Ask the Auto Experts

It’s surprising how much of our common sense flies out the window when we’re in a hurry or simply not paying attention. While mechanical failures and unavoidable situations do cause car accidents, many of the accidents and major breakdowns that occur on the road could be prevented by the driver reacting to his or her surroundings more quickly. Preventing accidents and severe mechanical damage requires one part common sense, one part automotive savvy and one part alertness at all times.

While the common sense and alertness are up to you, the driver, we can help you become a bit more automotive savvy. These are our top 6 signs it’s time to pull the car over before an accident or damage to your car occurs.

Keep in mind that when we say pull the car over immediately, we mean to pull the car over as soon as it is safe to do so.

Bad visibility

This is a no-brainer, but many of us still fail to follow our common sense when we lose visibility on the road. Sudden fog, a torrential downpour, a crack in the windshield, gooey wipers – any of these can make us nearly blind to other cars and the road in front of us. Ironically, studies have shown that most drivers actually speed up when visibility is compromised, because their perception of speed is hindered.

Rather than squirting the windshield with wiper fluid and hoping visibility returns soon, your safest bet is to pull over to the side of the road and attend to the problem (wait for the weather to pass, clean your windshield, call a tow truck).

Flames, smoke or vapor

Another no-brainer, but one that’s easy enough to ignore or deny when we’re in a rush. If water vapor is rising from under the hood, it could mean that there’s a coolant leak. If it’s a slow leak or the fluid is hitting a hot pipe that causes it to steam, it doesn’t pose an immediate threat to your car’s engine, but a more severe leak can quickly cause your engine to overheat, which can ruin your car’s engine and cost you thousands. Smoke can be caused by something innocuous – such as oil dripping on to a hot pipe – but it can also indicate a more serious problem (left the oil cap off again?), such as a fire. It’s safe to assume that if your car is issuing flames, there’s a big problem, and you should exit the car immediately!

Sudden loose or off-kilter steering

A sudden change in handling can indicate a number of problems, some of them very bad and others not-quite-so-bad. Suddenly sloppy steering or steering that pulls dramatically in one direction can mean a blown tire, a loose wheel or simply a lost wheel weight. Blown tires can be fixed easily, but damaged wheels (what will happen if you keep driving) can’t. A wheel that is about to fall off is major bad news, and stopping the vehicle before this occurs can prevent both a severe accident and severe damage to your car. Rather than trying to diagnose the problem while going down the road, be safe – pull over and check it out.

Temperature or oil gauges in the red

A hot engine always = bad news for your car, and an engine that’s not properly lubricated (that’s what the oil is for) is equally bad news. Both of these can cause severe engine problems in very short order. If your car’s oil light goes on or temperature gauge pushes into the red, pull over immediately and take a look. Being late or missing an appointment is a much better option than destroying your car’s engine by overheating.

In-cabin chaos

Kids fighting in the back seat? Dropped that CD somewhere on the floor? Spilled hot coffee on your lap? Botched mascara application? Don’t try to deal with these while flying down the road – be safe: pull over and deal with the problem before taking your 3 ton machine back on the road.

Foreign noise

A new noise can mean a number of things, some bad and others completely harmless. If a new, loud noise is suddenly coming from your car and not from the road or a piece of debris you’ve run over, chances are your vehicle has lost a key component and continuing to drive could risk further damage. Don’t take the risk – pull over and examine the situation before continuing on.

If you’re on the road and experience any of the mechanical issues mentioned above, feel free to give us a call at our shop. Our technicians can help you determine whether it’s safe for you to drive your vehicle to a repair shop or if it needs to be towed. Remember, when it comes to your car, it’s always better – and less expensive – to be safe than sorry!