Screw Drivers Troubleshooting Common Issues

Screw Drivers is a physics-based sandbox game, and with that freedom comes a variety of ways things can go wrong. This guide covers the most common issues players encounter, what causes them, and how to fix each one.

Car has errors

This is the most common message new players see. When you try to test or race your vehicle and the game says “car has errors,” it means one or more parts are not properly connected to the rest of the build.

To find the problem, press X in the build editor to open the car stats overlay. Disconnected parts will be highlighted in red. These are components that are placed in the workspace but not physically attached to the chassis or to any part that is attached to the chassis.

The usual culprits are gears, axles, and suspension units. A gear might look like it is sitting on an axle but not actually connected. An axle might be one grid unit away from the chassis mounting point. Suspension might be floating next to the chassis without snapping into place.

Select each red-highlighted part and check its connection points. Move it slightly until it snaps onto a valid mounting position. The game shows connection indicators when a part is properly aligned. After reconnecting all parts, press X again to verify that nothing is highlighted in red, then try testing the vehicle.

Disconnected parts

Related to the errors issue, disconnected parts can cause a range of symptoms beyond the error message. A disconnected wheel might spin freely without driving the car. A disconnected engine produces no power. A disconnected gear does nothing.

The key to avoiding disconnected parts is to build in a logical chain: chassis to engine, engine to axle, axle to gear, gear to axle, axle to suspension, suspension to wheel. Every link in this chain must be physically connected. If you skip a link or place a part with a gap, the chain breaks.

Use the grid snapping feature to ensure parts align properly. Most parts in Screw Drivers snap to a grid, which helps maintain consistent spacing and connection. If a part refuses to connect, try rotating it or moving it to a different grid position.

Keyboard not working

A frustrating issue that affects many players: you launch the game, try to drive with WASD, and nothing happens. The most common cause is that the game has auto-detected a controller input device, even if you do not have a controller connected.

To fix this, go to the settings menu and look for the input device option. Switch it from controller to mouse and keyboard. This forces the game to read keyboard inputs instead of waiting for controller signals.

If the settings menu itself is hard to navigate without keyboard input, try pressing any button on a connected controller to regain menu navigation, then switch the input device. Alternatively, some players have success by unplugging any USB devices that might be detected as controllers (flight sticks, racing wheels, game pads) and restarting the game.

After switching to mouse and keyboard, test your inputs in the build editor. WASD should move the camera or drive the vehicle depending on context. If keys still do not respond, check the Keyboard Controls page for the full control layout and binding information.

Game crashes on loading

If the game crashes during loading, the first step is to verify the game files through Steam. Right-click Screw Drivers in your Steam library, select Properties, go to the Installed Files tab, and click Verify Integrity of Game Files. This checks for corrupted or missing files and re-downloads them.

If verification does not help, try updating your graphics drivers. Screw Drivers uses physics simulations that can stress older drivers. Make sure your operating system is also up to date.

Another common cause is conflicting mods from the Steam Workshop. If you have subscribed to workshop items, try unsubscribing from all of them and launching the game with a clean install. If the game loads successfully, re-enable mods one by one to find the problematic one.

If none of these steps work, check the game log files in the installation directory. These files often contain error messages that point to the specific cause of the crash.

Vehicle flying or bouncing

Sometimes a vehicle launches into the air or bounces uncontrollably when you start a test drive. This is a physics glitch that usually happens when parts overlap or when the suspension is compressed beyond its limits.

The most common cause is overlapping parts. If two components occupy the same space, the physics engine tries to push them apart, which can launch the vehicle. Check your build for any parts that are clipping into each other. Use the grid snapping feature to ensure proper spacing.

Another cause is suspension that is too stiff or too soft. Extremely stiff suspension can cause the vehicle to bounce violently over small bumps. Extremely soft suspension can bottom out and spring the vehicle upward. Adjust your suspension settings to find a middle ground.

Wheel size relative to suspension travel can also cause flying. If the wheels are too large for the suspension, they may clip into the body during compression, triggering a physics explosion. Use wheels that are appropriately sized for your suspension type.

Chains not working

Chains are used in some builds to transfer power between distant components. If your chain is not transferring power, check that both ends are connected to valid rotating parts. The chain must attach to a gear, axle, or wheel hub on each end. It cannot connect to static parts.

Also check the chain tension. A chain that is too loose will sag and skip teeth. A chain that is too tight will bind and prevent rotation. Adjust the distance between the two attachment points until the chain has a slight natural sag.

Tech tree unlock conditions bugged

The tech tree in Screw Drivers is known to have buggy descriptions. Some unlock conditions display incorrect text, showing requirements that do not match the actual trigger. For example, a part might say it unlocks after winning a specific race, but it actually unlocks after reaching a certain career milestone.

If a part appears locked and you believe you have met the unlock condition, try completing a few additional races or milestones. The unlock may have a hidden secondary requirement. There is no reliable workaround for this issue other than progressing through the career mode and checking the tech tree periodically.

Car won’t analyze

The analyze function evaluates your vehicle and provides performance feedback. If the analyze button is grayed out or unresponsive, your vehicle likely has errors. Fix all disconnected parts first using the steps in the “Car has errors” section above.

If the vehicle has no visible errors but still will not analyze, try removing and re-adding the last few parts you placed. Sometimes a part can be in a state that the game considers valid for driving but invalid for analysis. Rebuilding those parts usually clears the issue.

For more help with building vehicles from scratch, see the Getting Started guide. If you are having input problems, the Keyboard Controls and Controller Setup pages cover all supported input methods.