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Flat
Tires and Blowouts:
If a flat tire or a blowout happens, get a firm grip on the wheel,
brake gently, and pull to the side of the road where the surface
is even and hard enough to support your car when it is jacked
up. Before jacking up the car, loosen the lug nuts. Then follow
the directions in the car owner's manual. Make sure the car
stays balanced.
Overheated
engines:
This is caused by many things-a leak in the radiator or hoses, a
bad water pump or thermostat, or a broken fan belt. Learn where
your thermostat needle usually stays so that you can tell when
the engine is getting too hot. If the car is hot from being
overworked, you can do several things:
-
stop
and shift into neutral
-
turn off the
air conditioning
-
turn on the
heat and open the car windows
-
increase
engine idling speed when stopped
-
pull off the
road, turn the engine off and let it rest
If
you have reached the danger point on your indicator or steam is
rising from the hood, pull to the side of the road and turn the
ignition off. DO NOT REMOVE THE RADIATOR COVER UNTIL THE
ENGINE HAS COOLED. You could get severely burned. Once the
engine has cooled, check the coolant level. If it is low, add
coolant not water. Water is bad for your radiator and cool
liquid added to an overheated engine could cause the engine
block to crack.
If
the radiator will not hold coolant, look for breaks in the hoses
or radiator leaks. If this is a problem, try to temporarily
repair it and go immediately to a service station. Never drive
and overheated vehicle--this could cause expensive engine
damage.
Dead
Batteries: Dealing
with this emergency is simple, but dangerous. If you are going
to jump start your car, do not smoke and always use eye
protection. Follow these steps in order:
-
Attach one cable to the positive terminal of the dead battery
-
Attach
the other end of the cable to the positive terminal of the
working battery
-
Attach other
cable to negative terminal of good battery
-
Attach last
clamp to ENGINE BLOCK of stalled engine. NOT the negative post
of the dead battery
-
Start the car
with the good battery
-
Start the car
with the bad battery
-
Remove clamps
in reverse order connections were made
FIRES:
Fires
are generally caused by a fault in the electrical system or a
leak in the fuel system. Do not confuse a fire with an
overheated engine. If you suspect fire, pull off the road,
turn off the ignition, and get everyone away from the car and as
far away as possible. Call the fire department. If
the fire is not located near the gas tank, you can try to put it
out. DO NOT USE WATER, IT SPREADS ELECTRICAL AND GAS
FIRES.
Lug
Nuts: If
you notice a wobble or hear a rattle from your wheels, you may
have a loose or missing lug nut. Immediately pull off the road
to check or tighten it. If you have one or two missing,
drive to the nearest service station. If there are more than two
missing, take one or more from another wheel and have new ones
put on right away. If you cannot use any from another
wheel, do not drive your car because the wheel might fall off.
Loss
of Oil Pressure: This
may happen because the oil level is low or the oil pump is not
working. Pull over and check your oil level. Add more oil if
necessary. Otherwise call a mechanic because it can permanently
damage your engine.
Throttle
Sticking:
If your throttle (gas pedal) sticks while driving, try to pull
the pedal forward with your foot. If this does not work, shift
into neutral and carefully coast to a stop. DO NOT DRIVE THE
VEHICLE IF YOU CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM!!!!
Bad
Weather Hazards
Ice
and Snow:
-
Leave
plenty of distance between you and the next car
-
Make sure all
lights and windows are clear
-
Slow down
before reaching a curve. Turn gradually, moving the steering
wheel carefully
-
When
stopping, especially on ice, pump the brakes to maintain
control. In a stick shift vehicle, downshifting can help slow
the car, but take extra caution to maintain control.
Rain
-
Watch for
flooded roads. When driving through a puddle go very slowly as
to not throw up water on the engine. If your car stalls in a
puddle, try to move it to the side of the road and wait for the
engine to dry
-
After
moving through water, brakes may loose their stopping power.
Apply them lightly to dry them out.
Hydroplaning
If you start to float on a wet road, take your foot off the
pedals and hold the steering wheel firmly and straight until the
tires touch the ground again. To prevent hydroplaning, reduce
speed, don't tailgate, keep a firm grip on the wheel, and keep
tire pressure high.
Fog
Always use headlights. Low beams are usually recommended, but
check between low and high beams regularly to see which offers
better visibility.
Wind
Always
be alert, maintain a steady grip, and be prepared for the effect
of winds.
Be
Prepared
The
following are some items you might want to have on hand in your
car for emergencies:
flashlight with good batteries
- ice scraper - can
of oil - fire
extinguisher - spare
tire in good condition - spare fuses - first
aid kit - flares
or reflective lights - jack and lug
wrench for changing tires - pair of
pliers - empty
containers - flat
head and phillip's head screwdrivers - adjustable
wrench - electrical
and duct tape - a
sturdy wire (hanger will do) - jumper cables - sandpaper
(to clean battery terminals if the car won't start) - pocket knife
- a
white rag or flag to signal for help - sand or kitty
litter for extra traction in snow or ice - small shovel - owner's
manual
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