A car breakdown on the road is one of the biggest nightmares of drivers. If you find yourself in such a situation, you need to know how to handle problems that might occur and might also need breakdown assistance or a car tow. Especially if that happens to you while traveling. Therefore, read some of our tips on how to handle a car breakdown situation, especially if you are an inexperienced driver.
Fear Of Car Malfunction
Almost every driver has a fear of car breakdown. Many drivers have this fear even when it comes to new modern cars because they are too technically complicated – and even the smallest faults on them can be removed only by a qualified specialized mechanic.
It’s true, cars have become much more complicated – and breakdowns can no longer be repaired in the garage of a local mechanic. Therefore, on many cars, it is difficult to do even the simplest actions – such as replacing light bulbs yourself. But the fear of malfunction in advanced new cars is quite unfounded. Namely, new cars are much more durable and less damaged than, for example, those before 20, 30 years ago.
Car Breakdowns
Although we often fear them, car malfunctions are usually not complicated at all. A look at the list of breakdowns that most often leave cars on the road – reveals that most of those malfunctions are very easy to fix and solve.
Also, most of them can be prevented by regular maintenance and more careful use of the car although sometimes towing your car is necessary. This is a list of the most common reasons why a car may leave you on the road – and tips on how to handle such breakdowns.
Tips On How to Handle A Car Breakdown
1. A Discharged Or Defective Battery
Battery problems are the most common reason for a breakdown after which the car is no longer in running order. Here we have to make a distinction between the two most common types of problems – a functional but discharged battery, and a malfunctioning old battery. If the car battery is the first one that is installed – it should be checked after five years at the latest.
If the battery is already replaced – the check should be done after three years. The check is performed in most of the car services and at car electricians. The electrician will do a simple test which is very often free of charge. Also, be careful not to leave the lights or audio system on when you get out of the vehicle. Most of the newer car models will turn off those consumers automatically after a while anyway. However, this problem remains with older car models.
2. Tire Damage
Each of us has at least once seen someone standing by the roadside with a flat tire. According to the car towing service asaptow.ie that offers cash for cars, a flat tire is one of the most common reasons a car leaves you on the road. And if you don’t have a spare tire, a car tow is inevitable. Older cars all have spare tires, but in new ones, it is an increasingly rare case. Therefore, most tires need to be ordered as additional equipment.
There is also the option of using a tire patch kit. However, these kits are generally not so useful – because most of the tire damage cannot be patched. That’s why it’s always better to have a spare tire in your car. Of course, it is also important to know how to change a tire. However, in case of such a malfunction – do not start the vehicle unless you have a spare tire or don’t know how to replace the tire properly. In these cases, it is best to call an adequate service that will be helpful in this situation.
3. Fuel Problems
Gas stations that sold fuel of suspicious quality used to be to blame. However, today the cause of this problem is mostly the drivers themselves, who pour the wrong fuel into their tank. Pouring the wrong fuel into the car seems almost impossible to do – until you make a mistake yourself through carelessness.
Therefore, when refueling, you should check once again whether the hose you took in your hand is the right one. It can happen that other users accidentally or intentionally, out of a joke, store the diesel hose in the petrol slot or vice versa, so you should always take a good look at the hose and the label on it. Also in some countries, different types of fuel are marked in different label colors. Therefore, confusion can be even more possible. So take a good look at what is written on the inside of the tank lid. There is always a marked type of fuel that is allowed in the vehicle. In case of an error – do not start the vehicle and call the assistance immediately to empty the tank.
4. Engine Overheating
Cars that “steam” under the hood used to be a very common occurrence, but today engine overheating is less common. Importantly, if overheating occurs, which can be easily read on the temperature display or by the control indicator – the vehicle must be stopped immediately.
The most common causes of overheating are a lack of fluid in the system or a faulty fan. Fluid deficiencies can be caused by not checking the level, or not maintaining the car for a long time – but also by leaking fluid from the system due. Fan failure will be the biggest problem in city crowds where its operation is necessary for the cooling system. You can prevent both of these problems by regular and quality maintenance and inspection of the car. The reason for overheating can also be a faulty thermostat, but this problem is extremely rare.
5. Starter Failure
The engine starter is another component of the car that often breaks down. If the car does not respond to turning the key or pressing the start button and the battery is correct and full – it is probably a starter failure. The starters are very robust and durable – but they will generally break down before the car’s engine. Generally, there are no indications that a breakdown will occur – so the most important thing here is the quality and regular maintenance of the car.
