How do i do Roadside Repairs
Failure in any of your car’s systems can present a variety of problems or dangers depending on the situation. Complicating the issues around car maintenance are computers that cannot detect failures if the problems are not sensor-related. There is only one answer to this conundrum. Every driver should know what to do when something gives out while on the road because the piece often needs to be in operation to fail. Even the best owners can't say when the water pump, fuel pump, serpentine belt or other necessary engine component will give out.
Systems of your car:
Engine- Consists of the parts that burn the fuel and provide electrical charging and power for contingent systems devices. When something goes wrong with the engine the symptoms may include:
Performance
Noises
Vibrations
Dashboard indicators
Visible cues such as smoke
- Engine solutions:
Body-The chassis protects the passengers and the systems of the car. If there is something amiss with the chassis it may include the following symptoms:
Visible damage or deterioration
Various parts failing to fit proper;y
- Body solutions:
Electrical system-Power, wiring, lights, sensors, security, starter, controls, fuses can cause symptoms of failure including:
Partial or non-functioning lights
Clicking sounds when starting
Dead battery
No sensor readings
Dashboard warnings
- Electrical solutions:
Brakes and suspension-Rotors, pads, calipers, steering problems can cause the following symptoms:
Car pulls to one side or the other
Noises in power steering
Braking performance changes
Vibrations or shaking when braking
- Brake solutions:
Climate control, engine cooling-heating and air conditioning problems can be caused by several factors, but the symptoms are as follows:
Non-functioning heating or cooling
Vent or fan will not respond
Low air flow
- Heating/coolingsolutions:
Transmission-Specifics in the axle, joints, clutch, gears are hard to diagnose, but symptoms may include:
Difficulty shifting
Non-functioning clutch
Grinding or whirring noises
Non-functioning gear
- Transmission solutions:
The above listed symptoms are a few of the most obvious things to watch for and their solutions. But often we don’t have the luxury of being forewarned about a system mal-function. Below are listed four categories of problems and how to deal with them if you should be on the road when they occur.
NON-THREATENING MAL-FUNCTIONS: These are problems that can wait for a service station or home repair
· Windshield washer fluid receptacle is empty
· Handles, seat adjustments, seat belts, visors
· Inside lights
· Dashboard Display (depending on missing indicator and time of day or night)
NON-THREATENING IMMEDIATE ACTION- How to jump-start a car: These are mishaps with the car the prevent further travel but are not dangerous if tended to immediately.
Issue: The battery is dead and may need replacing
Solution: Your car needs a jump; if driven the battery will charge
Action:
1. To jump-start a car there should be another vehicle available whose battery can be accessed by battery cables.
2. The cables have red and black handles indicating positive and negative connectors.
3. With both cars off, locate and clean the nodes where connectors go. The red to the positive nodes and the black to a negative nodes and another part of the engine.
4. Attach one end of the red cable to the dead car and the other to the live one.
5. Attach one end of the black cable to the live car and the other end to an unpainted metal bracket of the dead car away from the battery.
6. Start the engine of the live car; let it run for a few seconds.
7. Try starting the engine of the second car. If it turns over but doesn’t start, try again in a few seconds.
8. If the starter doesn’t turn over, release the black clamp from the dead car, jiggle other clamps, reclamp on the dead car and try again.
9. If the battery is good the car should start soon and will need to be kept running for about half an hour before being shut down in order for the starter to work next time.
SERIOUS MALFUNCTION - What to do when your car overheats: These are problems indicating the need for immanent repair or replacement
Issue: Overheats
Solution: Allow engine to cool, test for cracks and leaks
Action:
1. Turn off air-conditioning
2. Turn on heater and fan; open windows to let heat out
3. Keep going unless the indicator is on H, so air helps cool engine
4. Find a place to pull in and check for the cause
5. Use dampened cloth to cool engine slowly
6. If a lack of coolant is the cause, simply add when cool
7. If a leak is detected you will need to have the car serviced before driving
8. If the head is cracked it is likely that you will need a new one; this is a serious, expensive repair
9. If the thermostat is stuck, buy a new one or repair existing
LIFE-THREATENING MAL-FUNCTION - This category of on-the-road mal-function needs your full attention immediately to control and repair before continuing: How to handle a tire blow-out
How to change a flat tire
Issue: Handling the car
Solution: Maintain direction by steering, reducing speed, braking, coming to a safe stop.
