How to Handle the Most Common Roadside Emergencies

Be prepared for breakdowns and roadside car problems like flats, dead batteries, and mechanical trouble with this glovebox guide to emergency maintenance.

This post originally appeared on The Family Handyman. Copyright © 2010 The Family Handyman magazine. All Rights Reserved.

When you're dealing with roadside emergencies, it's always better to have a plan of attack than a panic attack. A few simple preparations, including an inexpensive emergency kit, will get you through most breakdowns and accidents. You're already familiar with the standard kit you hear about every fall, which includes a blanket, candy bars, a candle, and all that other stuff. That kit is a good idea. But there are a few additional itemsyou should stock in every vehicle you own, along with this guide. By the way, seriously consider joining a roadside assistance plan. Even seasoned mechanics aren't too proud to belong to one. One tow or a jump start on a freezing day and the annual fee will pay for itself.

Build This Emergency Kit

• Your car's owner's manual. If you don't have one, get one from your dealer. It'll show you how to change a tire, explain what all the warning lights mean, list part numbers for lightbulbs, and provide the fluid types and capacities so you can refill with the right stuff.
• This LED Flameless Flare lasts much longer than an ordinary flaming road flare. Attach the magnetic base to your vehicle and set it to flashing mode to warn other drivers.
• Spiral notebook and mechanical pencil (writes in any position or weather and needs no sharpening). Use to record accident information, police report numbers, phone numbers, etc.
• A cheap prepaid cell phone and a car charger. Even if you already own a cell phone, get one to keep in your glove box. Inexpensive phones and chargers are available at discount stores or online and can be reloaded with minutes from the side of the road.

What Warning Lights Mean

Oil light on. The engine has low oil pressure. Check the oil level and add oil if you have some with you. Otherwise, have the vehicle towed to a repair shop. Driving a vehicle with low oil pressure can cause catastrophic engine damage.

Brake light on. Check the operation of the brake pedal. If it feels spongy or goes to the floor, stop driving and have the vehicle towed to a service facility. If the pedal feels firm and the brakes stop the vehicle, check the brake fluid level in the reservoir. If it's low, add more brake fluid. If the light stays on after you've added fluid but the pedal is still firm, have the vehicle serviced as soon as possible.

Airbag/SRS light on. The airbags have shut down and will not work if you get into an accident. Get the vehicle serviced soon.

Traction control/stability control light on. There's a problem with the system. You can still drive the vehicle, but exercise extra caution on slippery roads and in turns. Have the system serviced soon.

"Check engine" light on. If the engine's running smoothly and the transmission is shifting properly, you can continue to drive the vehicle until you can get it checked by a mechanic. If it's flashing, pull over at the nearest safe spot. Have the vehicle towed to a repair shop immediately. Driving with a flashing "check engine" light can destroy expensive ($1,200 and up) emissions components.

Charging system light on. There's a major failure with the charging system. Drive immediately to the nearest repair shop.

ABS light on. There's a fault in the anti-lock brake system. You can drive the vehicle and operate the brakes. But exercise more caution on slippery roads. Get the problem checked out soon.

High temperature. Pull over at the nearest safe spot and turn off the engine. DO NOT open the radiator or the coolant reservoir. Have the vehicle immediately towed to a repair shop. Driving an overheated vehicle can cause serious engine damage costing thousands of dollars to repair.

How to Jump-Start a Dead Battery

1. Turn off the ignition and all electrical accessories in both vehicles.
2. Connect the positive jumper clamp (marked "+" or colored red) to the remote terminals on the good vehicle. They're located away from the battery. If you cannot find the remote terminals, connect the positive ("+") jumper clamp to the positive ("+") battery terminals. Then do the same on the dead vehicle.
3. Connect the negative jumper clamp (marked "–" or colored black) to the remote negative terminal on the dead vehicle. Then connect the clamp to the good vehicle. If the vehicles don't have remote terminals, connect the negative jumper clamp to an unpainted metal surface at least 18 in. away from the battery.
4. Start the good vehicle and let it charge up the dead battery for at least five minutes. Then try to start the dead vehicle with the cables still in place. If it doesn't start, call for service.

Warning! Connecting the jumper cables in the wrong order or attaching the spring clamps in the wrong location can damage expensive electrical components and even cause an explosion. Your owner's manual leads you through the procedure step by step. Follow it to the letter! If you don't understand the procedure, call a tow truck. Automotive batteries can vent explosive hydrogen gas when they are discharged. Do not smoke when jump-starting, and don't use jumper cables with cracked or missing insulation.

How to Get Unstuck

Place the gearshift in "1" or "low." Press the accelerator and allow the spinning wheels to move the vehicle forward a bit (do not exceed 15 mph on the speedometer). Then release the gas and let the vehicle roll backward. Immediately apply the gas to roll forward again. Continue this procedure to build enough momentum to rock your vehicle out of the rut.

Do NOT shift the transmission back and forth between "D" and "R." That can destroy your transmission and result in a repair bill of at least $1,500. If you cannot rock the vehicle out using the procedure above, call a towing service—it's cheaper than a new transmission.

How to Change a Flat Tire

Changing a tire is fairly straightforward. You'll find all the instructions on a decal near the jack and in the owner's manual. But in some situations, you should not change your own tire.

If you have a flat tire on a highway or narrow residential street and the flat tire is on the driver's side of the vehicle, call for roadside assistance. Even if you pull off onto a paved shoulder, the risk of being struck by another vehicle is extremely high—especially at night.

If the highway has a narrow or unpaved shoulder and there's a nearby exit, you can drive the vehicle to the exit and call for help once you're off the main road. Turn on your hazard flashers and drive slowly. Be warned that you will most likely destroy the tire and possibly the wheel by driving to the exit. But that's smarter than changing a flat tire on a busy shoulder.

What to Do If You're in an Accident

1. Check for injuries. If anyone is injured, call 911 immediately. Do not move injured occupants unless you see fire, suspect the risk of fire, or are instructed to do so by 911 operators.
2. Find out your location. Note the street address, highway mile marker, destination sign or nearest billboard. Emergency personnel and your insurance company need this information.
3. Note the weather conditions, skid marks and the damage to the other vehicle. Sketch the accident scene.
4. Locate any witnesses and get their account of the accident and their name, address and phone numbers.
5. Don't admit to any fault.
6. Get a copy of the police report or find out how to obtain a copy.
7. Don't make any "deals" to pay out-of-pocket in order to avoid notifying your insurance company. Your policy requires you to report the accident even if you choose not to file a claim.
8. Contact a towing service to move your vehicle to a repair shop, and make arrangements to get home.
9. Call your insurance company to report the accident and file a claim.

Roadside Emergency Guide | The Family Handyman

The Family Handyman is the DIYers best friend, offering a variety of print and digital resources for do-it-yourself homeowners. Their forte is accurate and complete how-to instructions for improving homes, yards, and vehicles. They publish The Family Handyman magazine, the oldest and largest publication for DIYers, and a variety of newsstand publications in addition to this web site. The Family Handyman is part of the Reader's Digest Association family of brands, including Taste of Home, Birds & Blooms, and of course Reader's Digest.

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• By Tessa Miller, on Lifehacker, lifehacker.com
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