How Much Do You Know About Common Engine Symptoms and Solutions?

By: Craig
Estimated Completion Time
8 min
How Much Do You Know About Common Engine Symptoms and Solutions?
Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

VROOM VROOM! While people were able to make due before the late 1800s, imagining life without cars seems impossible! You can't walk down the street without seeing one,  and while this invention was genius, it's not perfect! Cars often have issues and most of the reasons are due to the engine! Car lovers might love the outside, but only a true fanatic knows it inside and out. How much do you know about common engine symptoms and solutions?

In the 21st century, cars are no longer a novelty. If you walked down the street, you'd probably be shocked if you didn't see at least one car. The same couldn't be said before the late 1800s. In 1885, German inventor Karl Benz is credited with the first true running vehicle that had an internal engine. The car industry would go on to grow astronomically from there.

While everyone could appreciate the superficial appearance of cars like a Mercedes-Benz, Corvette, or Lamborghini, the car is pointless if the engine isn't working properly! How much do you know about common engine symptoms and solutions?

The first car had an internal-combustion engine, but there are tons of different types like the VEE, inline, straight, boxer, and more! Could you doctor all these engines? If you hear knocking from the engine compartment or seeing blue smoke from the exhaust pipe, could you figure out your engine issues? Could you fix it? There's only one way to find out!

Cars are amazing when they run properly! No one wants to have engine issues, but you seem like you're ready to prove that no engine symptom is an issue for you! Put the pedal to the metal and prove that you're an engine pro!

Fasten those seat belts!

While driving, you hear a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. What could the problem be?
Worn engine bearings
A woodpecker has made his nest in your engine
The exhaust is backfiring
None of the above
You have noticed a smell similar to sulfur coming from around your engine. What do you check first?
Oil sump
Catalytic converter
Radiator
None of the above
While driving your car, you have started to notice strange odors, similar to exhaust gases or engine fumes. What should you check immediately?
A bird's nest in the engine
Your vehicles emission system or a for a hole in the exhaust
Clean your car of any old food containers, especially under the seat
None of the above

Advertisement

There is a distinct lack of power when driving your car all of a sudden. The most likely problem is?
The tires are worn and need to be replaced
The car needs a new exhaust system
There is a problem with the ignition timing
None of the above
In your day-to-day running of your car, you have noticed that it is using more fuel than usual. The acceleration of the car is also not what it should be. What can you check first?
The accelerator pedal is working properly
Air filter
Whether your kids are using your car without your knowledge
None of the above
You have recently noticed a hissing sound coming from under your hood when the engine is running. What could it be?
The manifold has a leak.
The battery is going flat
A snake has made your engine its home
None of the above

Advertisement

Lately, clouds of dark blue smoke have been coming out your exhaust pipe. What problem with your engine could be causing this?
You are using the wrong gas type
You need to put more water in the radiator
The engines piston rings are worn out
None of the above
Your car engine not only lacks power but is vibrating violently. What should you have checked?
The fuel you are using
The ignition timing
Whether it needs an oil change
None of the above
The battery in my car has a white powder around the terminals. What part under the hood could be causing the problem?
Window wiper liquid reservoir
Alternator
Oil filter
None of the above

Advertisement

Not only is your car using more gas, but its running at a higher temperature than before. A check of the coolant level in the radiator shows nothing wrong? What else could it be?
You are driving too fast
Your tires are too large for the engine to turn thus putting it under strain
A problem with the emission system
None of the above
Your brakes shudder when you brake hard. What is causing this?
The ABS system
A loose wheel nut
A tire that needs to be replaced
None of the above
You notice that black smoke has started bellowing out of your exhaust pipe, especially on startup and when pulling away. What could be the problem?
Your engine is burning too much fuel
You need to change your oil
Your car needs a good engine clean
None of the above

Advertisement

Lately, you have noticed a sweet smell coming from the engine while the car is running. What should you check?
Whether someone dropped a cinnamon roll in the engine compartment
The coolant level. You may have a leak in your radiator
Oil filter
None of the above
Your car has suddenly developed a terrible miss, with the engine clearly not running properly. What is the simplest thing to check first?
Spark Plugs
Accelerator pedal
Inflate the tires
None of the above
A flashing blinking battery sign on your dashboard indicates a problem you should address? What is it?
The battery is not charging
The battery is overheating
The battery is working properly
None of the above

