Road Service

Upon arrival of an accident scene, firefighters may not realize the high-voltage electrical system in a Toyota hybrid is on because of the silence of the electric motor.

According to Toyota regional service training specialist John Durso, people wouldn’t realize that a car is a hybrid unless they were told.  Many people would just assume that the vehicle was stopped.

An effort of firefighters or a road service crew who are responding to an accident involving a hybrid that is gas-electric is complicated by high voltage.  This poses a risk of injuries or even death to emergency workers.

Because more and more electric-gas hybrids are being sold, firefighters are trying to learn the emergency response techniques that will keep them safe dealing with this new technology.  Classes at the Connecticut Fire Academy give regular classes on how firefighters can recognize hybrid car logos and disable their high-powered battery systems safely.

Consumers benefit from electric-gas hybrids because they save big at the gas pump.  However, in case of an accident or breakdown, motorists should allow firefighters or emergency roadside assistance crews to deal with their vehicle electrics, which can be dangerous unless you are properly trained.

What features can help older drivers stay safe and comfortable on the road and avoid road service calls?  The American Automobile Association has the following recommendations to help older drivers.

First, it is helpful to have a steering wheel that tilts and telescopes.  This puts the driver 10 inches from the airbag, and also alleviates shoulder and neck pain.

Also helpful are mirrors that allow for wide visibility.  This allows older drivers to compensate for a limited range of motion.

Seats that are heated with lumbar support allow relief from an aching back.

Six-way adjustable seats allow drivers who are short to see over the steering wheel, and allow for an easier entrance and exit out of the car.

A car with adjustable foot pedals will allow small drivers to be able to reach pedals while remaining far enough away from the airbag.

Four doors are better than two for older drivers because they are lighter and easier to open and close.

Purchasing the right car for an older driver is important for safety reasons.  Keep these things in mind to help your loved one avoid emergency roadside assistance calls.

For the fourth straight year, the Toyota Prius has ranked #1 for owner satisfaction.  Actually, 92% of motorists who own the Prius claim that they would definitely lease or buy the car again.  Closely following the Prius, came the BMW 335i coupe convertible, and then came the Porsche Boxster.  The scores of these cars were 91 and 90.

Coming in at the very bottom were GM minivans.  They are the Buick Terraza, Chevrolet Uplander, and Saturn Relay, which scored 34.

To get these scores, a question was asked to Consumer Reports subscribers.  The question was, “Considering all factors (price, performance, reliability, comfort, enjoyment, etc.), would you get this car if you had it to do all over again?”

The Consumer Reports survey obtained responses about approximately 414,000 vehicles, with scoring for 300 car models.  Consider this survey when deciding which vehicle to purchase.  Using this information will ensure that you are satisfied with your new vehicle, and will help you avoid calling for road service.

Many times, SUV drivers believe that they have the safest vehicles on the road. People assume that because they are driving a large vehicle, they are indestructible. However, this isn’t the case.

Actually, SUVs have a much greater tendency to roll over in a crash than any other vehicle type. And, research shows that about 35% of fatalities in car crashes are from rolling. Recently, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that there is a direct correlation between SUVs roof strength and the injury risk to passengers. In other words, the stronger a car’s roof is, the less injuries incurred by occupants.

Currently, the U.S. government has a requirement that cars should withstand a force that is 1.5 times the weight of the car before reaching 5 inches of crush. However, the government wants to change that to 2.5 times the vehicle’s weight, for safety reasons.

Drivers can never foresee when they will be involved in a car crash. However, to protect themselves, drivers can purchase a vehicle rated high for safety, have a road service program, and take safety precautions behind the wheel.

There’s nothing more inconvenient than turning your ignition just to find that you have a dead battery. At that point the only thing you can do is get a jump-start or call for roadside assistance. However, there are some preventative measures that you can take to avoid getting stuck in this position.

Regardless of the type of battery you have, you need to check the terminal connections periodically. You want to make sure that there is no corrosion or tightness.

If you determine that there are corroded terminals, you can clean them off with a small brush and a mixture of water and baking soda.

Also, you can do a visual check of the battery to determine if there are any leaks, cracks, or damage. If any of these things are apparent, replace the battery immediately.

