Understanding Automotive Problems

You can have a breakdown in the most inconvenient places, and while it would be great if roadside assistance could get to your vehicle in a timely manner, it's not always possible. You may be in a sparsely populated area in which your roadside assistance provider depends on sub-contractors for assisting their customers, or there may be weather that completely overwhelms local providers.

You should carry at least a minimal number of emergency supplies that can either help you to get home or to a more hospitable or populated area.

Basic supplies for a roadside emergency kit

Booster cables

If your battery is not charged sufficiently to start your vehicle, a pair of booster cables can be a lifesaver. Of course, you will need to ask a kind fellow traveler to give your battery a boost from their vehicle, but there are many good Samaritans on the road who will be willing to help.

Booster cables consist of two copper cables in a plastic sheath with terminal clamps on each end. The clamps on each end of the red cable will be connected to the positive terminals (marked with a + sign) of the host vehicle's battery, which is providing the boost, and your battery.

The clamps on the end of the black cable will be connected slightly differently. One clamp will be connected to the negative (marked with a - sign) terminal of the host vehicle's battery, while the other clamp will be connected to a metallic section of your vehicle's body, not the negative terminal of the battery.

Receiving a boost in this manner will minimize the unlikely, but possible chance of your battery exploding during the power surge because of a physical defect.

Radiator hose repair supplies and coolant

You can move your vehicle to a safer area when it overheats, but you'll need to add coolant and prevent the coolant from leaking out until you get your vehicle out of harm's way. Carry at least one gallon of 50/50 mix (one half coolant, one half water) of coolant that has the proper temperature rating for your vehicle. You should also carry a roll of duct tape or monster tape to provide a quick patch to a hose that may have ruptured.

Your vehicle may overheat from various causes, but when it does, you can move it to a safer area. If you see steam rising from under your hood and your temperature gauge rises to the red zone at the top of the gauge, you must pull over and turn off the engine as soon as possible.

It is extremely important to allow your vehicle to cool before attempting to patch a hose or add coolant. If you see a gash or bubble in a hose through which coolant is leaking, wrap several layers of tape around the area before adding coolant. This is only a very temporary fix, so you should only drive a short distance to a safe area or nearby auto repair shop.

Add coolant only to the transparent overflow tank, not to the radiator itself, which may still be under pressure after cooling time has passed. Fill it only to the upper "full" line.

It's also a good idea to carry additional windshield washer fluid during the winter months. Road salt can accumulate on your windows and present an impenetrable glare when the bright winter sun faces your windshield. It is easy to run out of washer fluid when you are constantly washing away road salt because of roads perpetually wet from gradually melting snow.

It's always a good idea to carry a spare blanket and/or bottled water when are traveling during extreme temperatures. An extended breakdown can leave you vulnerable to hypothermia in cold weather and heat exhaustion and dehydration in the summer heat. Adapt your emergency supplies as conditions warrant.

For more information, contact local professionals like Wolfe's Foreign Auto.