Road Service

It’s the moment that every motorist dreads, a flat tire. You don’t know if you ran over glass or hit a nail, but you need to take action. You may need to call for road service, and then you have to have the tire fixed or do it yourself. Surprisingly, it isn’t that hard to repair a tire yourself, and you can save the extra expense of having a repair shop do it. Here’s how.

First, it is necessary to determine the location of the puncture. You can do this by submerging the tire in water and watching where the bubbles come from. Before you can patch the tire you must remove any foreign objects stuck in the tire. You can pull out the object with pliers. Be sure to pull out the object in the direction of the tread so you don’t do additional damage to the tire.

Now, use a tire reamer and clean out the hole from the inside of the tire. Center the patch over the puncture to ensure proper sizing. Take off the patch and coat an awl using cement. You should run the awl in the hole a few times to make sure the damaged area is coated adequately. Then, put a coat of vulcanizing cement directly on the patch and tire and let it dry.

Next, apply a layer of cement on the stem of the patch and then pull the stem through. When the patch stem is all the way through the hole, cut it off.

Now, you are ready to get back out on the road. With a little diligence you can do a quick tire fix and save yourself a trip to the repair shop.

Many motorists have been in the situation where an object hits their windshield and a big crack shows up.  Your windshield might even end up bad enough that you have to call your road service program.  However, when do you know if it necessary to replace the windshield or if the crack can just be fixed?

Windshield repair or replacement depends on the location, size and severity of damage.  Windshield shops can usually repair chips the size of a quarter, as well as cracks reaching three inches.  For bigger damage it is recommended that you replace your windshield.

The location of the damage is also a big factor in whether you can keep your windshield.  When a crack is at the edge of your windshield it can affect the structure of the glass.  In this case it is usually best to replace your windshield.

Many facilities won’t repair a chip if it’s in the direct line of the driver’s vision.  The repair process may result in minor glass distortions, which are unsafe for the driver. After all, you don’t want to end up calling for emergency roadside assistance.

Keep in mind, whatever the location or size of the glass damage, it is necessary to have it looked at right away.  Waiting can result in dirt getting in the damaged area, which can affect the repair job.

When motorists think of seasonal driving problems, they tend to think of winter dangers, such as sleet, snow and ice.  But winter months are not the only time that seasonal scares affect cars.

Also of great threat are sizzling summer months.  In the heat, lubricants and fluids break down at a more rapid pace, and tires endure more stress.  In hot weather, it is extremely important to regularly have your car serviced.  If you don’t do this, high gas prices won’t be your only menace; you’ll find yourself stranded calling for roadside assistance.

The California Department of Consumer Affairs, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommend that motorists look at their car owner’s manuals and follow the maintenance schedules religiously.  In addition, they feel it’s important for people to put their vehicles through a safety inspection.

This is even more imperative for drivers planning a road trip this summer.  Of course, it’s a good idea to have a road service program in case of emergencies, but you shouldn’t be relying on this as your only protective measure.

Most motorists have experienced the drowsy driving syndrome.  Either you’ve been the driver yourself or you’ve been in the passenger seat.  Many wrecks and road service calls can be avoided if drivers aren’t drowsy.  Here are some signs to look for in a drowsy driver.

If the driver is weaving drowsiness may be setting in.  The driver doesn’t perform as many steering corrections, which means that the ones made are more severe and jerky.

Often drivers become very quiet or rely on conversation to stay awake.  Conversation often doesn’t make a lot of sense.

If the driver passes over rumble strips they need to pull over and take a rest.  This could mean that they actually fell asleep for a second, or that they are so tired that they can’t stay on the road.

The neck jerk is always a tell tale sign.  This is when the driver falls asleep for a moment and then their neck jerks and they wake up.

Never get on the road drowsy, and never get in a car with a drowsy driver.  There have been many calls for emergency roadside assistance due to drowsy drivers.

When purchasing a used car you need to do your homework.  This includes doing a thorough inspection of the vehicle, and don’t forget to look under the hood. You don’t want to end up with a car that will leave you stranded calling for road service.  Here are some things you need to be aware of.

Pinch all of the various rubber hoses that run to the air conditioner, radiator, etc.  The rubber shouldn’t feel hard or mushy.  In addition, there shouldn’t be cracks.  Make sure it is supple and firm.  Also, make sure the drive belts are frayed.

Check all of the fluid levels in the vehicle.  You can consult your owner’s manual to know where to look.  You should have dark brown or black oil.  It it’s honey colored, it means it was changed recently.  If the oil is foamy or gray, it might mean there is a cracked engine block or a head gasket that is blown.  You should have pinkish transmission fluid, not brown.

