Automobiles: Importance of Car Inspections
Most motorists break down due to one of five common causes:
- Out of gas
- The engine has stalled and won't start
- A dead battery
- A flat tire
- An overheating engine
All of these difficulties are preventable or avoidable with common sense and a little effort:
- Periodic mechanical checkups, especially when unusual sounds or performance signal trouble
- Regularly inspect your tires to spot damage, unusual wear or under-inflation that can lead to tire failure
- Seasonal checks and preventive maintenance of the cooling system, a frequent factor in roadside breakdowns
- Watch your gas gauge and always keep the tank at least half full. This also prevents condensation in the tank, which can freeze in the gas line and stall the engine.
- Consider getting a cellular phone.
If you do find yourself on the roadside, follow these tips:
- Try to move the car out of traffic to a safe location
- Turn on the emergency flashers
- Stay inside your car with the doors locked until help arrives
- Ask anyone who stops to offer aid to call for roadside assistance (or call yourself from your cellphone)
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