Why is my car smoking (from under the hood), shaking, and making weird noises?

T

TiiNy

New member
My engine light have been going on and off for the past two weeks. I was told that the light could indicate that I need motor oil or transmission fluid. My car does leak them both. But my car has also been shaking ( I really cant explain) but yesterday it gotten worse. It cut off on me at a light yesterday, that's the first time this had ever happened to me, it was running really loud (my neighbor who never speaks even came to me and said something about it), and it is smoking from under the hood. I never had any of these problems before.

About a year ago I did have a used altalternatort on and last week I got in a minor accident (nothing big) but I am not sure whether or not that could've damaged a part or something under my hood.
If this sounds familiar to someone could you please give me some info on what I should do.
I am a college student who has to drive to school & work everyday so I really need my car to be fixed
My car is a 2002 Chrysler Sebring by the way
& I never had any issues with my car before other than the alternator
**I just put oil in my car monday.
*** I am on here asking because I am at work right now and I am asking to see if somebody could give me an idea of what might be going on.
*** I am getting it checked when I get off of work too.
*****My car is turning on now I have no problem turning it on.. it only cut off once but now when I turn it on it just makes a loud ratteling noise. It all went bad after it cut off on me
 
Make sure your car has motor oil in it and transmission fluid all things a car needs to run right or you will ruin your engine. Also power steering fluid. Make sure you have water in your radiator, I have an older car so I'm not sure the water in radiator is in the newer cars but check it out. The light is telling you you need oil give it oil.
 
It is not the alternator. Basically you need to check all of your fluid levels, pay special attention to motor oil and radiator fluid. With the symptoms you describe it could be overheating and both oil and radiator fluid cool the engine. Did your accident involve the front of your car? If so maybe you are losing radiator fluid or as you said it may be time to add motor oil and fix the leak.

Disclaimer: Before taking the cap off of the radiator it needs to be cold, do not remove cap after you have been driving, do it in the morning before you leave or at least two hours after the car sits. If the cap is hot don't touch it as you can get severely burned.

Once the radiator cap is removed you should see water at least two inches from the top and if not add water and watch for leaks, don't add coolant because if you do have a leak you would waste money and hurt the environment. If you see fluid then close the cap and move on to the motor oil.

Check motor oil when the engine is cool or you may get a false reading. If your oil level is low or nonexistent then add oil.

Eventually you need to have a mechanic look at the engine and hopefully salvage and fix the engine or compnents.
 
Back
Top