Troubleshooting

• Troubleshooting is the process of figuring out what, exactly, the problem is. You've noticed that it rattles a bit, but have you noticed where that noise is coming from? Does it only happen if you do certain things, like get into fifth gear? Does it only happen at idle? Is it coming from the engine compartment, or somewhere else? Maybe your sister has left her keys in the passenger-side door pocket again, causing you unnecessary concern that your car is broken. It's important to narrow down the cause problem before you can begin to address its solution.
  
  

DIY or Professional Mechanic?

• Once you've narrowed down the cause of your problem, figure out if it's something that you can fix. If you're a do-it-yourself kind of person, chances are good that you'll be tempted to try --- but be honest with yourself. Tightening some bolts to fix your rattling exhaust is a lot easier than welding parts of that same exhaust back together. If you have welding knowledge, experience, and equipment, you might want to try tackling that project yourself. If not, consider taking it to a professional. You'll get a better result, and will probably actually save money over having to purchase a lot of specialized equipment that you didn't have. Your time and frustration savings will also be significant.
  
  

Shop Manual

• If you decide to tackle the problem yourself, your vehicle's shop manual will be an immense help. Every car has at least one, and most have several. They'll tell you lots of useful information about where everything is laid out in your car, not to mention torque specifications and other information you won't want to be without. Haynes publishes manuals for most car models that are specifically aimed at do-it-yourselfers. See Resources for a link to its website.
  
  

Internet Research

• Unless you're the first person to ever purchase your model, chances are good that someone somewhere is having problems with it as well. Enthusiast websites exist for most modern and classic cars, and you can usually find some good information --- provided you're careful about the source. With the rise of the internet, many car manufacturers and mechanics also frequent these forums, so it is possible to get reliable advice. Use common sense regarding the source of your information before acting on it. General car repair advice sites exist as well. 2CarPros.com offers both free and paid advice by ASE-certified mechanics to help you with general car problems (see Reference 1).
  
  

Is Your Car a Lemon?

• If your car's problem has gone from being a new annoyance to an unwelcome permanent houseguest, you might have what your state classifies as a lemon. Lemon laws vary by state, so check with your state's regulations to see if your car qualifies. Most states stipulate that the problem must be recurring, that you must have proper documentation that you've repeatedly tried to have it serviced under warranty, that the repeated service attempts have failed, and that the manufacturer has done nothing about it. See Resources for a guide to the lemon laws in all 50 states.