Road Service

Cars need fuel pumps because the gas tank is on the opposite side of the car than the engine.  The purpose of the fuel pump is to bring the fuel to the engine.

Fuel pumps come in two varieties.  Vehicles that have electronic fuel injection systems use electrical fuel pumps.  Carbureted vehicles have mechanical fuel pumps.

The carburetor delivers fuel through a vacuum.  Here, the vacuum that brings the mixture of air and fuel to the engine also draws the gas along lines to the engine.  But, extra help is needed, so engines that are carbureted have a fuel pump that is mechanical.  This pump is located next to the engine of the vehicle.

Electronic fuel injection is a system of delivery in which gas is squirted into the chambers of the engine.  The fuel pump is next to, or inside of the gas tank.

Cars with electronic fuel injection typically don’t have the fuel pump fail.  However, when it does, the car will start to sputter and eventually die.  In addition, it won’t start back up.  Just in case this happens, make sure you have a road service program to assist you.  You never want to be stranded on the side of the road.

It is very important to maintain a correct tire pressure for the safety of your vehicle, especially when cold weather can cause the air pressure in tires to decrease.

It is estimated that 650 people are killed and 32,000 are injured as a result of car crashes related to problems with tires.  However, a recent survey revealed that 84 percent of motorists don’t check the pressure of their tires.

Another issue is that poorly maintained tires can be dangerous, and even leave you on the side of the road. Although you can always call for emergency roadside assistance, there are a few safety tips that drivers should keep in mind to avoid this:

Make sure you don’t overload your tires because overheating can occur.  The result of this could be a blowout or a car accident.  Your owner’s manual will give you proper loading instructions.

Tires that are under inflated also pose a risk.  This occurs naturally and cold weather accelerates the process.  In fact, frigid temperatures can cause tires to lose up to two pounds of air in one month.  Under inflated tires are actually resistant to rolling.  It can feel like you are driving with the parking brake on.

Finally, don’t over inflate tires because it can cause the tread to wear in the center.

Checking your tire pressure regularly can save you from many problems with your vehicle.  Of course, you never know when you might get a flat, so just in case, make sure you have a road service program that can assist you in case of an emergency.

If you’re a lover of old cars you aren’t alone. Antique car shows all over the nation display vintage cars.  Crowds gather to admire these charming vehicles.  Owners who display their cars have a great deal of pride.

Many people who own vintage cars have restored them piece-by-piece, literally. It’s not just that they have rebuilt the vehicle; they have restored it to its original state.

It is simple to differentiate between rebuilding and restoring a car.  A car that has been rebuilt has new parts.  A restored car is made up of parts that are authentic to its year and model.

The process of restoration encompasses the body of the car and the mechanical components.  It is amazing to some people that the actual parts must be original to the year and make of the vehicle, but this is necessary for a true restoration.

The restoration also includes the vehicle’s interior.  The upholstery should be repaired whenever possible.  It can be nearly impossible to find the exact upholstery for a car’s year and make.  If this is the case, you need to get as close as possible to the original.

The restoration of a car is a labor of love, but well worth it.  There is no greater satisfaction than turning a piece of junk into a beautiful classic. Make sure you have road service with any car, but especially an antique.  You don’t want your beautiful gem stuck on the side of the road.

Road service calls have been at an all time high because motorists are running out of gas. It seems that people have been putting off trips to the gas pump because of the increasingly high gas prices.

Many people run out of gas during snowstorms because they aren’t expecting to sit idle behind an accident or wait for a plow in front of them. The result is motorists stranded on the side of the road.

Roadside assistance calls due to drivers running out of gas increased 10 percent in the winter of 2007, in comparison to the same period of time in 2006.

Although it can be hard on your wallet to fill your tank with gas, it is much better for the engine of your vehicle. If you are running on empty a lot, you are more likely to have the sludge sitting on the bottom of your fuel tank sucked up. This will cause your fuel filter and pump to be gummed up. In the long run it will create problems.

Motorists need to bite the bullet and fill up their tanks before cutting it too close. Nobody wants to be stranded on the side of the road in a snowstorm. Of course, make sure you have a road service program in case of an unforeseen emergency.

Another winter storm hit Connecticut and the surrounding areas.  It was forecasted that around 10 inches of snow might fall by Saturday.  A winter storm warning is in effect until Saturday morning.

The storm was responsible for at least 165 accidents and one death.  The state police had to respond to over 100 accidents by 9:00 am and warned drivers to stay home if at all possible.  Southbound lanes on Interstate 95 were shut down in Greenwich for a couple of hours before dawn because several tractor-trailers jackknifed.

Unfortunately, many people were left stranded on the side of the road in frigid temperatures because they didn’t have road service.  People with emergency roadside assistance were lucky because they received help in a timely manner.  This is a good lesson to all motorists to sign up for a road service program.  You never know when you might be stuck in bad weather and need assistance.

