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Your Vehicle Needs An Emergency Kit Too
Most of us spend a great deal of time in our cars. There are the daily trips to and from work,
shopping, school, and visiting. And
usually we give little thought to the needs of our vehicles – until something happens
and we find ourselves inconvenienced. A
flat tire can delay you and a broken fan belt can stop you in your tracks. Broken windshield wipers will spoil your
drive if it’s pouring rain or snowing.
Having a few simple things for a vehicle emergency kit can often get you
back on the road again quickly.
Flat Tires
A flat tire can occur in several ways; you can run over a
piece of glass or pick up a nail, or perhaps your tires are simply so worn out
that a hole will open up. If you have a
spare tire, it will be possible to change the tire, but if you have no spare or
that is flat, you could be out of luck until a tow truck arrives. There are several solutions to this, however,
and one of the easiest is to carry a spray can of tire sealant, which will also
inflate your tire. This product is
placed into the tire via the air valve and will seal most small holes, allowing
you to get to a service station.
Also available are kits that contain plugs that can be
inserted into larger holes up to 3/16 of an inch in diameter. Multiple plugs can be used for the bigger
holes. You will also need a pump to
restore the proper air pressure in the tire, so a tire pump should be included
in your car’s emergency kit.
Broken Belts
There are a number of belts in the engine of the car, and if
any of them break, the car will not move.
Ordinarily, the only solution was to call for a tow truck and have the
vehicle taken to a service garage. However,
there are belt repair kits that will provide a temporary solution to a broken
belt. These temporary belts are
adjustable and can be used to replace nearly any broken belt in the car.
Windshield Wipers
Worn or broken windshield wipers can make it impossible to
see if it is raining or snowing.
Carrying an extra wiper or two along will mean that you will be able to
continue your journey after removing the old wiper and snapping on the new.
Before You Set Out
All of the above can help you get back onto the road and
where you wish to go without too much trouble, but there are things that you
should also check out before you leave, to prevent more serious problems from
occurring. One thing you should look at
is the level of engine oil. This is done
by checking the dipstick that touches the oil tank. A car that runs out of oil risks having its
engine fuse from the heat, so if the oil is low, be sure to add some. Likewise, check your coolant levels and add a
mixture of water and coolant (half coolant and half water)
if the level in the reservoir is low. More Articles: Building An Emergency Car Kit
An Emergency Car Repair Kit A Practical First Aid Kit for the Car
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