In some parts of the world, there will be cases that you have to pass through knee-deep floods in the streets. Your first instinct would be to drive fast so that you don’t have to worry about your engine conking out due to water intake. However, once you get through, do remember that you have to check everything and this includes your brakes.
Now the question is how do you do it. Not until you are free from the flooded areas would you even consider checking your breaks. But normally, it would be best to check your brakes if they will stick by pumping on the break pedal repeatedly. If your car brakes respond by stopping on one stomp, then you are good. But if you notice that your brakes are not responding, just keep on pumping that brake pedal until it stabilizes again.
Experienced drivers know this for sure. But for the sake of new drivers who are not yet fully exposed to such contingency measures when passing by flooded areas, this is a simple tip for safety as well.
There is no telling how fast you would want to get home especially during rainy days but while you can drive as fast as you can, make sure that you can stop at the right time. Accidents happen and one of the things that really has to be addressed is how consistent your brakes truly are.
So you are driving and you suddenly find your dashboard signals flashing profusely. For sure that means something and it is not just any electrical malfunction. Chances are one of your signal light bulbs may have run out so you need to replace them. Problem is you are cruising and there is not any chance for you to stop to replace them. Add to the fact that normally, car owners do not stock bulbs since they normally take months to years to wear out. So what do you do?
For one, don’t panic. There are the ancient ways of signaling that you are turning left or right. Hand signals still do the trick. For example, extending your hand to the left if you are going to the left is a good way to let the car following you that you are about to take a left turn.
If you are turning to your right, extend your hand upward and have it point to your right. That way you can avoid any untoward collisions on the road, something that may be your fault if you get into a minor accident.
This is precisely why some states are quite strict about busted taillights. They are meant to inform the driver behind you that you will be making a turn. For people who have not yet been caught, you don’t have to fret. Just use these signals and you will be on your way to safely driving along the road.
It is not hard to known when you encounter a flat tire. Normally you would notice a part of your car in a slanted position or perhaps would notice that your steering wheel is hard to maneuver. In some cases, you may even see that you can no longer drive at the usual pace you drive and chances are you have encountered a flat in one of your tires.
The first thing you have to do is to pull over. Assuming that you have the usual tire changing tools such as a tire wrench and the reliable car jack, it would be best to change your tires first before moving on to wherever you may be going.
Here are some tips to change you tire:
1. Prepare the tire changing tools:
a. Tire Wrench
b. Car Jack
c. Spare Tire
2. Take out you spare tire. Make sure you constantly have the tire pressure checked since even if they are not used, they are bound to lose some air while stocked.
3. Loosen the wheel bolts midway so that you will not have a hard time loosening them once you jack up your car.
4. Jack up the car at properly elevated levels. It would be wise to raise it a couple of inches higher than normal so it can be easier to install the spare tire. For safety reasons, it would be advisable to place your spare tire horizontally below the elevated portion of the car in cases where the jack may suddenly give way.
5. Proceed to completely loose the nuts and remove the tire.
6. Place the spare tire and try to tighten the bolts as much as you can. You don’t have tighten them that hard as you can do that once you put the car in its normal stance upon releasing the jack.
7. Tighten the bolts after you have taken out the jack.
8. Place your tire in place of where you got the spare tire and try to have it vulcanized immediately. You don’t want to run forever using that spare tire as it may give way also.
