5 Helpful Tips to Prevent a Vehicle Breakdown

Car breakdowns are frustrating, stressful, and a major inconvenience, especially when the car breaks down at night or in the middle of nowhere. While some breakdowns are beyond your control and occur unexpectedly, most of them are preventable. Learn five easy ways to prevent vehicle breakdowns and their associated costs and headaches.

Before a car breaks down, it sends several warning signs. Perhaps you hear strange sounds or notice a change in the way your vehicle drives. Also, thanks to advances in technology, your car alerts you of a potential problem using the warning signs on the dashboard. You may get a battery alert, check engine light, oil pressure light, or temperature warning sign.

Regardless of the warning sign, never ignore it. The problem intensifies when overlooked, and you could end up with an enormous repair bill. Heeding to warning signs is an inexpensive way to avoid a vehicle breakdown.  

Your driving habits affect your vehicle’s health tremendously. Poor driving habits such as slamming into potholes and bumps, riding the clutch or brakes, and hard starts and stops wear out essential parts of your vehicle that then compromise its performance. For instance, hitting a pothole at high speeds damages the suspension, tires, and steering.

Good driving habits maintain your car’s health, ensure optimal performance, and prevent a costly breakdown. You can practice good driving habits when you adhere to speed limits, stay focused on the road, maintain safe following distances, and schedule regular vehicle maintenance. Also, refrain from aggressive driving, don’t overload your vehicle, and avoid late braking.      

A flat tire will require that you call a tow truck for towing services. While some causes of a flat tire are beyond your control, like bad road conditions, others are preventable. For instance, over-inflated tires can result in a flat tire. You can prevent this when you ensure your tires have the correct tire pressure. 

You can also prevent a majority of tire issues that result in a breakdown when you examine the tires often. A visual inspection can reveal uneven tire wear, deeply scuffed areas, and bulges in the sidewall. Visit a mechanic immediately if you detect any tire problems. Also, driving carefully can go a long way to prevent tire damage.    

A good way to avoid a breakdown is to get your vehicle regularly serviced – based on your manufacturer’s recommendation. While you may think that skipping service saves you money when the car does not have any problems, it is costly in the long run.

During service, a professional examines all the crucial components in your vehicle, from the engine and engine oil, steering, suspension, battery, brakes, tires, and lights. Any problems are identified before they require extensive and expensive repairs and replacement and lead to a breakdown.

A dead battery is a leading cause of car breakdowns. Luckily, a battery on its deathbed has various signs, including dim headlights, a clicking sound when you turn on your vehicle, and your engine cranking sluggishly. Also, if your battery has reached its average lifespan of 3 to 5 years, it could die at any time.

 

You can take several actions to avoid draining your battery, such as turning off your headlights and unplugging devices such as navigation systems when exiting your vehicle. Also, check your battery regularly, ensure all connections are intact, and fix any problems such as cracks and bulges before they leave stranded in the middle of the night.