Few people know what to do when something on a car breaks.
Unless the driver knows a lot about cars and mechanics, most people's first
instinct is to just take the car to the mechanic right away. What happens when
drivers can't take the car to the mechanic? People get stuck on the side of the
road, miles from the nearest mechanic. Sometimes a car can have a problem that
makes it dangerous to drive the vehicle, and the driver may not have money for
a tow. In any case, there are always emergencies that arise that not everyone
can handle just by going to a mechanic. Liberty's Rocky Camilo shares some quick temporary fixes until you can get your car to a service center.
1. One of the most common emergency roadside situations that
can arise is a broken window. A rock can fly up while driving and hit the
window, shattering it. The window can't be left wide open, but there's no
reason to call a tow just to take the vehicle to the mechanic, and drivers have
to do something about the window until it can be repaired. Luckily there is a
simple solution to clearing up a broken window temporarily. Simply use a trash
bag, preferably a "contractor" trash bag, which is thicker than the
average kitchen trash bag. Drivers should make sure they tape down the bag on
all sides, and flatten the bag against the window as tight as possible. The
more taut the trash bag is, the less likely it is to flap in the wind, make
noise, and let air escape.
2. Sometimes a vehicle's radiator hose may break while driving,
for a variety of reasons. A break in the end of the hose may be fixable
entirely on the spot. It may be possible, depending on the location of the
tear, to cut off the end portion of the hose that contains the tear and then
reattach the hose. If this isn't possible, every driver should carry a small
roll of rescue tape. After the hose has cooled, drivers can wipe it clean and
then wrap the tear with rescue tape. The antifreeze should be topped off with a
50/50 mix after any leak or spill, but if the driver doesn't have any, water
can be an emergency substitute until antifreeze can be found.
3. A tailpipe can sometimes detach from the rear of a vehicle
but remain attached closer to the front of the car. This causes the rear end of
the tailpipe to drag along on the ground behind the car. If left unattended,
the tailpipe can then be ripped from the vehicle and take other, more
expensive, auto parts with it. There is however a simple solution to re-suspend
the tailpipe from the vehicle and provide a temporary solution to the problem.
Simply re-attaching the tailpipe to the vehicle should provide ample time to
take the vehicle in for a professional fix. This can be done with a wire hanger
or any other wire the driver may have in the vehicle. Drivers should make sure
the tailpipe has had plenty of time to cool down after driving before
attempting to fix this problem. Drivers also should not attach the wires to any
moving parts of the vehicle, such as the drive shaft, or to the brake lines or
electrical wiring.
If you're interested in replacing a vehicle that seems to
constantly be breaking down please stop by Scott McCorkle's Liberty Buick GMC
Trucks at 9028 East Independence Boulevard or call 866-442-0871. Liberty can
help you find a vehicle that you can afford with or without financing. Visit
the website at www.clickliberty.com.