Also, examine the battery.  Batteries that are “maintenance free” have a charge indicator that is built in.  Green means that the battery is still good, where yellow or black means the battery is no good.

With any car purchase, it is important to have an emergency roadside assistance program just in case of unforeseen incidents.  However, following these simple tips might save you from being stuck on the side of the road.

The poor economy is affecting more than the way people are driving. It is also causing some motorists to cut corners on auto maintenance, which can come back to cost them more later and lead to road service calls.

Repair shops around the country are seeing business slow down. When customers are told they are due for their 30,00-mile service, they say that they are going to hold off for a while. Then they end up waiting until 40,000 miles to have it done.

This is due to the fact that people have taken a hit with the economy, causing maintenance repairs to take a backseat.

But, according to experts, avoiding maintenance repairs to save money will end up costing you more money, and safety, in the long run.

Roadside assistance calls are at an all time high because of this problem. Motorists are calling because their battery is out, or they haven’t’ changed their oil enough, or a tire has blown, and numerous other problems.

Since your car carries precious cargo, you need to be aware of its safety features.  One aspect of safety that people often ignore is the brake system.  That is, until a major problem arises.  Don’t find yourself stuck on the side of the road calling your road service program, look out for the following brake problems.

If you hear grinding or squealing you need to have your brakes looked at.  This often indicates that brake pads are worn or glazed.  Unfortunately, many motorists wait until the grinding sound is heard, which means the brakes have already worn into the rotors.  If you wait for the grinding noise there will be financial consequences.

The cause of the brake pedal pulsating is heat and wear.  Heat and wear will make the brake rotor or drum thin out.  Usually, this means that brakes need to be replaced.

If you hear clicking while braking your brake pads are loose and need to be replaced.  The factory puts “anti-rattle” devices to stop the clicking noise, but they break over time.

Brakes are an important safety feature in your vehicle and shouldn’t be ignored.  Look for these warning signs so that you don’t end up on the side of the road calling for emergency auto assistance.

Roads often seem like they are war-zones.  Motorists encounter ruts, potholes, and icy roads that can be dangerous.  Just being aware of bad road conditions can help drivers protect themselves.  Here are a few tips that can help you avoid accidents.

Be on the lookout for nasty potholes.  If you encounter a pothole, slow down and keep your hands on the wheel.  Hitting a pothole hard might put your vehicle out of alignment.  Also, it is common for steel-belted tires to endure damage, due to potholes, that could make the driver lose control.

Luckily, ruts do little damage to vehicles.  However, they do sometimes cause drivers to lose control of the car.  In this event, a car can experience a great deal of damage.

One of the most dangerous road conditions is a sheet of ice.  Many accidents are the result of cars slipping on ice.  If the roads are very icy, it is best to avoid driving.  However, in the event that you must drive, go slow and allow enough distance in between you and the car in front of you.

Sometimes drivers can’t foresee bad road conditions.  All motorists can do is drive defensively and make sure you have a road service program that can assist you in case of an emergency.

Here’s why people need to be concerned about the state of the environment: Because a situation that is bad is costly-namely in money and lives.

California State University recently performed a study, finding that the two regions in California that are the most populated have air pollution that killed more people than car accidents.  This is saying a lot considering the amount of vehicular accidents and auto road service calls in California.  There were 2,521 deaths due to vehicles in 2006, however, 3,182 deaths were caused by respiratory illnesses as a result of particle pollution.

Ozone released from cars that are gasoline powered and particulate matter that comes out of tailpipes of diesels has been known to cause various coronary and respiratory problems, such as chronic bronchitis and asthma.

It’s very hard to estimate how much the severe air pollution in California costs, however, this study reveals that by bringing the air conditions into compliance with federal particulate and ozone standards could mean a savings of $28 billion a year.

For you drivers out there who are determined to stick with your Bluetooth-less vehicle for a little longer, yet who would like to take advantage of that technology, there may be an easy solution that doesn’t attach to your sun visor.

The new Steering Wheel Bluetooth Adapter fastens to the steering wheel on the inside and adjusts for different fits and sizes.  This gadget comes with speakers and a microphone, as well as an SD port for MP3 players, an LCD display, a USB port and an FM-out that plays everything through your vehicle’s stereo.

The adapter requires a power source, which is why it utilizes the cigarette lighter.  You may think it would seem dangerous to have a wire that goes from the steering wheel to the dashboard.  It does work from a battery that is rechargeable, but when would you really recharge it except while driving?

Probably the best bet would be to charge the battery at home and bring it with you when you leave in the morning.  After all, there could be car accidents and road service calls from people trying to drive with a wire attached to their steering wheel.