Chitika

Monday, August 20, 2012

How To Know What To Do When Your Car Breaks Down

By Byron Jonas


The owner's manual is a good place to start when trying to learn what to do when your car breaks down. The manual can give you specific emergency steps to take when experiencing tire troubles, electrical issues, or other problems.

If you are driving and realize that you're having car trouble, find a safe place to stop as soon as possible. Try to choose a well lit place so you can see what is going on with the car. Calling a family member is a good idea, to let them know what is going on and where you are.

Many malfunctions and problems with starting are caused by blown fuses. You should always carry a spare fuse kit in the vehicle. You need to know where your fuse panel is so you can examine and fix blown fuses whenever necessary.

Faulty tires often create a knocking sound or bumping sensation while driving. If you have this problem, get off the road and give the tires a few minutes to cool. This will allow you to safely inspect them, as tires get very hot while driving. You should keep gloves in the car to protect your hands while dealing with an emergency. With hands protected, manually examine the tire surfaces. Remember that the tire could have sharp steel threads exposed that can badly lacerate skin.

Wear protective gloves if possible. If you feel a lump or bump on the tire, it should be changed immediately. A tire with a lump in it is very likely to explode while you are driving at a high speed, causing you to lose control of the vehicle.

If all the tires are good, you must inspect the engine for trouble. Smoke or steam billowing from below the hood is usually due to an overheating problem or an oil leak. In this case you should stop the car and turn it off immediately. Try to avoid inhaling the smoke.

Knowing what to do when your car breaks down is crucial when the car overheats in heavy traffic. The best advice is to exit the highway and pull over in a safe location right away. If unable to get out of traffic, turning on the car's air conditioner can cause the radiator fan to engage if it is otherwise malfunctioning. If this does not cause improvement, turn on the car's heater to the highest level. While this causes an uncomfortable temperature within the cabin, it removes heat from the motor. Roll the windows down and keep the vehicle at a constant speed until you can get to a safe stopping point.




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