Action:
1. When a rear tire blows out the car will fish-tail. Keep your hands on the steering wheel
2. Let the car slow down as you try to head toward a safe stopping place off the road or highway
3. When slowed sufficiently add the brake lightly until you guide the car to a stopping place
4. If a front tire blows it will be harder to control but resist the urge to brake or let gas up suddenly.
5. Hold onto steering with both hands to maintain direction. Do not try to alter direction suddenly
6. Guide to a safe place as soon as possible to prevent ruining a reparable tire.
Issue: How to change a flat tire
Solution: Spare tire, tools and procedure
Action:
1. Make sure you have the necessary tools
· Jack with handle
· Wrench
· Spare tire with air
· Warning sign or person to warn traffic
2. Put on emergency brake; block other tires with available rocks, blocks, folded tarp, etc.
3. Insert jack stabilizer into space in wheel-well
4. Make sure jack is stable with handle inserted
5. Jack up car by pushing handle down to click repeatedly
6. Loosen and remove bolts evenly to remove tire
7. Replace with spare and tighten bolts evenly
8. Add air if needed or check air at the nearest opportunity
9. If you do not have the necessary tools, or if the rim is rusted on, it’s time to call for roadside help.
There are more tips for dealing with flat tires atCar Talk.
Following are examples of issues to become aware of through training one’s self to pay attention to symptoms. If you listen and look as you drive, you will become familiar with how your car sounds when it is running smoothly. If a sound crops up one day, out of nowhere it probably means something has changed happened recently in or to your car. Listen for which part of the car it’s coming from, how often and when you hear it. What are you doing when you hear it, and how does the car handle at that time?
Also listen for sounds that grow or change over time. Don’t wait for these symptoms to become emergency indicators! If you can’t detect what is going on, it pays to have the car tested and or serviced to prevent the problem from causing damage or affecting another system in the car. All the systems are somewhat contingent upon the maintenance of the others, so when symptoms are left “untreated” they will cause more roadside travel troubles than you can handle.
HIDDEN ISSUES INDICATED BY RECOGNIZABLE SYMPTOMS:
o Rattling near the middle or rear underside – catalytic converter has crumbled
o Thermostat is stuck or broken-cooling does not kick in and gauge registers hot
o Bad filters or fuel injectors – coughing, bad mileage, engine hesitates
o Noises that indicate something may be malfunctioning include:
· Grinding
· Popping
· Clicking
· Whistling
· Wheezing
· Gurgling
· Scraping
· Growling
If you’re not sure of what you’re hearing, check out the Car Talk guys on NPR. They have a great site illustrating morenoisesthan you’ll hear from most vehicles.
o Smells to note:
· Burning oil
· Hot metallic odor
· Hot sweet odor
· Exhaust odor
· Odor of hot rubber
HIDDEN ISSUES WITH FEW WARNING SIGNS
o Fuel pump failure
o Low oil, but no residue under the car
o Engine component degradation
o Frozen brake line
o Coolant is leaking into engine, mixing with oil
o Loose caps, nuts, bolts, wires
o Inefficient gas consumption
o Bad tires
o Leaks
o Bad belts
Ongoing car-care can forestall the issues that may threaten our safety and that of others if we drive unaware of their existence. Regular maintenance with good record-keeping ensures that each person who does maintenance on your car is aware of prior issues and will take them into consideration.
Theses lists provide the basics of an on-the-road “how-to” as well as a check-list of the first symptoms to look for when trouble-shooting. These procedures are not only a good beginning to your understanding, competence and safety while driving, but you'll be an asset on the road instead of a liability!
