Whether you’re driving your vehicle to the nearest supermarket or you’re planning on a weeklong road trip, it is always a good idea to be prepared for any issues that may crop up during your ride. There are few common emergencies that drivers come across often which can be easily solved by knowing a few basic repairs.

Dealing with a Flat Tyre

A flat tyre may happen when you run over something sharp on the road, a leaking valve or an abrupt blowout. For an emergency like this, there are a few items that will be handy to have with you such as a jack, a tyre stop, spare tyre, lug wrench and some gloves for safety. Immediately after you realize that you have a flat tyre, you need to park the vehicle someplace safe and turn it off. The emergency brake should be applied. You can remove the hubcap and then loosen the lug nuts by using the lug wrench. After that you need to lift the vehicle so that the wheel is off the ground. Remember to remove the top nut last when you start removing the lug nuts. Remove the tyre and secure the spare tyre to the vehicle. Once the lug nuts are put back on and fastened, the jack can be released.

Having a Dead Battery

If you find that your battery has drained, what you can do is find another vehicle with a good working battery. Both vehicles should have their keys turned off before the jumper cables are attached. The engine of the car with the working battery should be turned on and kept idling for a good two to three minutes letting the drained battery in your vehicle charge. You can start your engine after and let both cars run for a few minutes longer for the charging to complete. Jumper cables can be removed hereafter. But if you don’t have jumper cables in your vehicle or you are not confident in carrying out this procedure, it is best to Gisborne towing company for help.

Gas Shortage

If you leave your home with a full or almost full tank and you find the fuel level indicator at low, the first thing you can do is to park your vehicle at the side of the road. It is good to have a spare gas can in your car for emergencies like this. If you’re in a situation where there is not enough fuel to pull over to a safe spot, you will need to get some help and push the vehicle to the side of the road. The hazard lights of your car can signal to other drivers on the road that you’re having an emergency. If you’re not in possession of spare gas, you will need to check your GPS and walk to the nearest gas station. You can also try to flag down another driver who can give you a lift to a gas station. If you find no solution to your predicament, you can always contact roadside assistance to come to your aid.