When To Have Your Car Towed Rather Than Drive It To The Shop
Any time you're on the road, the unexpected can happen. Whether you're just a few miles from home or out on the open interstate, it helps to know what to do when common car problems arise. Sometimes, it isn't safe to drive your car and you should call for a tow. Here are some situations when it could be safer to have your car towed to a mechanic rather than drive it there yourself.
When The Car Is Suddenly Hard To Control
If your car is suddenly difficult to steer or if it is slow to respond when you hit the brakes, there could be a number of reasons to blame, but no matter what the cause, your car isn't safe to drive. This problem might be accompanied by unusual sounds and smoke or burning odors. Pull your car to the side of the road and call for a tow so you're not stuck in traffic with a vehicle you can't control.
When The Car Overheats
If the engine in your car overheats, you don't want to keep driving and force the temperature even higher. The problem might be something simple like a leaky radiator or there could be another problem with your car. In any case, fluid must circulate through the engine to keep it cool, and if it doesn't, your car isn't safe to drive. You may have an indication of an overheated car when the warning light comes in in your car.
Don't ignore a warning light that indicates your engine is overheated. Also, don't drive your car if the check engine light is blinking. A blinking light is cause for immediate concern. Another indication your car is overheating is the presence of smoke coming out from the hood. Smoke can be various colors and have different odors depending on the cause. Pull your car over and get out of your car for safety reasons when you see smoke and call for a tow truck from a safe distance.
When You Have A Flat Tire
A flat tire doesn't always call for a tow. If you can pull over to a safe place and you know how to change a tire, you can change it yourself. You can also call for roadside assistance to change the tire for you. However, if your car is on a busy freeway, you may not be able to get to a place that is safe enough to change the tire out of the way of speeding cars.
In that case, towing your car to another location to change the tire is a better choice. Just don't drive your car a long distance on a flat tire or you'll end up with the need for expensive repairs.
Other times you may need your car towed is when your windshield is cracked while you're driving and your car isn't in a safe place for mobile repairs or if your car dies and you can't get it started again. Being stranded on the side of the road can be a serious situation and the roadside isn't usually a good place to try to diagnose a problem and make repairs. Instead, contact a tow truck and have your car towed to a safe place so it and you are out of danger while the problem is handled.