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Don't panic if your car suddenly quits on you, unless of course you're on a dark scary road! Many car troubles you can fix yourself in a pinch if you have the right tools and equipment in your car. This article will tell you what you should carry in your car in case it breaks down.
If your car starts acting funny or suddenly quits while you’re driving, the first thing to remember is to be safe while pulling it off the road. Use your blinker and slowly pull off the road as far as you can. Do not park on a bridge, underpass or bend in the road unless you have no other choice. Put on your hazard lights. Get out of the car on the passenger side if there is heavy traffic. Put your hood up, this is an international signal for help. If you are by yourself and feel uncomfortable getting out of your car, stay inside with the doors and windows locked until someone calls the police. Otherwise, investigate under
the hood to find out what the problem is.
The things that you should always carry in your car in case of emergency are:
Everything needed to change a flat tire. A working jack, a spare tire, lugnut wrench, and a pipe (for leverage), flashlight with spare batteries, triangle reflectors or flares, a piece of paper and pen, a sign that says call police, funnel, two quarts of oil, a gallon of water and antifreeze, brake fluid, power steering fluid, spark plugs, extra belts, automatic transmission fluid, jumper cables, blanket or towel, spare fuses, cash money, an empty gas can, and a tool kit with the basic tools.
There are a few things you should check first when your car breaks down.
If your car won’t start, check the battery, the gas level, look under hood for disconnected hoses or wires, and check the fuses. A burnt out fuse is easily determined, if the end of the fuse if burnt and split in two then it is burned out and needs to be replaced.
If your car is overheating you can check the coolant level and look for fluid leaks. Wait until the car has cooled down to add more fluid. When the car is running, check to see if the fan is turning, if it is not then the fan belt could be broken and needs to be changed.
If you smell something funny determine what type of smell it is. If it is an oil smell this would indicate an oil leak. An exhaust smell indicates a leak in the exhaust system. A burning rubber smell could mean a hose came off and is laying on a hot part of the engine.
If the car is stalling and lurching while driving, this could mean an incorrect idle speed.
If the car is sluggish you may have gotten some bad gasoline or you need to change your fuel filter. Get to the nearest gas station and put in some fuel injector cleaner if your car has a fuel injector.
If your car is not starting right away check the battery or consider the starter as being bad.
If the starter cranks the engine, then it is probably not the starter or the battery. It could be a starting sensor or some other electronic component.
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