QuestionMy Hyundai has been giving me a lot of problems, it keeps stalling out, and I'm usually able to restart it and it goes again but I am tired of it stopping. My battery died the other day and I didn't have my lights on but there was some corrosion on it so I washed that off and got someone with a cable to help me start it up. I was driving today, and I saw white smoke coming from under the hood. what should I do? I need my car to be more reliable.
AnswerThere are many things that can cause the engine to stall, such as the crankshaft sensor, a faulty fuel pump, a defective idle actuator, and misfires, to name a few. If your check engine lamp is coming on, it's typically best to start with reading the diagnostic trouble codes.
Anytime the battery has a low state of charge, you should check the battery and alternator. You'll need to take the car to a professional to have it checked properly, but you can make some basic checks with a voltmeter. Once you've fully charged the battery, attach a voltmeter to the battery terminals. When starting the engine, the voltage should be no lower than 10V. Once the engine is running, the voltage should be between 13.5 and 15.5 V.
Anytime there's smoke/steam coming from under the hood, it's important to identify the source. The best way to do this is visually while the car is smoking/steaming. Overheating is one common cause. Did you look at your temperature gauge when this occurred? If it was in or near the red zone, you should expect that you have a cooling system problem. You can also check the coolant level. If the coolant is significantly low, there's a good likelihood that there was a leak or the engine got so hot the coolant expanded out of the reservoir onto the engine. Had you just run through a puddle when the smoke occurred? If so, it's possible it was simply steam from water splashing onto the hot engine. Look at your exhaust. Is there any evidence of anything leaking onto or melted onto the exhaust?
I don't know how many miles you have on this vehicle, nor do I know its general condition. But considering that it's 7 years old, your best option for something more reliable may be a new car. If you're unable to diagnose your own problems (either with the methods I've given above or some other method), then you should have your car checked professionally. Tell the shop working on the car the problems you're having and ask them to check for anything else that the car will need to keep it in good condition. Once you know what the car needs and how much it'll cost to have that work done, you can make an informed decision as to whether it's better to put money into your current car or to invest in a new car.
