Do you live in or around Philadelphia? Do you often find yourself on the road? Do you ever wonder what could go wrong with your vehicle, thus leaving you stranded and searching for assistance?
It doesn’t matter what type of car you drive or how old it is, nothing changes the fact that something could go wrong. If this happens, you don’t want to find yourself lost and searching for answers. Instead, you need to know exactly what steps to take, such as contacting a company that provides roadside assistance in Philadelphia and surrounding areas.
It’s easy to believe nothing will ever go wrong with your vehicle – especially if it’s a newer model in good condition – but there’s no way of knowing what the future will bring. Some problems (more on this below) have nothing to do with the condition of your vehicle, and everything to do with your luck.
With all this in mind, let’s examine four situations that could lead to a breakdown and require assistance:
- Dead Battery
Many people believe that a battery will only die in extremely cold weather, but nothing could be further from the truth.
It’s possible for your car battery to fail you in the dead of summer, leaving you stuck on the side of the road with the sun beating down on you.
There are many potential causes of a dead battery, including but not limited to:
- Leaving on your headlights and/or dome lights for an extended period of time (such as overnight or during the workday)
- An old battery that has been poorly maintained
- Loose or corroded connections
- Extreme cold or heat (this can impact even a new battery)
- A problem with your car’s charging system
The best way to protect against a dead battery is to test it often. If you come to find that there’s a problem, don’t wait a single day to find a solution.
Note: a typical car battery can cost anywhere from $50 to $200. Although you may not want to spend the money, it’s better than finding yourself stranded because your car won’t start.
What to do Next
Imagine this: you head to your vehicle after work, just to find that it won’t start. While you know something is wrong with your battery, you don’t have any way to move.
The best thing you can do in this situation is contact a jump start service or find someone with a vehicle nearby who is willing to help.
Once your vehicle starts – if you’re lucky enough for this to happen – don’t turn it off until you reach your mechanic or an automotive battery store that’s able to provide a replacement.
- Flat Tire
As you know, your tires are the only thing between the frame of your vehicle and the road. For this reason, it’s critical that they’re in good working condition at all times.
Of course, even new tires can go flat, so there’s no surefire way to avoid this problem.
While there are things you can do to protect against a flat tire, such as keeping them at the manufacturer recommended PSI, there’s no guarantee you’ll never face trouble.
Here are some of the most common reasons for a flat tire:
- Contact with a sharp object, such as glass or a nail. You can’t always see these objects on the road, so all you can do is hope for the best.
- Valve stem damage. This is the part of the tire that you unscrew when you need to add or remove air. Any type of damage can cause a slow leak, thus leading to a flat.
- Old tires. As you probably know, car tires aren’t meant to last forever. As the days turn to weeks and the weeks turn to months, your tires will begin to wear out. As this happens, the likelihood of a flat increases. This is just one of the many reasons why you should never ride on bald tires.
- Road hazards. If you live in or around Philadelphia you know one thing to be true: the condition of the roads is not always up to par (especially after a long winter). From debris to potholes to uneven surfaces, your vehicle is always facing another challenge. Unfortunately, all of these things can cause a tire to go flat.
What to do Next
If you have a slow leak, you may not realize it while you’re driving. However, if you puncture your tire or it blows out, you’ll immediately know something is wrong.
There are only two ways to handle a flat tire. Depending on the type of leak and extent of damage, you may be able to add just enough air to get you to your mechanic.
Conversely, there are times when you have no choice but to use your spare tire.
Depending on your level of knowledge and experience, you may be able to change your own tire. If this isn’t possible, don’t hesitate to contact an emergency tire change service. With this, you can standby while all the work is done for you.
- Locked Out
Although many of today’s vehicles have smart keys, which are designed to help prevent lock outs, this could still happen to you.
For example, if the battery is not working in your smart key you could become locked out. The same holds true if you lose your key entirely.
What to do Next
There is no worse feeling than realizing you have been locked out of your car. You’re standing outside, looking through the window at your key and realizing there is nothing you can do to get inside. This is even worse in inclement weather.
While your first instinct may be to break the window, this is the biggest mistake you can make. Also, attempting to get inside on your own, such as by using a coat hanger to snag the lock, is a bad idea, as it can cause damage to your vehicle.
The best thing you can do is contact an auto locksmith. These professionals know exactly what it takes to get inside your vehicle, all without causing damage or taking up too much of your valuable time.
- Out of Gas
It sounds silly, but it’s possible you could run out of gas before reaching a local station.
There are many reasons why this happens, such as simply forgetting to fill up your tank because you’re in a hurry.
Unless you have an electric vehicle, you need gas in order to get from point A to point B. There is no way around this.
What to do next
If you pull to the side of the road, look at your dash, and realize that you have no gas, you must think fast. What are you going to do?
The first thing you check is your trunk. Since most people don’t have a spare (and full) gas can, they move onto the next idea. For many, walking to a local gas station comes to mind, especially if there is one nearby.
Unfortunately, this is not typically the best idea, as it can be unsafe to do so.
Rather than waste any more time, contact an emergency gas delivery service. With this approach you never have to leave your vehicle. Stay where you are, wait for help to arrive, and start your car once the gas has been added to your tank.
Tip: an emergency gas delivery service won’t fill your tank, so you’ll still want to drive to a local station to add more.
Don’t Do It Yourself, Call for Help
What will you do if you find yourself facing one of the problems above? If you’re the DIY type, your mind will go into overdrive. You’ll immediately begin to think about what you can do to solve the problem.
Unfortunately, tackling any of these tasks on your own can be dangerous and time consuming, with no guarantee of the result you’re seeking.
This is why you should call an emergency roadside assistance service. Yes, you’ll have to wait for help to arrive. And yes, it will set you back a few dollars. Even so, you’re getting a lot in return, including:
- Professional service in a timely manner
- Fast results, allowing you to get on with the rest of your day
- Access to a professional who can answer your questions, give you peace of mind, and offer advice
As tempting as it may be to tackle one of these problems on your own, you only want to do so if you’re 100 percent sure that you can complete the task in a timely and safe manner, without causing more harm than good.
Conclusion
You never want to find yourself calling for roadside assistance, but there’s as good chance you’ll find yourself in this position at some point in your life.
It’s never ideal to find yourself stranded, but it’s nice to know that you can pull out your cell phone, make a call, and wait for help to arrive. This is the best way to get back on the road as quickly as possible.
