5 Simple But Common Light-Duty Truck Problems (and How to Avoid Them)

As with all vehicles, light-duty trucks need maintenance. You can avoid being stranded by keeping ahead of light-duty truck repair with engine maintenance, brake services, cooling system services, and more. 

Mast Service Center in Etna Green, IN provides light-duty truck repair and maintenance. If you catch a problem before it becomes a huge issue, you can avoid your truck breaking down away from home.

1. Dirty Oil

The oil is the lifeblood of the engine. Without it, the engine will freeze. When the oil gets too dirty, it loses its lubricating properties, which is just as bad as running the engine without oil. 

Most vehicle manufacturers recommend changing the oil at about 5,000 to 7,500 miles if you use synthetic oil. You should also always change the oil filter when you change the oil.

2. Spark Plugs and Glow Plugs Not Working Properly

Gas engines use spark plugs to ignite the air and fuel mixture in the cylinder. Diesel light-duty trucks use glow plugs to heat the compressed air in the cylinder before the injector sprays the fuel into the cylinder. When spark plugs and glow plugs don’t work properly, the engine won’t start. 

In the case of spark plugs, the engine will run rough since the plugs throw off a spark to ignite the mixture on every combustion stroke. If a glow plug isn’t working, but you can start the diesel engine, it will often run without misfiring since glow plugs only heat the air in the cylinder instead of igniting it.

3. Worn-out Brakes

When you notice your vehicle’s brakes are low, you should bring your light-duty truck to Mast Service Center right away. The brake system is one of those that cost more the longer you wait. 

For instance, as the pads wear down, the squeaker on the backing plate scrapes the rotor—this is to alert you that you have low pads. If you continue driving the vehicle, you will score the rotors so severely that the auto tech can’t turn them—they’ll be too thin. If you continue to drive, you could damage the calipers and brake hoses.

4. Malfunctioning Coolant System

While a light-duty truck’s cooling system is relatively simple, it has several components that could fail and cause the truck to overheat. Most vehicles use aluminum heads, which are prone to warping and can crack the head gasket when the vehicle overheats. 

Other common issues with the cooling system include malfunctioning water pumps, thermostats, hoses, radiators, serpentine belts, and fans. 

The good thing is flushing the coolant and keeping a close eye on the mechanical parts of the cooling system can often give you enough warning. You can have the parts repaired before they leave you stranded.

5. Dirty Filters

Light-duty vehicles—gas and diesel—use several filters to keep everything clean. Be sure to change the air, oil, fuel, and cabin air filters as recommended by the manufacturer. Also, check diesel filters for condensation buildup.

Mast Service Center Repairs & Maintain Light-Duty Trucks in Etna Green, IN

When it’s time to repair or maintain your trucks, Mast Service is your one-stop shop. Our mechanics have the tools, expertise, and experience working on various makes and models, including Ford, GM, Ram, and more. 

Call Mast Service Center at (574) 646-2127 or fill out this online form for inquiries or an appointment. We are conveniently located at 8608 North State Road 19, Etna Green, IN 46524.