Advertisement

The brake pedal on your vehicle has suddenly become spongy when you press down on it. What is the cause?
The brake pedal needs to be replaced
Air has entered the brake system
Your car needs a service
None of the above
The engine on your car has developed a miss. Not only will it not run properly but there is a lack of power as well. You have checked the spark plugs and they seem fine. What do you check next?
If the car has gas
Your accelerator cable
Spark Plug Leads
None of the above
After driving through water that was deeper than you thought, your car stalls a few meters further down the road? What could the problem be.
Water got into gas tank
Water got into the radiator, overfilling it
Water covered the coil/spark plugs causing the engine to stop
None of the above

Advertisement

As you try to start your car one morning, you hear a noise as you turn the key and nothing happens. The motor won't even turn over. Your lights and other electronics still work, however. What is the first thing you should check for a problem?
The starter motor
The ignition
The key
None of the above
After some heavy rains and driving on flooded roads, you notice that your clutch pedal is not working as it should. What could the problem be?
Water entered the dry clutch system
Your gears rusted
Your clutch pedal wire rusted
None of the above
The water in the fuel indicator is glowing on the dashboard of your diesel vehicle. What is the first thing you should check, drain and clean?
The fuel cap
Diesel filter
Alternator
None of the above

Advertisement

The engine management warning light is flicking red on your dashboard. You have notices a few sounds coming from the engine. What should you NOT do?
Take the car to a mechanic
Get towed to the nearest gas station
Ignore the light and carry on driving. The car will be fine
None of the above
Your car won't start. It is turning over with difficulty but the engine won't fire. What is the likely cause of the problem?
Time for a new engine!
Your ignition is faulty
A flat battery
None of the above
You have noticed over the past week that your car is starting to struggle to start. All of a sudden, it won't turn over and fire at all. Your recently installed a new battery, so that can't be the problem. What is the likely cause and what should be checked?
You need to try a new type of fuel
You have a flat battery because the alternator has not charged it
Your engine needs a service
None of the above

Advertisement

While accelerating, you have noticed a squealing noise coming from the engine. What could it be?
You need to do an oil change
There is some sort of animal stuck in the engine compartment
The belt to the alternator is loose and slipping
None of the above
The clutch pedal on your vehicle has suddenly become spongy when you press down on it. What is the cause?
Air has entered the gear hydraulic system
Your car needs a service
You need to replace the clutch
None of the above
Your vehicle has become very noisy, especially from either the middle or the rear. It's not the engine. What else could it be?
The floor of the car needs to be replaced
The wheel bearings need to be replaced
There is a hole in your exhaust system
None of the above

Advertisement

No matter how often you replace them, light bulbs blow regularly on your vehicle. What part of equipment under the hood could be causing this?
Alternator
Radiator
Brake fluid reservoir
None of the above
You have noticed distinct metallic sounds coming from your engine. What is the first thing you should check?
The oil level in your engine
How much gas you have
The level of coolant in your radiator
None of the above
You have noticed that your car splutters and runs poorly until the engine has heated properly. What could be the problem?
The automatic choke is not working properly
You need to use a different gas
It needs a new radiator
None of the above

Advertisement

There is something wrong with your engine. It is not running as it should. You notice a number of symptoms. A lack of power with an intermittent miss. What could the problem be?
You need to replace the water in the radiator
You need a new old filter
The computerized engine control system is faulty
None of the above
Lately, there is a faint smell similar to sulfur coming from your engine when it is running. What should you have checked?
Fuel system
The radiator
Crankshaft
None of the above
When checking your engine oil, you notice that it is very dark and particularly gritty to the touch. What should you do?
Leave it, its fine
Try a new type of gas
Perform an oil change
None of the above

Advertisement

Recently you have noticed that moving through the gears on your manual car is becoming more difficult. There is even a slight noise when changing gears. What should you check?
Oil levels
Coolant levels
Transmission fluid levels
None of the above
While driving, you notice hot air and steam rising from your engine. You stop and notice that the engine is very hot. What should you NOT do?
Open the radiator cap
Open the fuel cap
Keep the hood open
None of the above