Times When It's Safer To Have Your Car Towed To The Shop Rather Than Push Your Luck And Drive It

Posted on: 5 August 2019

When you have car trouble, you may be tempted to push your luck and hope you get to the auto shop or your house before the car breaks down and leaves you stranded. Sometimes, it's not a good idea to drive your car when it's experiencing trouble. In those cases, calling a towing service to take your car to the shop could save you from doing serious damage to your car. Here are some times when you should probably have your car towed to the shop and not risk driving it.

When The Engine Is Overheating

If the engine overheating light is on, you smell something burning, or smoke is rolling out from under the hood, you should stop driving your car right away. Pull your car to a safe place and let the engine cool down. A possible cause of this problem is a radiator leak. Radiator fluid normally keeps your engine from overheating, and when the fluid can't do that, your engine will get too hot. This could damage the engine to the point it needs expensive repairs or a replacement. If you have a container and a water source nearby, you might try filling the radiator once the engine has cooled off. However, the safest way to deal with the problem is to call a towing service to take your car to the shop to have the radiator leak repaired.

When A Tire Is Flat And You Don't Have A Spare

You should always have a spare tire when you take your car on the road. However, if you get two flats at once or if the spare has gone flat, then you're in trouble when you don't have a good spare to use. You might get by with driving on a flat for a very short distance so you can get your car out of traffic, but you don't want to drive all the way to a tire shop. Instead, call a towing service. The tow truck driver might be able to give your tire a temporary fix so you can drive your car straight to the shop. If not, then towing your car in is a better option than driving on a flat tire that could cause damage to your car. Even worse, you may not be able to handle your car well with a flat tire and end up in an accident.

When The Car Doesn't Feel Safe To Drive

If you're not a mechanic, you probably have no idea what all can go wrong with your car. One thing you do know is how your car usually handles when you drive it. If your car suddenly feels different and it makes you uncomfortable, it's probably safer to pull over and have the car towed in. If your car starts making odd, loud noises or has an unusual odor, those could be signs of a failing part.

Other signs of trouble could be brakes that don't catch when you hit the pedal, a steering wheel that's suddenly too loose or too stiff, and a transmission that doesn't shift gears properly. If you notice a puddle of fluid under your car after it's been parked for a while, you may want to check your car carefully before you drive it in case you hit something on the road that punctured a line and is causing a leak of oil, transmission fluid, or radiator fluid. If you feel unsafe trying to drive your car, call a tow truck to take it to the shop. It's better to be safe than risk your car breaking down in rush hour traffic and putting you and your car at risk of an accident.

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