Breakdown
Broken down?
So you have a problem with your vehicle while on the road. What should you do? Get safe. It is always worth the risk of doing more damage to your vehicle to make sure you are physically safe. Assuming the problem is overheating or some other issue that allows the vehicle to keep moving always put safety first. On the freeway with a good wide shoulder? Pull over on the right shoulder as far from the traffic lane as possible, not just barely over the white line. Many vehicles get hit while sitting on the shoulder. No shoulder, like on a bridge? Slow down and drive to the next exit. If the engine quits running, coast off the side of the road. Be aware that brakes may well not work correctly. No matter what, turn on your flashers as soon as the problem shows up. Once you are stopped, especially if on the freeway, get away from the vehicle. Do not stand near the vehicle if at all possible. Get completely off the road and well away. Place your flares or warning markers to the rear of the vehicle so approaching vehicles know the danger is there.
Now call your repair shop. If you have a relationship they will help you. Night or weekend? Call a tow truck. Normally the local AAA (http://www.csaa.com/) tow company is going to be the best bet 24 hours a day, whether or not you are a AAA member. Call 911 if you are unable to find a tow company or if your vehicle did not get off the road before it stopped. A vehicle broken down in the road is an emergency.
You are broken down and the tow truck has shown up. Now what? Whose advice to take? Always ask to be towed to an AAA approved service facility. This is rarely the tow companies shop, even if they have one. If there is no facility near by or there is more than one, ask for an ASCCA member shop. Once again, it does not matter if you are a AAA member or not. Only after these two options are explored should you ask for the tow truck drivers opinion on where to go. Most drivers are conscientious and honest, but as in all things, not all. Being sent to the drivers’ friends shop or where the driver gets the biggest commission to take you (illegal in the State of California by the way) is unlikely to be a good experience. In fact if you were going this route it would be wise to ask the driver if he gets a commission for the tow. Within a reasonable distance of your regular shop? Get towed there. What is reasonable? If it will cost you less than $200 you will almost always be better off at your “home” shop. More than that becomes a judgment call on your part. Do not assume that what the tow truck driver tells you is wrong with your vehicle is accurate. If he or she was a technician who was trained and qualified to diagnose your vehicle it is unlikely that they would be driving a tow truck and the majority of problems that cause breakdown require tools and equipment to properly diagnose.
The best idea is to avoid the breakdown in the first place. Most vehicles broken down on the side of the road have not been properly maintained. No! Having the oil changed every 3500 miles over 60 thousand miles is not proper maintenance. Having regular inspections by a certified technician at a quality shop and doing the repairs and maintenance they suggest is proper maintenance. Overheat is one the prime culprits in breakdowns. All vehicles have manufacturer recommended cooling system service recommendations. Many are not adequate to keep the system working optimally. None suggest services that are unnecessary or too frequent. Hoses and belts are made of rubber and do deteriorate. When your shop tells you they need to be replaced or the system needs some other service, ask why and then, assuming a logical answer, do it.
There are many components of a vehicle that can cause a breakdown. However, don’t be shy. When a repair is recommended by a technician there is nothing wrong with asking if it is a problem that could cause a breakdown or what other ramifications there may be if you do not do the repair.
Enough nagging about avoiding the breakdown in the first place. Back to what to do after you have been towed. If you have a regular service provider, call and talk to them before you do anything, other than something very minor, while you are out of town. This is especially important if you have been unable to find a AAA or ASCCA facility. Any good shop, assuming they have developed a quality relationship with you, should be happy to help with your difficult repair decisions when you are in trouble.
Last, but should have been first. Have the right stuff in you vehicle before you break down. See AAA’s web site for more info. No this is not an advertisement for AAA. Their auto club just has a lot of good recommendations for the motoring public.
Questions, Comments? Allen@OrindaMotors.com
http://www.orindamotors.com/
So you have a problem with your vehicle while on the road. What should you do? Get safe. It is always worth the risk of doing more damage to your vehicle to make sure you are physically safe. Assuming the problem is overheating or some other issue that allows the vehicle to keep moving always put safety first. On the freeway with a good wide shoulder? Pull over on the right shoulder as far from the traffic lane as possible, not just barely over the white line. Many vehicles get hit while sitting on the shoulder. No shoulder, like on a bridge? Slow down and drive to the next exit. If the engine quits running, coast off the side of the road. Be aware that brakes may well not work correctly. No matter what, turn on your flashers as soon as the problem shows up. Once you are stopped, especially if on the freeway, get away from the vehicle. Do not stand near the vehicle if at all possible. Get completely off the road and well away. Place your flares or warning markers to the rear of the vehicle so approaching vehicles know the danger is there.
Now call your repair shop. If you have a relationship they will help you. Night or weekend? Call a tow truck. Normally the local AAA (http://www.csaa.com/) tow company is going to be the best bet 24 hours a day, whether or not you are a AAA member. Call 911 if you are unable to find a tow company or if your vehicle did not get off the road before it stopped. A vehicle broken down in the road is an emergency.
You are broken down and the tow truck has shown up. Now what? Whose advice to take? Always ask to be towed to an AAA approved service facility. This is rarely the tow companies shop, even if they have one. If there is no facility near by or there is more than one, ask for an ASCCA member shop. Once again, it does not matter if you are a AAA member or not. Only after these two options are explored should you ask for the tow truck drivers opinion on where to go. Most drivers are conscientious and honest, but as in all things, not all. Being sent to the drivers’ friends shop or where the driver gets the biggest commission to take you (illegal in the State of California by the way) is unlikely to be a good experience. In fact if you were going this route it would be wise to ask the driver if he gets a commission for the tow. Within a reasonable distance of your regular shop? Get towed there. What is reasonable? If it will cost you less than $200 you will almost always be better off at your “home” shop. More than that becomes a judgment call on your part. Do not assume that what the tow truck driver tells you is wrong with your vehicle is accurate. If he or she was a technician who was trained and qualified to diagnose your vehicle it is unlikely that they would be driving a tow truck and the majority of problems that cause breakdown require tools and equipment to properly diagnose.
The best idea is to avoid the breakdown in the first place. Most vehicles broken down on the side of the road have not been properly maintained. No! Having the oil changed every 3500 miles over 60 thousand miles is not proper maintenance. Having regular inspections by a certified technician at a quality shop and doing the repairs and maintenance they suggest is proper maintenance. Overheat is one the prime culprits in breakdowns. All vehicles have manufacturer recommended cooling system service recommendations. Many are not adequate to keep the system working optimally. None suggest services that are unnecessary or too frequent. Hoses and belts are made of rubber and do deteriorate. When your shop tells you they need to be replaced or the system needs some other service, ask why and then, assuming a logical answer, do it.
There are many components of a vehicle that can cause a breakdown. However, don’t be shy. When a repair is recommended by a technician there is nothing wrong with asking if it is a problem that could cause a breakdown or what other ramifications there may be if you do not do the repair.
Enough nagging about avoiding the breakdown in the first place. Back to what to do after you have been towed. If you have a regular service provider, call and talk to them before you do anything, other than something very minor, while you are out of town. This is especially important if you have been unable to find a AAA or ASCCA facility. Any good shop, assuming they have developed a quality relationship with you, should be happy to help with your difficult repair decisions when you are in trouble.
Last, but should have been first. Have the right stuff in you vehicle before you break down. See AAA’s web site for more info. No this is not an advertisement for AAA. Their auto club just has a lot of good recommendations for the motoring public.
Questions, Comments? Allen@OrindaMotors.com
http://www.orindamotors.com/
posted by Orinda Motors | 9:16 AM
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