When Your Wheels Fails You, Don’t “Break Down”

A little preemptive planning turns car trouble from your worst nightmare to a minor inconvenience. If your vehicle blows a tire, runs out of gas or loses a battery charge, don’t panic. There are simple steps you can take to keep your car alive, on the road and away from the curb.

Roadside Assistance

If your car is new or you purchased an extended warranty or service plan, it probably included some type of roadside assistance. That typically consists of services like towing, battery and tire replacements, lockout assistance and so on. If your car is older or out of warranty, there are a few places you can still sign up for service. Most insurance companies offer it as an add-on to your coverage, but make sure you know exactly what you’re paying for since each company varies in offering.

Another option is a company like AAA. For $55 per year, they offer the same services and partner with different service centers across the country, making costs a bit lower if you need to have work done once you’re towed there. If you prefer your new wheels to come from other retailers such as Continental tires, AAA will still take you there. The first five miles of towing are free with a small fee for anything past that.

Extra Battery

The tire shouldn’t be the only spare in your arsenal. Having an extra Interstate battery on hand will save you the hassle of finding the nearest retailer if your current one goes down. And if you do pull the trigger on AAA service, they’ll even install it for free.

Food and Water

You don’t have to stock up like you’re waiting out a hurricane, but you never know how long it could take for the nearest service truck to arrive. Pack a few bottles of water and granola bars in your trunk or console to keep yourself fed and hydrated while you wait for help to show.

Proper Tools

There’s no need to stock an AutoZone in your trunk, but the right tools can make the difference between calling a tow truck and turning a screw driver. Make sure the following are in your car before you hit the road:

• Jack
• Lug wrench (if you bought a third-party wrench, make sure the socket fits the lug nuts on   your wheels)
• WD-40
• Tire pressure gauge
• Adjustable wrench
• Screw driver and socket set

There are dozens of books and guides on how to fix small issues with your own car, but honestly, it’s your cell phone who will be your best friend. Assuming you’ll have cell reception, a simple Google search like “battery care tips” will give you all the information you need. In case you do break down in the middle of the desert (enjoying that water you packed), take some time to read about the most basic car maintenance so you don’t have to look it up once you’re stranded. Do these small preventative steps and you’ll be just fine.

Picture Credit- www.flickr.com

Author: Henry St. James- Henry loves to work on cars, his hobby farm and freelance writing from his home in Texas.