Of course, the time to save your battery is prior to the signs of wear and tear. Unfortunately, you can’t always predict when your battery will fail, which is why it is important to have a road service program. However, if your starter turns slow, your headlights brighten when you rev the engine, or your clock is noticeably slower, your engine should be examined.

Drivers are being forced to pay high fuel prices, and therefore are avoiding spending money on preventative car maintenance.  And even though people are steering clear of car travel, roadside assistance calls have increased 8%.

One major reason that road service calls have increased is the lack of routine maintenance being performed.  Many motorists falsely assume that as long as their car continues running, all of the parts are fine, or at least can wait to be serviced.

The result is that drivers are having their cars towed to service facilities for maintenance.  However, instead of allowing service shops to conduct repairs that are recommended, people are opting to have the minimum amount of repair work done to get their car back on the road.

This trend is troubling considering we are entering into the months of the year that are the hottest.  While people find it difficult to budget for maintenance that is preventative, in the long run you will be saving yourself a large amount of money and time.  In addition, being proactive will help you avoid the likelihood of being stranded on the road calling for auto road service.

Vehicles don’t always last as long as we would like them to. Your vehicle may already need to be traded in after a few years. However, this can be avoided by taking precautions. Proper maintenance will have your vehicle running smoothly until it reaches old age and help you avoid auto road service calls. Here are some maintenance tips.

First of all, you should be changing the oil filter and oil on your car on a regular basis. By changing the oil filter, your car can breathe easier and your engine will last longer. When an oil filter is clogged, the engine can’t perform properly, and your fuel-efficiency is affected.

Next, make sure to maintain the cooling system and coolant level in your vehicle. Doing this could save you large repair bills in the long run, as well as calls for roadside assistance. If your cooling system fails, your engine can literally melt down.

The most neglected part of a car is the tires. Not maintaining proper inflation is bad for the tires, car and fuel-efficiency, not to mention it’s a major safety issue. Maintaining tire pressure is something that people can do virtually cost free, and it has numerous benefits.

Finally, if you can’t perform maintenance yourself find a good repair shop that you can go to. This will allow the mechanic to get to know your car and it’s needs.

Saab recently announced that if any original Saab owner in the country drove their car 1 million miles, they would receive a new car.  Well, Peter Gilbert of Wisconsin succeeded in winning this challenge with his 1989 Saab 900 SPG.  His vehicle is now in a museum with it original engine and turbocharger.

It used to be that it was a big achievement for a car to still run at 100,000 miles. Most cars at this point had been towed in by road service. And, around this mark, it was necessary to rebuild the engine and transmission.  In the 90’s, vehicles were lasting about 150,000 miles.

The U.S. Department of Transportation says that the average lifespan of a car is around 128,500 miles or about 12 years.  The reason that these numbers are low is because most people don’t maintain their cars.  Motorists neglect doing simple maintenance, which will cut down the life of their vehicles and have them making calls for emergency roadside assistance.

Motorists who purchase vehicles today should easily expect their vehicle to reach 200,000 miles.  Of course, this is assuming that you perform routine maintenance.

A vehicle is a big investment, which is why it is necessary for car owners to keep their cars in tip-top shape. This is for the good of the vehicle, as well as for the safety of the owner. Vehicles should be sent in for preventative checkups every so often to make sure they are running properly.

One important part of maintaining your car is to ask your dealer where there are authorized repair shops. If you take your vehicle to technicians who are certified to work on the make of your vehicle you can ensure that the correct parts are being used. Using inferior car parts can cause accidents and have you calling for emergency roadside assistance.

Another necessary part of maintaining your vehicle is to observe it every time you are driving. You should know how your car feels under normal circumstances; so if you detect any disturbances, make sure to have your car looked at. Minor problems can turn into big hassles if you don’t address them in a timely manner.

Finally, make sure to check your oil level often. If possible, you should buy synthetic oil for your vehicle, which will ensure that your engine remains clean and working well. Also, have your oil changed regularly, or do it yourself.

Maintaining your vehicle will protect your investment and keep you safe on the road. After all, no one likes to end up stuck on the side of the road calling for road service.

High gas prices are 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 to spend more money on gas, causing maintenance repairs to take a backseat.

But, according to experts, avoiding maintenance repairs to save money on gas 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.