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.

Why is it so hard to bring a popular vehicle in Europe to the U.S?  Many people wonder why carmakers sell different models overseas than in the U.S.

The main reason is differing standards in safety.  What is acceptable in Europe doesn’t always pass the test with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  U.S. law has a requirement for crash protection for car passengers that don’t wear seat belts, however, this isn’t a priority in Europe.  Even small details, such as the color of the turn signals in the rear are a major obstacle when trying to take a car from one market to another.

A study was conducted by Ford of 43 regulations in Europe and the U.S. and discovered that there were only 11 that matched.  So, it gets to be very expensive to make an all-new version of a vehicle in order to meet different safety standards.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and American consumers have strict safety standards.  Motorists put safety at the top of their list, which is why they are buying safer cars and signing up for a roadside assistance program.  For this reason, cars in Europe aren’t always introduced to the U.S.

Spring is finally here, and with it comes spring-cleaning.  However, don’t just clean your house, also clean up your vehicle and make sure it’s in tip-top shape.  Not only will it help your car look it’s best, it will keep you from having to call your road service program.

First, to help your vehicle look like new, give it a wash and wax in order to remove the grime and winter salt.  This will help protect your finish in the summer heat.

Next, consult your owner’s manual to flush and refill your radiator.  You should check the condition, level, and concentration of the coolant on a regular basis.

Get an oil change.  Skipping oil changes can greatly reduce the life of your vehicle.  Also, change the oil filter when you get your oil changed.  Other filters also need replacing occasionally, such as air, fuel, and PCV.

Finally, check your tires.  Let them cool down, and check your air pressure.  Also, be aware that cupping, uneven wear, vibrations, and pulling to one side may indicate a problem with either your tires or your suspension system.

These simple tips will have your car driving safely and keep you from calling for emergency roadside assistance.

Many drivers have experienced feeling drowsy behind the wheel.  Either you have been with someone else feeling sleepy, or you’ve been the one trying to stay awake.  Many car accidents and calls for road service are easily avoided by avoiding getting behind the wheel when you’re drowsy.  Here are some warning signs that a driver is too drowsy to be on the road.

First, weaving is a good indication of drowsiness.  Many times sleepy drivers don’t make as many steering corrections, which means the ones that are made are jerky and often severe.

A lot of times drowsy drivers rely on conversation to keep from falling asleep.  If you notice that conversation isn’t making much sense, it is time to get off of the road.

If a motorist drives over rumble strips they need to pull over and rest.  This often means that the driver actually fell asleep briefly, or that they can’t stay on the road because of fatigue.

The neck jerk is a tell tale sign of drowsiness.  This is when the motorist falls asleep and their neck jerk causes them to wake up.

As a rule, don’t get in the car with a sleepy driver, or behind the wheel.  Many emergency roadside assistance calls have been made due to sleepy drivers.

Many parents struggle with the decision of whether to purchase their teenager a vehicle.  Often, parents can afford a new vehicle, but they are concerned with indulging their children in this way.  So what is the answer?

If parents spend too little on a vehicle, their teenager may wind up with a junker that is unreliable.  Also, their teen might end up working too hard on supporting the vehicle, instead of worrying about their studies.

If parents spend too much, teens might acquire a sense of entitlement that is unhealthy.  Also, they may have a warped sense of how much things really cost.

Children who are just handed cars never really learn about the value of money.  In fact, children whose parents buy them luxury cars often end up totaling the car within a few months.  In this case, the only thing parents can do is make sure their child is covered with a road service program.

When it comes right down to it, if you’re going to give your child a car, you should make your child put some effort towards the car.  In other words, it is a good idea for children to have to put some of their own money towards the vehicle.

Many motorists aren’t sure whether they should use regular or synthetic oil in their cars.  The answer depends on the age of the vehicle, mileage, and the recommendations by the carmaker.

Vehicles with high mileage that are older often have excessive engine wear that allows oil to leak internally.  Synthetic oil isn’t recommended on these vehicles because it is thinner than regular oil and flows freely.  Using it often will cause internal oil combustion.

Many carmakers today use synthetic oil in their engines.  This is often the case when the car has an engine that is high performance with high compression, high temperatures for operating, and engine tolerances that are tight.  If you’re thinking of switching to synthetic oil and your car still has an auto warranty, make sure to consult your dealer first.

In the proper vehicle synthetic oil is a good idea (consult your owner’s manual).  Although synthetic will cost you twice as much as regular, it is worth it because it lasts longer and can help your engine last longer.  In addition, it might help you avoid road service calls.

An accelerating driver trend from SUVs and pickup trucks to small fuel-efficient cars will help reduce rollovers, but experts on safety are worried that a smaller fleet presents serious health risks, despite anti-collision systems, air bags, and other safety advances.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which measures the performance of cars in crash tests, shifting to small cars is going to make problems worse.  They claim that people are better off in a vehicle that is bigger, not smaller.

U.S. carmakers have been distressed and are therefore retooling plants in Latin America, Europe, and around the world to get more compact cars to Americans in upcoming years and try to meet federal standards on fuel economy that are tougher.

At least 40,000 motorists are killed on roads in America annually in traffic accidents.  Approximately three-quarters of these people are from passenger vehicles and two-thirds of them from cars.

Consumers are concerned with saving auto costs, such as car, auto warranty, gas, and auto road service, yet safety needs to be their #1 concern.

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.

We’ve all been there.  You encounter another driver who loses his temper and elicits road rage directed at you.  And the result is that you yourself become enraged.  Road rage has become a sort of cultural phenomenon that occurs all over the nation. Sometimes road rage even results in accidents that require roadside assistance.

People living in major metropolitan areas on the east or west coast elicit the worst road rage.  Drivers in the Northwest or Midwest tend to be more laid back and don’t experience as much road rage.  According to a study conducted nationwide, the city with the most aggressive driving is Miami, for the second year in a row.  The next worse was New York, followed by Boston, Los Angeles and Washington.  These cities experience the most traffic, and therefore, aggressive driving.

Data also shows that it isn’t just the increase in the number of drivers that is responsible for road rage; it is the increase in the age of drivers.  The senior population is the fastest growing demographic in the nation, which means seniors need to be able to adjust to aggressive drivers and crowded roadways.

There are several things that all drivers can do to avoid road rage.  First of all, people shouldn’t offend other drivers.  This includes tailgating, cutting people off, and making gestures.  In addition, drivers who are at risk for rage should take a minute to adjust their attitudes and put themselves in the shoes of other drivers.

Vehicle safety and maintenance is about performing all of the little things right, like replacing your windshield wipers frequently.  A simple task such as this could save you from an accident or help you avoid calling for emergency roadside assistance.   And, purchasing a quality pair of windshield wipers will only cost you $10, according to Consumer Reports.

Three out of the four blades that Consumer Reports rated on top were actually some of the least expensive.  Included in these were the Michelin RainForce, which were $7 for the 18-inch, the Valeo 600 series, which were $9 for the 18-inch, and Anco 31 Series, which were $7 for the 18-inch.

It’s a good thing that good windshield wipers are cheap because they should be replaced fairly often.  According to the report, even blades that are top-rated will degrade after six to nine months of regular use.

If you’re interested in buying the top-of-the-line windshield wipers, you will want the RainX Latitude because those were the only wipers that maintained a “Very Good” performance rating throughout the entire six months of testing.  However, for those you will have to pay $17 for the 18-inch.