Auto Roadside Assistance Blog

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.

Motorists traveling on their own fear that at some point they might have car problems.  This isn’t surprising since drivers are spending more and more time in their car.  People are driving long distances to and from work, and have more errands than ever, so it is inevitable that drivers will experience a breakdown at one point or another.  Male and female drivers alike are fearful of this occurrence.

According to a recent survey conducted by Britannia Rescue, approximately two-thirds of the male and female motorists who were interviewed are scared of being alone and breaking down.

The figures break down into ninety three percent of women and forty five percent of men.  The survey also revealed that people become more fearful of someone stopping to help.  In fact, seventy percent of women wouldn’t want a man to stop and offer assistance.

The one thing that motorists can do to avoid being fearful of a breakdown is have an emergency roadside assistance program that will assist them in case they get into trouble.  After all, it can be scary to have a random stranger stop and offer you help.

An emergency on the road can occur at any time, whether you have an old or new car.  Any number of problems could cause it, from a flat tire or breakdown, to running out of gas.  There are several things you can do to prepare yourself for a situation such as this.  First, you should sign up for a roadside assistance program.  Also, you should have a basic emergency kit in order to increase your safety and help get you back on the road.

Even with a road service program, you need access to a phone in order to contact them.  You could be on the side of the road waiting for a while, so it is essential to have a few items in a basic emergency kit.

Your emergency kit should first and foremost have a cell phone to call for emergency auto assistance.  Also, you should have flares to warn other drivers that your car is broken down.  A fire extinguisher will keep your vehicle from undergoing a great amount of damage should it catch on fire.  In addition, you need foam tire sealant, a jack and a lug wrench in the event that you have tire punctures. Finally, jumper cables are a must in case of a dead battery.

The riskiest time for car crashes are between midnight and six o’clock in the morning.  This is because there are the fewest drivers at this time of day, yet more accidents.  If you need to drive during these hours it is important to consider some important factors.  Safe driving at night calls for preparation, alertness, as well as common sense.  Here are some tips.

First of all, ensure that your headlights are aimed properly.  You should consult your service manual to determine the proper procedure.

Next, don’t focus on the headlights of oncoming cars.  This can blind you for five seconds until your eyes are able to adjust.

Don’t drive if you are feeling sleepy, instead pull off of the road and get some sleep.  Don’t substitute caffeine, loud music, or putting down the windows for sleep.  These tactics are unreliable and may result in an accident.

Finally, don’t allow yourself to stare at the centerline because it can cause “highway hypnosis,” in which your reaction time is impaired, instead, keep looking around and moving your eyes.

Follow these simple tips to keep yourself safe when driving at night.  Just like you protect yourself with an auto warranty and roadside assistance, you should protect yourself with safe driving habits.

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 poor economy.

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.

Although it can be hard on your wallet to fill your tank of 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 emergency roadside assistance in case of an unforeseen emergency.

According to research, more commuters than ever are experiencing rush hour breakdowns.  These breakdowns occur between 7-9 am and are leaving employees and carpool moms stranded.  Motorists should have a roadside assistance program to protect themselves in this case.

Breakdowns leave drivers stranded and expose them to road dangers.  In a recent survey of motorists who have had a breakdown in the last two years, 15% had children in the car, 20% were in a situation that they felt wasn’t safe to leave their car, and 5% had a passenger who was elderly.  Also, 30% of the women surveyed felt stressed about finding help.

The survey also revealed that there are five main locations for vehicles to breakdown.  The first location is at home.  This means that drivers aren’t even getting out of their driveways.  The second and third locations are on the way to work, and when going to visit family and friends.  The fourth typical breakdown spot is at shops, and work comes in fifth.

To avoid dangerous breakdown situations, make sure you have a roadside assistance program.  Road service will keep you from waiting a long time.  Also, emergency roadside assistance will allow you to get back on the road faster.

It can be tempting to text-message in your car, especially if you’re stuck in traffic.  You assume that there is little risk involved, however, if the person in front of you stops a little faster than you intended, all of a sudden you may find yourself calling your road service program.

Recent studies show that avoiding texting in the car will drastically reduce your chances of getting into a car accident.  In fact, four states are making an attempt to ban driving while texting (DWT).  Washington put a ban earlier in the year on texting while on the road.

Statistics suggest that DWT is a danger that is growing.  In drivers ages 16 and 17, 46% admitted that they have texted while driving.  A study by Nationwide Insurance indicates that DWT is a generational activity.  Out of people ages 18-27, 37% admit to texting while driving, meanwhile, only 14% of 28-44 year olds admit to this.  Also, only 2% of 45-60 year olds said they texted on the road.

Cities around the nation are passing text-message ordinances because of the danger that it poses.  It is best to just refrain from this activity, otherwise you might find yourself calling for emergency roadside assistance.  Drivers should protect themselves by practicing safe driving habits and making sure they have good used car warranties.

People often try to choose a repair shop that is close to their homes and that they believe to be trustworthy.  However, the time may be coming when motorists aren’t going to have the freedom to pick whichever repair shop they want.

Cars today are operated through computers, therefore to determine what repairs need to be done the computer codes are needed.  Carmakers don’t like to release these codes, which means that independent service shops may not be able to repair cars properly.  This means that motorists are being forced to take their vehicles into dealerships for repairs.  This makes having an auto warranty even more essential because dealerships usually charge more for repairs.

Congress has realized that this is a problem because independent repair shops may be put out of business.  In response to this they are trying to get the Motor Vehicle Owners Right To Repair Act passed.  This bill would make it mandatory for automakers to disclose information with independent repair shops.

Motorists need to be able to have the option of where to get their cars repaired, otherwise people may avoid having repairs done and end up calling for roadside assistance.

The heart of the cooling system in a vehicle is the water pump.  It serves the purpose of circulating engine coolant through the entire system, starting with the radiator, then to the engine and back.  The water pump allows you to use air conditioning when it’s hot out.

The vehicle’s engine powers the water pump so that it works correctly.  It uses either a gear and chain system or a belt and pulley.  The pump generates power that goes to a shaft with an impeller.

The impeller circulates the coolant throughout the vehicle.  The impeller can be compared to a propeller that makes a boat move.

The impeller and shaft spin on a sealed bearing.  Checking this part of the water pump is essential because it wears out easily.  You can look for coolant that is leaking and an odd noise.  Also be aware that a wet engine is an indicator that you should replace your water pump.

If you notice any of these signs, it is time to replace your water pump.  Also, it is a good idea to have a road service program and used car warranties just in case of emergencies.  After all, you can’t always foresee when your car will fail you.

With the increase in gas prices around the nation, consumers are finding themselves wondering what fuel-efficient alternatives there are. In fact, more and more drivers are putting off getting to the gas pump and finding themselves stuck on the side of the road calling for emergency auto assistance. Gas-electric hybrids have received a large amount of attention recently, yet, diesel powered cars may be the answer.

Diesel cars have gained a lot of popularity around the world.  They account for approximately 50% of new cars in Europe; however, U.S. car shoppers have been slow to gain interest.

Even though fuel mileage levels can be around 40% higher with diesels than gas powered cars, diesels only account for 2% of the new cars in the U.S.

There is a whole new generation of diesels that are clean, quiet and much more powerful than in the past.  The Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec sedan will prove that this recent diesel technology can be luxurious in addition to giving you 37-mpg.

Diesels have come very far and are becoming a great option for drivers.  Also, there are becoming more and more models for consumers to choose from.  Of course, drivers should protect themselves with a good auto warranty to avoid unnecessary repair costs.