How to Troubleshoot Your Car

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Start by noting exactly what symptoms you're experiencing and when they occur. Does the problem happen when cold, at certain speeds, or during specific conditions? Next, check for obvious issues like warning lights, fluid leaks, or unusual sounds. Use an OBD-II scanner to read any stored trouble codes from your car's computer. Research those codes to understand what systems are affected. Then test components systematically, following the 7 troubleshooting steps and starting with the most likely causes based on symptoms. Check simple things first like fuses, connections, and fluid levels before moving to complex parts. Document what you test and the results. If you prefer DIY, learn whether you can do diagnostics yourself or use your phone as a diagnostic tool.