Sometimes roads seem like war-zones. We encounter potholes, icy streets and ruts that can imperil motorists and vehicles. Being aware of poor road conditions can help you protect your vehicle. Besides having roadside assistance, there are a few things that you can do when driving that could save you from an accident.

Keep your eyes open for bad potholes. It is important to go slow and keep your hand on the wheel when you encounter one. If you hit a pothole too hard your car’s alignment will go out. Also, steel-belted tires can be damaged by potholes, which could cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle.

Ruts in the road will do minimal damage to a car. However, drivers need to be careful when going over ruts because it easy to lose control of the car. If this happens damage to a vehicle could be great.

A sheet of ice can be extremely dangerous for motorists. Many accidents occur from drivers slipping on ice. Of course, the best thing you can do in this situation is to stay home. However, if you must drive watch your speed and keep your distance from the vehicle in front of you.

Sometimes it is impossible to foresee poor road conditions. All you can do is be careful and make sure you have road service that can help you in the case of an emergency.

Changing a tire isn’t difficult it just takes a little know-how.  You need to make sure you have all the required tools, and practice putting the spare tire on at least once.  Of course, in the best of all worlds, tires wouldn’t go flat.  However, in our world, they do, so you must be prepared.

The smart thing to do is to join a road service program so that someone else can fix your car problems.  However, it is wise to learn how to change your own tire just in case you breakdown outside the normal range of help.

To change a tire you will need a few materials and tools.  Make sure you have a tire iron, tire jack, spare tire, and a four-way lug wrench.  When your tire goes flat try to get to flat ground.  Use the tire iron to take off the hubcap.  Use your four-way lug wrench to loosen all of the lug nuts.  Next, jack the car up very carefully.  Remove the lug nuts the rest of the way.  Now you are ready to remove the tire.

Place the new tire onto the studs and align holes.  Replace the lug nuts.  After this, lower the jack slowly and take it out from underneath the car.  Now, make sure to tighten lug nuts again.  Finally, place the hubcap back on and you are ready to roll.

If you practice these steps a couple of times you should be proficient at changing a tire.  However, you never know when you will run into a problem that you can’t fix.  Make sure you are covered with road service in case of an emergency.

Unfortunately, drivers can be faced with an unpleasant surprise in the morning when they discover they have a weak battery. Some people may be lucky enough to be covered by auto road service, however others may not. A car won’t start when the starter is not receiving the power that it needs. However, help is here. Continental now has The Intelligent Battery Sensor, which gives a warning if age is making the battery run down. It does this by determining the charge status of your car’s battery.

One third of vehicle breakdowns are due to batteries that are empty. One reason for this is because today’s car batteries must do more than in past years. Just look at all of the responsibilities that car electronics have taken on. They ensure that passengers are safer, simplify orientation in traffic, and make passengers more comfortable. This means that batteries also have higher requirements. This is why Continental’s Electronic Battery Sensor is so beneficial.

Although the new battery sensor is small, it is a great advancement in technology. It will allow motorists to have an indication of when to change their batteries. This will definitely cut down on drivers being stranded. However, technology is never full proof, so it is a good idea to have a roadside assistance program that will protect you in case of breakdowns.

Frigid temperatures make it essential for drivers to be covered by a roadside assistance program.  Calls for road service have been at an all time high due to winter conditions.  Don’t risk being stranded on the side of the road with no help.  Make sure you sign up for a road service program.

There are some things that motorists can do to help their vehicles avoid breakdowns.  First, check the strength of your battery.  Batteries that are faulty are the number one factor that causes cars not to start.  Next, it is best to park in a garage.  If this isn’t an option, park in a place that protects from heavy winds.  Finally, your fuel tank should be half-full to keep fuel-lines from freezing.

Of course you never know when you might have car problems.  So, if your vehicle leaves you stranded on the side of the road, make sure you are prepared with emergency supplies, such as blankets, gloves and a flashlight.  Also, it is important to have a cell phone in order to call for roadside assistance.

The recent barrage of cold weather has had many US businesses struggling, but one select group of businesses can’t help but smile, auto road service providers.

Auto road service providers and auto repair shops have reported quite a robust business as sometimes the weather helps to be one of the leading suppliers of their customers.

Even they are not beyond complaining. “I haven’t seen weather like this in recent memory,” said a weary-voiced and overworked 24 hour tow truck driver. “I didn’t get home until two o’ clock in the morning last night,” he said, speaking from his new second home, his tow truck. “The night before that, it was three o’ clock and I start every morning at 7AM.” “On average, I have been dealing with 25-30 calls a day, mostly stalled cars stranded on driveways (which are considered non-emergencies) and people who are stuck on the side of the road or freeway with their car dear or unresponsive (which are definitely emergencies). He states that he normally does about eight jobs a day.  He always responds to emergencies first which ends up creating a backlog of around 20-25 non-emergency calls.  If the Weather Channel is correct, tow truck drivers might get a full night’s rest fairly soon as the weather should be calming down a bit.