While hitting the road, whether on a daily basis route or during a long-scheduled trip, it is no secret that the mechanics of the vehicle must always be in the best conditions as possible. Even so, we can’t be sure that the car will not have problems on the way, so in order to avoid dangerous situations, it is important to know what to do when the car breaks down.
And needless to say that, in this context, respecting the revision schedule is the first step for any owner who values his vehicle — if everything is up to date, the chances of being caught off guard by any structural or mechanical problem are considerably reduced! But of course, it is impossible to predict all the issues, so that’s why knowing the basics can spare you a lot of headaches!
Barbara Brier: what to do when the car breaks down?
When it comes to car repair care, it’s always good to be able to count on the wisdom of those who understand about the subject, isn’t it? With that in mind, we invite Barbara Brier, from “Oficina Amiga da Mulher”, to share some valuable tips on what to do when the car goes bad! Check out the video:
So, did you like the video? So, let’s recap:
1- Problems with tires and wheels
It is not always possible to rely 100% on the quality of roads and highways, right? Every driver has hit a hole at some point in their lives! The problem is that, depending on the impact, the damage can be severe, resulting in a flat tire or a broken wheel.
But there’s no need to despair: if you find that something is wrong with the steering or start to hear strange sounds on the wheels of the car, the first step is to look for a shoulder and stop the vehicle safely. Then, make a visual assessment in order to identify the origin of the problem.
At this point, if you know how to change your tire and wheel, it’s time to get your hands dirty! Just do not forget to position the jack in the indicated place and remove the tightening of the screws while the car is still on the ground, as this procedure makes the change easier. And if you lack confidence — or safety —, call your mechanic, the insurance company or a trusted friend!
2- Difficulty starting the vehicle
Imagine that you went out at night, drove to a pharmacy and, when it’s time to return back home, it’s no longer possible to start the vehicle. This is a kind of uncomfortable situation, but it happens more often than we think. In these cases, the tip is to observe the “symptoms” of the car and try to identify the source of the problem.
If, at the time of starting the car, the dashboard lights are dim or flickering, perhaps the defect is in the battery, which may have discharged and does not have enough energy to turn the engine. Again, the best advice is to call your mechanic or someone you trust, as your engine will need a jump start.
On the other hand, if the dashboard lights are working perfectly and the car still shows no sign of life, it is possible that your starter is malfunctioning or the electronic injection is defective.
3- Dashboard alerts and warnings
Finally, we could not fail to remember that the illuminated warnings on the car’s dashboard are still the source of many doubts among drivers. But did you know that it is possible to get a sense of the severity of the alert by their colors? In general, they are divided into three groups of colors, so try to memorize it very carefully:
- White, blue or green alerts
Green, blue and white lights are informative and indicate the activation of some equipment or accessory. They remain on while the component is running and do not require immediate care.
- Yellow or orange alerts
Yellow or orange dashboard warning lights indicate a moderate failure, which does not prevent the car from continuing to run — but will worsen over time. So, if one of these lights comes on, the driver can go to a safe place and check the situation carefully.
- Red alerts
The red lights indicate emergency. When such a warning goes on, the problem is serious and needs immediate repair. If the car continues to run with one of these lights on, the failure can cause a traffic accident or lead to a complete breakdown. So when you see an alert like this, stop the car in a safe place and turn off the engine!
We hope this article helps you with any unforeseen event behind the wheel! Be sure to share the content with colleagues and friends who can make good use of all that knowledge and, of course, follow RIO on YouTube: we make sure to always keep the channel full of maintenance, automotive care and management tips for the mechanical workshop!
