"Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast." (twostrokesmoke)
10/08/2015 at 15:26 • Filed to: None
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"Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast." (twostrokesmoke)
10/08/2015 at 15:26 • Filed to: None | 0
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I’ve got a friend who has suddenly found herself single. Her P.O.S, soon to be ex-husband used to take care of all of the car stuff. Last night, she and her kid found themselves stranded in the dark with a flat and she didn’t know how to change it.... I’m on the other side of the country from her or else I would have gone out to help. Since her situation is probably not going to reverse itself anytime soon. Please take a moment to post your car care tips here. Start with the basics, remember our little hobby isn’t the everyone’s! She may eventually create an account and join our little community, but for now she’s trying to get life back in order.
It’s time for Oppo to be awesome.
Have a Catfish for your efforts.
CalzoneGolem
> Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/08/2015 at 15:35 |
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This is the best thing to have in your car. There tons of non roadside benefits also.
TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts
> Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/08/2015 at 15:35 |
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Carry a milk crate or big box 9f many things in the trunk. A couple quarts of engine oil, washer fluid (really nice to have in the winter), paper towels, blankets, and some water, both for drinking and in case the car overheats. A first aid kit is probably a good idea too. If you’re going on a long trip, pack some non perishable food you can eat without cooking it. Flashlights, and even a lighter or some matches could be useful.
Also for long trips, make sure you check the air pressure in the spare tire and make sure things like the jack still work. If it’s a truck or SUV with the spare under the vehicle make sure the winch that lowers the spare still works.
deekster_caddy
> Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/08/2015 at 15:40 |
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I’ll second the AAA Plus. Next, get out your owners manual and open the hood, and figure out what all the things are. Learn how to check all of your fluids and tire pressure. If she doesn’t have the owner’s manual most of them are available online somehow these days.
Ike
> Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/08/2015 at 15:40 |
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most auto parts stores carry a tire inflator kit, I would pick up one, as well as a can of “fix a flat” having a tire inflator on hand is a life saver, and if you suffer a nail or screw through a tire, a can of fix a flat will normally save you, and you can drive home safely, if the road noise increases, get the inflator out and add some air to the tire.
Master Cylinder
> CalzoneGolem
10/08/2015 at 15:41 |
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+1.
I am a hardcore DIYer with almost 2 decades of wrenching experience who carries enough tools, fluids, and spares to fix a wide range of issues. But I also have a AAA membership. Some things just can’t be fixed on the side of the road.
Wacko
> Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/08/2015 at 15:42 |
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only way to learn how to change a flat is to change a flat. Get you loved ones and friends to do a practice change.
and stick a pair of gloves where your spare or jack is. You can always use your phone as a flashlight.
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Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
> Wacko
10/08/2015 at 15:48 |
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I’m posting this for her later. i’m going to send her a link to this entire thread.
Chariotoflove
> CalzoneGolem
10/08/2015 at 16:01 |
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Cannot star this enough. Always keep an up-to-date AAA membership. Also, do keep that emergency spare and learn how to change it, keep an empty gas can, blanket, and flash light with good batteries just in case.
I live in a wheelchair, and while I am not helpless in a breakdown, I do have some limitations in what I can do if I breakdown on a fast highway. So, I kinda understand how she must feel.
You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much
> Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/08/2015 at 16:27 |
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Check your insurance. I just had a meeting with my agent to go over all my coverage and it turns out I have roadside assistance through my insurance company.
RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
10/08/2015 at 16:56 |
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The single thing I probably see most with people who don’t have the income to baby their cars and don’t have a background in them. Bald or otherwise compromised tires. Tires, tires, tires, tires. Obviously these ones will be checked over when the flat is fixed, but it’s too important as a general rule to ignore. It’s one thing to have a flat, it’s another to have tires going bad in a sneaky way. Tire problems aren’t always easy to spot - just turned a younger friend of mine toward the tire store who had two tires with bad scalloping on the inside edges in back. Outside looked okay, but he was through to the belt where he couldn’t see...
Point 2: There is no such thing as a “good” funny noise. Some are merely less malign than others. Driveline funny noises? Now is the time to worry. Not later, not soon. Related to this, vibrations of any kind are like a cancerous mass. Remove that shit.