Auto Roadside Assistance Blog

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.

Most people realize that hypermiling is not the safest practice; in fact it leads to car accidents. However, many people still do it.  Well now, AAA is weighing in with their view on the subject.

AAA has released a very strong warning saying that practices to save gas, in which illegal driving techniques are used, are dangerous, and therefore shouldn’t be used.  They are referring to practices like drafting off of other cars by tailgating, rolling stops, and turning off the car while driving.

Other gas saving practices toe the line of acceptability.  For example, motorists who have manual transmissions sometimes cruise in neutral to conserve fuel.  This practice is fairly common, yet safety advocates express concerns about motorists not having complete control of their cars.  Also controversial is the practice of utilizing neutral with automatic transmissions, however some drivers who do this say that they can do it safely.  AAA also doesn’t bring up the fact that there are numerous local laws having to do with improper driving, like not keeping your vehicle in gear.

Although motorists are tempted to do anything possible to save money on gas, including skimping on an auto warranty, people need to realize the danger involved in illegal driving techniques.  Unfortunately, hypermiling has been known to lead to car accidents, which is why it is important to have roadside assistance.  After all, we can drive responsibly, but we can’t foresee what other drivers will do.

Hybrids are wonderful cars.  They get good gas mileage, they help our environment, and people who own them love them.  And best of all they’re quiet. But are they too quiet?

Often you will hear salesmen tell their customers to be careful when walking out of the showroom.  Hybrids are so silent that it is virtually impossible to hear them coming.

This can be dangerous for pedestrians.  Many times people walking in a parking lot will have no idea a Hybrid is driving close to them.  This is also true of bicycles in traffic.  This means that Hybrid drivers must exercise extra caution.  Sometimes it is necessary to honk at pedestrians, however, drivers must learn how to do this politely.  Also affective, is rolling down the window with music playing, so people will know you’re coming.

The Honda Civic hybrid might be a good option.  Although it is pretty silent, you can still hear it coming since it has a gasoline powered engine.  The only problem with this car is that drivers will often grind the ignition by turning it twice.  This is because they don’t realize that the car is on.

It is ironic that quiet cars are presenting challenges.  Who would have ever thought that a lack of road noise would present a problem?  Nevertheless, Hybrids are great cars.  Motorists should protect their quiet gems with an auto warranty in case of a breakdown.  You never want to be faced with unnecessary repair costs.  In addition, roadside assistance will bring you peace of mind.

We’ve all been there.  You’re driving your vehicle when suddenly your check engine light comes on.  If you’re like the majority of motorists, you aren’t really sure what the light is telling you.  This could be the most misunderstood light on your dashboard because it can mean many different things.  If your check engine light comes on you don’t have to immediately pull over and call for road service, but there are several tips that you should follow.

First, you should check for serious problems that would require immediate attention.  Look at your gauges to see if there is overheating or low oil pressure.  If they are apparent you should pull over and shut off your engine.

Next, tighten your gas cap.  Many times this will solve your problem.  Know that it might take a few trips before your check engine light resets.

It might help to reduce your speed.  If your light is blinking or your car is performing poorly reducing your speed will help.  Have your car checked as soon as possible.

If your check engine light comes on, remember not to panic.  Just follow these simple tips to deal with the problem.  Make sure that you have an emergency roadside assistance program for situations such as this.  You don’t want to end up stranded on the side of the road.

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.

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.

One of the worst things that can happen to a motorist is getting into your car just to find that you have a dead battery.  At this moment people realize the importance of a good road service program, however, some motorists may not be covered by this.  But, the best thing to do is detect that your battery is weak before there is a problem.  In order to do this, you can use The Intelligent Battery Sensor, which will give a warning if the battery is run down due to age.  It is able to do this by determining what the charge status of the battery is.

Approximately one-third of car breakdowns are because of empty batteries.  This happens often in today’s cars because car batteries have added responsibilities.  For example, they must power all of the new electronics available, such as safety features, navigation devices, and luxury features.  This is why The Electronic Battery Sensor by Continental is so beneficial.

The new battery sensor may be small, but it provides a large job.  It allows drivers to know when it is necessary to change their batteries, which will cut down on the amount of motorists who are stranded.  However, it is always a good idea to have roadside assistance in case of unforeseen breakdowns because technology is never full proof.

Drivers who are fuel-conscious now have a new innovative way to calculate their vehicle’s mileage and compare their mileage to other drivers’.  Also, motorists will be able to devise ways that they can improve their own fuel-economy.

A new website, called fuelly.com, allows you to put your car in their system by entering details about your car.  For example, by imputing your vehicle’s year, and make and model, they will track your gas mileage, gas expenditures, how your car compares to estimates by the EPA, and also how much you could save by using different ways to improve your gas mileage.

One helpful feature is that you are able to see how your vehicle compares to vehicles that identical.  Then, if your gas mileage is significantly worse it will tell you some things.  For example, maybe you have poor driving habits when it comes to burning gas, or maybe your tires aren’t inflated like they should be, or it’s time to replace your air filter.  Whatever it may be, fuelly.com could be a valuable warning system.  In addition, if you own a mobile device, you can update the website remotely.

We all dread paying the high fuel costs, even to the point where we run out of gas and have to call for roadside assistance.  However, by using fuelly.com, you can now improve your fuel-efficiency by being aware of your poor driving habits.

The thermostat in your car serves the purpose of regulating the temperature so it stays at a desired level.  To achieve this, it controls the cooling and heating mechanisms that control the heat flow throughout the system.  The thermostat manages the amount of coolant in the internal combustion engine.  A thermostat is necessary in all liquid cooled engines.

If your thermostat isn’t working correctly it may be due to several reasons.  First, the thermostat may be affected if the water pump is failing.  The thermostat may also be affected with an overheated engine or if coolant is leaking.

Make sure you have a mechanic look at your thermostat on a regular basis.  It plays a key position in keeping your engine cool, so it needs to be replaced every few years.

Also, if you don’t replace your thermostat when it’s time, you may find yourself with additional problems, such as emission problems, knocking with acceleration, and poor fuel-economy, and chances are you will find yourself calling your road service program.

When a teenager turns 16 years old, they are excited to get their drivers license.  Unfortunately, teens have more driving accidents than any other age group.  For the majority of teen drivers, the question isn’t whether they are going to have an accident, but when they are going to have an accident.

Inexperience is the main reason that teenagers are vulnerable to traffic accidents.  Although 16 to 19 year olds only make up 5.3 percent of the driving population in our nation, they’re involved in 13.3 percent of all of the traffic accidents and 11 percent of crashes that are fatal.

A new program aimed to protect teenagers is “graduated licensing”.  Although the age of licensing is the same, full privileges come gradually.

The program begins with a learner’s permit.  Next, is the intermediate stage, in which teens can drive during the daytime alone, and in the evening they can drive between 9 p.m-6 a.m. with a licensed driver.  Then, the advanced stage comes. This is when teens can drive with no restrictions.

The graduated licensing program is a good step to ensure that our teens remain safe.  However, teens need to protect themselves with a road service program just in case they get into trouble.  This will give them peace of mind in an emergency situation.