car will not start. Here is how to tell a flat battery from a starter, alternator, fuel or key problem, what to try first, and what the fix usually costs.

• Grinding brakes: causes and how urgent it is

  A grinding noise when you brake usually means metal is touching metal. Here is what causes it, when it is harmless, and what the fix costs.

• Why are my brakes squealing?

  A high-pitched squeal when you brake is often a built-in warning that the pads are getting thin. Here are the other common causes, which ones are harmless, and what the fix costs.

• Why is my car overheating?

  An overheating engine needs you to stop now. Here is what to do safely, the most common causes, from low coolant to a failed fan, and what each fix involves.