If there’s one thing you can count on happening when you least expect it, it’s your car breaking down for one reason or another, most probably when you’re in a hurry to get somewhere. When that happens, most of us will start looking for the nearest repair service while cursing their bad luck, but the minds of professionals work differently. When professionals run into car problems, this is what they do.
They Jump-start Dead Batteries
At one point or another, almost every one of us has tried to start our car to no avail. You might have left the car parked for months, or you’d just forgotten to turn off the headlights when you left the car at night – whatever happened, now the battery is drained, and you can’t start the car. Instead of being at a loss for what to do, professionals keep a jump pack in their cars to prepare for these cases. They’ll take out the leads, connect the positive lead to the designated terminal on the battery, and connect the negative lead to the chassis or engine ground; they know better than to ever connect it to the negative terminal. Their car starts as soon as they turn on the pack, and they can be on their way.
They Hack Their Way Around Flat Tires
Ending up with a flat tire is more common than anyone can imagine. You may be welcomed with the sight of a flat tire the first thing in the morning or suffer from one on the way to work. The easiest way to deal with a flat tire is to seek the nearest car repair and service provider, but you can also replace it with the spare donut in the car. So what about the professionals? They’ll probably have a can of tire sealant in their spare tire. They’ll use it to temporarily seal the flat tire while inflating it at the same time since the tire sealant is great for both, closing the puncture and inflating the tire.
They Recognize Early Signs of Brake Issues
There are times when brakes start malfunctioning out of nowhere. This may be the result of factory defects or the effect of wear and tear. In either case, professionals always keep an eye out for the early signs of brake issues. For starters, they’ll seek the help of brake specialists to install fail-safe brakes, especially if they’re driving commercial vehicles. These brakes can automatically stop the car in case of an electrical system failure. Additionally, professionals recognize the squeaking and grinding noises signifying the wearing out of brake pads, in which case they’ll get them replaced right away.
They Replace Broken Parts with Spare Items
Regardless of how good of a driver you are, you’re bound to run into some sort of an accident. You might accidentally drive into a side road or end up with a case of a hit-and-run after parking your car in a restaurant or cafe. Other times, some parts may start malfunctioning out of the blue, such as a headlight failing to light or wiper blades being too old to wipe properly. In these cases, professionals would always keep spare parts in their trunks to account for unforeseen situations. Their handy kit would most likely include a spare pack of bulbs and a spare set of wiper blades, in addition to the rest of the toolkit.
They Use Their Repair Kits
Speaking of their toolkit, it will have everything they’d need to do quick fixes and repairs. For instance, they’ll have a hose repair kit on hand in case the radiator hose starts leaking. When that happens, the car can overheat in a matter of seconds, so swift action is necessary to prevent any serious damage to the motor. When met with such a situation, professionals will first let their car cool down, after which they’ll use a knife to cut the leaking section of the hose. They’ll install the rubber cement that fits the hose and hold it in place using clamps. This quick-fix will help them drive the car to the nearest repair facility without damaging the car any further.
They Recognize Leaks by Color
Figuring out the kind of leak is necessary to apply the right fix, and professionals can figure out what they need to do just by looking at the color of the leak. A coolant leak may be bright green, pink, or orange; an oil leak will most likely be black, while brake fluid leaks are transparent with an amber tint. Automatic transmission fluid leaks may be red, dark red, or pink, but they may also be a different color, while manual transmission oil leaks may be in the form of thick globs beneath the car.
Sometimes common car problems are as simple to repair as having the right tools on hand. Keeping a jump pack and a few other small items in your trunk can get you off the side of the road quickly and safely.
More often than not, you’ll have to deal with unexpected car problems using the tools you have at your disposal at the time. Since professionals know how to account for various car issues, they make sure to keep spare parts and repair tools in their trunks at all times. The right tools, combined with their vast knowledge, will certainly save them, and you, on a rainy day.