Quick Tips for Diagnosing Problems With Your Truck or SUV

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Passenger trucks and sport utility vehicles may have certain expected mechanical problems, because the added weight of a truck or SUV can put more wear and tear on the engine, transmission, brakes, and other such parts. Since these vehicles are heavier and put greater demands on these parts, it's important that you have needed repairs done as soon as possible. Note a few quick tips for diagnosing problems with your truck or SUV so you know what you might be facing by way of repair bills, and what to discuss with your mechanic when you bring your vehicle into a shop.

Check engine light

The check engine light is connected to many different sensors in the engine, and it will usually alert if there is a poor mixture of oxygen and fuel in the engine's pistons. If the engine gets too much oxygen or fuel, it will sputter and stall, or you may lose pickup and accelerating power.

This poor mixture or ratio of fuel and oxygen can be caused by a bad oxygen sensor, so that too much oxygen is introduced in the engine, or not enough is pulled away from the pistons. This can also be the result of a problem in the exhaust system, such as a clogged catalytic converter. Since heavier vehicles may tend to run hotter, it's vital that you get this light checked and repairs made quickly, as too much fuel or oxygen can actually cause the engine to run even hotter than usual.

Running hot

If the vehicle's dashboard light signals that the engine is always running too hot, the problem may be a broken thermostat, which is what controls the amount of coolant that is circulated through the engine. The engine may also have a broken fan. Since these two pieces are used more often for larger trucks and vehicles that run hotter, they may break down sooner than those in lightweight sedans, so check those when the engine begins running too hot.

Fuel consumption

If your truck or SUV is suddenly using more fuel than usual, this may be related to the tyres. That added vehicle weight can cause more cracks and other such damage to the tyres, so that they slowly deflate. Once they get low, they can cause drag and resistance. In turn, the vehicle burns more fuel. Check the tyre pressure and have the tyres replaced as often as needed, so they don't continuously lose pressure over time.

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